How To Recondition Road Bike Caliper Brakes

Save money and save your brakes! Those tired brakes aren't ready to be thrown away. Find out how to get them working smoothly.

Our step by step instructions help you easily give your road bike brakes a new lease of life.

Some basic mechanical skills are required and some allen keys / wrenches and a few spanners depending on the brand of brake you are working on.

GCN will have your bike up and running in perfect condition in no time at all.

Watch more on GCN...

About GCN:

The Global Cycling Network puts you in the centre of the action: from the iconic climbs of Alpe D’Huez and Mont Ventoux to the cobbles of Flanders, everywhere there is road or pavé, world-class racing and pro riders, we will be there bringing you action, analysis and unparalleled access every week, every month, and every year. We show you how to be a better cyclist with our bike maintenance videos, tips for improving your cycling, cycling top tens, and not forgetting the weekly GCN Show. Join us on YouTube’s biggest and best cycling channel to get closer to the action and improve your riding!

Welcome to the Global Cycling Network | Inside cycling

Thanks to our sponsors:

Leave us a comment below!

[NielsHeldens]

The GCN garage has been turned into a Parktool sponsored heaven for mechanics. I like it, it makes the video look more professional. Although Si makes it look as professional as a kid hitting a bike with a screwdriver(which is a crime against cycling!).

[acoffeewithsatan]

Finding this channel when I decided to get into road biking was a great thing! From a functional point of view, older quality parts will work as well as new stuff, except you won't have to follow the unfortunate today's mentality of replacing stuff that only needs some maintenance. This is also great news for broke blokes like me, who can't afford to buy a proper bike and so put one together from salvaged parts off the internet instead; these older components work perfectly after a clean-up and lubrication, yet sell for literal bargains. With some elbow grease, you can put together a bike that serves its purpose and works properly.

[stinkydream]

Smoothing out the grooves where the spring rides is important, also. Gunk and wear can cause one side to lag behind. This is especially true on single pivot calipers.

[jeanmartin]

Thanks for this. It gave me the guidance for detaching the short spring-holding arm of a 15-year-old Campag Centaur brake that had seized. Working perfectly again in a few minutes. Tools needed: Allen/hex heads in 2 mm, 3 mm and 4 mm; 10 mm and 13 mm spanners for the hex nuts. £40+ pounds saved on a new pair of Potenzas!

[xandervanderbroek]

This is the only video I found after a long search that properly explains how to tighten the bolts and lock nuts (and at what tightness). Thank you sir!

[sjoobnn]

Thank you for this instruction video. My brakes were getting stiff and this video gave me the confidence to disassemble, clean, and re-tune them back to perfect condition. Like new at no cost! Also, that can of WD40 came to good use. Kudos

[jareks]

For anyone struggling with installing spring back:
I have installed mine without using *any* force, by simply unscrewing second arm. Simply put spring in and install second arm after.

[Stewdo]

I love how you've put the degreaser in the magnetic screw plate.

[lhotse]

Love these reconditioning videos. Man how I wish my old always-kept-outdoors-mountain bike didn't get stolen. That would have been an awesome project.

[steveemery]

Si, for the pivot you couldn't disassemble, you could've used a motorcycle chain lube such as PJ1. They spray on really thin and work into 'out of reach' areas - as the solvent evaporates, it leaves a nice layer of grease on the working parts.

[matthewcraig]

So many nice tools in a lovely workshop when all you need is 'clean and regrease'

[andyowens]

I always photo anything I’m dismantling - getting springs back in the right orientation, wires in the riht places etc can really slow you down if you have to work it out. Refer back to a pic on your phone, and its easy.

[MrStarford]

Thank you for this one - never knew it was even possible and now I've just brought my winter bike back to life just for a few minutes of time, and so easy too

[lfcsolid]

Absolutely love these how to recon parts videos. Si's now an ex rider turning future pro mechanic!

[GSVBagpuss]

Awesome stuff! I fixed my rear calliper in situ (too lazy to cut the cable!) and it's now back to smooth health :)

[andyowens]

Oh, another tip to remove corrosion, use wire wool - on decent metal surfaces (even aluminium) it give a lovely smooth surface, no significant scratching you’d need to worry about.

[AndronicasLion]

Loving these renovation videos. Really useful thanks guys!

[escengn]

i like that the wrenching videos are getting a bit deeper in subject matter now. but as instructional videos go, a little more rehearsal makes the vid more concise and.... well, pro. eye protection is a good idea when working with springs too!
(btw, i've been a shop mechanic for over 10 yrs.)
lastly, Si, the curls look great!

[jimkennedy]

Great video. Helped me free up my rear caliper. Ended up taking only one arm off and using alot of Gt85 plus a rag and elbow grease. Works great now.

[jefferywilkinson]

I do this at the end of my summer season and I also use silicon spray. Works a treat :-)