There may be many reasons for moving your drop bar brake levers. Maybe you are uncomfortable with the current position, perhaps you had a crash and the lever has shifted position or perhaps the two levers are at different heights or angles. In this article we will show you how o adjust the vertically and horizontally and what to do if you undo the clamp bolt too much and the brake lever comes away from the clamp band.
Tools required
5mm allen key or flat head screwdriver. This is needed to undo and tighten the lever clamp bolt.
Utility knife. It might be useful when removing the bar tape.
Insulating tape. Required for reattaching the bar tape.
Preparation
- Either put the bike in the stand or stand in front of the bike grasping the front wheel with your knees and feet.
- Next you will need to locate the screw or bolt that keeps the clamp band tight. This will either be inside the body of the lever or at the side.
Adjusting the side to side position of drop bar levers with externally fitted clamp bolt
- Find the clamp bolt. It is usually on the outside of the lever under the hood.
- Hold the lever with one hand and with the other slide the long 5mm shafted allen key tool under the lever hood.
- Locate the allen key head into the head of the bolt.
- Slightly turn the allen key anti-clockwise until the lever starts moving. You can leave the allen key in position.
- Adjust the lever position left or right.
- Once you are happy with the position, tighten the lever clamp bolt.
- Repeat on the other side if necessary.
Adjusting the side to side position of drop bar brake levers with the internally fitted clamp bolt
- On some models of drop bar brake lever the clamp bolt is located inside the lever body. The brake cable may restrict access to the clamp bolt.
- First release the brake cable. This will allow you to pull the lever blade right back.
- Now you will be able to pull the lever blade right back.
- Inside the body of the brake there will be a flathead screw driver fitting or an allen key.
- Undo this bolt or screw a few turns until you feel the lever body loosen.
- Remove the allen key or screw driver and release the lever.
- Adjust the lever position left or right.
- Once you are happy with the position, press and hold the lever again and tighten the clamp bolt.
- Retighten the brake cable and adjust the brake. Our article here can help you with the task.
- Repeat on the other side if necessary.
Moving drop bar levers with the clamp bolt fitted externally up or down
- If you have tape on your bars, then moving your brake levers will be restricted as the tape wraps around the clamp band, so the the first step is to remove your handlebar tape so that the lever is fully unwrapped. If you you don’t know how to do this we have a great article here to guide you through unwrapping and refitting the tape.
You can also watch our video tutorial here:
- Hold the lever with one hand and with the other slide the long shafted allen key tool under the lever hood.
- Locate the allen key head into the head of the bolt.
- Slightly turn the allen key anti-clockwise a few revolutions and this will loosen the clamp. You can leave the allen key in position.
- If you want to move the lever up or down the bar, grasp the lever and wiggle it side to side as you move the lever into the desired spot. Because the lever is normally located in the bend of the bars, it can be tricky to shift.
- Once you are happy with the position, tighten the lever clamp bolt.
- Refit the bar tape.
- Repeat on the other side if necessary.
Moving drop bar brake levers with the internally fitted clamp bolt up or down
- Remove the handlebar tape so that the lever is fully unwrapped.
- Release the brake cable.
- Press and hold the brake lever.
- Fit the allen key or flat head screwdriver inside the body of the brake and slightly undo the bolt until you feel the lever body loosen.
- Remove the allen key or screw driver and release the lever.
- Move the lever up or down.
- Once you are happy with the position, tighten the lever clamp bolt.
- Now refit the bar tape.
- Refit the brake cable and adjust the brake. Our article here can help you with the task.
- Repeat on the other side if necessary.
What to do if the drop bar brake levers come away from the clamp band
If you unscrew the lever clamp bolt so far that the bolt comes away, then the body of the lever will no longer be attached. You can tackle refitting the brake lever to the clamp band in one of two ways.
Refit the lever body in situ.
It may be possible to refit the the body without removing the clamp band. Grasp the handlebar around the lever band. Make sure that the lever clamp screw or bolt is in position in the lever. Locate the end of the screwdriver or allen key into the lever clamp screw or bolt. Put the lever into position on the bars. Push the bars against the lever body and simultaneously push the screwdriver or allen key against the thread of the clamp band. You should just be able to catch the thread with the lever clamp screw. Once the thread has started and there is no danger of the lever body coming away you can set the lever to the desired location. When you are happy with the position you can fully tighten the lever clamp bolt.
Remove the clamp band.
If you have removed all the tape, then you can slide the clamp band off the bars. Make sure that the lever clamp screw or bolt is in position in the lever, push the clamp band back into the lever and turn the bolt or screw clockwise. Once the bolt has caught the thread you will be able to slide the clamp band, now attached to the lever back onto the bars. Set the lever to the desired position and tighten the lever clamp screw or bolt.
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