Adjusting The Brake Lever Reach; Checking And Readjusting In The Case Of Mechanical Disc Brakes; Checking And Readjusting In The Case Of Hydraulic Disc Brakes - Canyon ROAD BIKE Manual

72 BRAKE SYSTEM DISC BRAKES

Adjusting the brake lever reach

With disc brakes the brake levers can be adjusted to
the size of your hands, too, allowing you to operate
them with optimal effectiveness. In most cases this
is done by means of a small Allen bolt located directly
at the hand lever.
After adjusting check the functioning and make sure
the brake pads do not drag when releasing the brake
lever and spinning the wheel.
Checking and readjusting in the case of mechanical
disc brakes
Regularly check the braking response and the con-
dition of the brake cables while pulling on the lever.
Do you get a clear-cut braking response when you
pull the brake lever hard, and does the lever remain
clear of the handlebars no matter how hard you pull?
To a certain extent, an increasing lever travel due to
the wear on the brake pads can be compensated di-
rectly at the brake caliper. Unscrew the union nut on
the bolt through which the cable enters the brake ca-
liper and then unscrew the bolt until the lever has the
desired travel. Retighten the lock nut by taking care
that the slit of the bolt head does not face upward or
forward, as this would permit an unnecessarily high
amount of water or dirt to enter.
Check at regular intervals, whether the brake pads
are still sufficiently thick. The wear on the pads can
be checked by means of the thickness of the brak-
ing material attached to the backing plate within the
brake caliper or by viewing through the window on
the upper side of the caliper. If there is approximately
1mm of material left on each brake pad, remove the
pads according to the manufacturer's operating in-
structions, check them thoroughly and replace them,
if necessary.
Brake lever reach
Brake lever flat bar
In any case, be sure to read the original
i
instructions of the brake manufacturer be-
fore adjusting the brakes.
Repeated readjustment at the brake lever
or brake caliper only can drastically re-
duce the maximum braking performance.
Damaged brake cables that are for exam-
ple frayed should be replaced immediate-
ly, as they can otherwise fail in a critical moment,
possibly causing a crash.
New brake pads have to be bedded in
i
before they reach their optimal braking
performance. Accelerate your Canyon 30 to 50
times to around 30 km/h (18 mph) and bring it to
a halt each time.
Some systems must be readjusted directly
!
at the brake caliper to compensate wear.
For more information please read the brake man-
ufacturer's operating instructions.
After readjusting check the functioning and make
sure the brake pads do not drag when releasing the
brake lever and spinning the wheel.
Repeated readjustment at the brake lever makes the
arm on the brake caliper change its position. This can
reduce braking power and result in a complete brake
failure in an extreme case. Risk of an accident!
Some models offer further ways of adjusting the
brakes directly at the brake caliper, though this re-
quires a certain amount of skill.
Checking and readjusting in the case of hydraulic disc
brakes
Regularly check the lines and connections for leaks
while pulling on the lever. If hydraulic oil or brake flu-
id leaks out, you should take appropriate measures
immediately, as a leak can render your brakes inef-
fective. Contact, if necessary, our service hotline at
+44 (0) 20 8501 2582.
A leak in the brake lines can render the brake ineffec-
tive. Risk of an accident!
Most of the brake models are equipped with a mecha-
nism which automatically compensates for the wear.
Before every ride, check whether you get a clear-cut
braking response before the lever touches the han-
dlebars.
Check at regular intervals, whether the brake pads
are still sufficiently thick. The wear of the pads can
be checked by means of the thickness of the brak-
ing material attached to the backing plate within the
brake caliper or by viewing through the window on
the upper side of the caliper. If there is approximately
1mm of material left on each brake pad, remove the
pads according to the manufacturer's operating in-
structions, check them thoroughly and replace them,
if necessary.
DISC BRAKES BRAKE SYSTEM
Wear control of the brake pads
If your brake system works with DOT brake
fluid, the latter needs to be replaced regu-
larly according to the intervals prescribed by the
manufacturer.
Do not open the brake lines. Brake fluid
!
that can be very unhealthy and damaging
to the paint could leak out.
Loose connections and leaky brake lines
drastically impair braking power. If there
are any leakages in the system or lines bent, con-
tact an expert or call our service hotline at +44 (0)
20 8501 2582. Risk of a crash!
73