Brake Caliper Mounting & Adjustment - Cantilever Smooth Post

[@Cpresoz]

I watch this video every time I work on my bikes. I watch it sometimes when I'm not even working on a bike. Absolutely the most clear and reassuring video that always leads to a perfect install.

[@otdosa]

*AND good mechanical advantage.

[@spacefolder]

Best cantilever adjustment video on youtube. Period.

[@HarrySKeith]

Yup

[@BeyondEcstasy]

It's all a ploy to sell you more tools

[@davidwhocares3293]

So you get great education free ! You OWE them your business

[@yogas2]

@@BeyondEcstasyYou don’t need too many tools for this and many people who don’t have them will just buy a set which is perfect for what they need. No need to be so pessimistic 😂

[@alexmakowski9620]

This video has good mechanical advantage.

[@chuckgliderable]

Wow, what a perfect instructional video. I spent years to learn this stuff - I wish I had this video 10 years ago! Calvin, you're the Don! And big Kudos to the camera handler.

[@dougharlow6037]

This is one GREAT video!! I just took all my brake assembly’s off my Specialized mountain bike, then cleaned, lubed & adjusted per your video. Was very easy. Please keep uploading videos. Very intuitive. Greatly appreciated. Thanks

[@TobiEh]

This might as well be the best video on the internet. It turned dark magic into a reasonable sequence of steps. mind==blown

[@pauldicarlo3057]

This is the "Citizen Kane" of cantilever smooth post videos.

[@stevevisek7422]

I've acquired quite a few Park Tools over the years but never knew about your videos. I've watched 10 or 12 in the last few days and they're excellent! I've been trying for years to get my cantis to work right and never been satisfied..........until I saw your video. Thanks!!!!

[@shamanbeartwo3819]

I think I can actually do this!! Thanks for taking the time to make such a succinct professional video about something as important as brakes. I live in Seattle and its all hills.

[@dianayork844]

The Park Tool videos are precise and thorough I learn and improve with each instruction. Thanks guys.

[@charlesr.carney6297]

I bought a beautiful touring bike used with cantilever brakes. The stopping power was so bad and I have zero experience with them. Your tutorial has changed my bike to a powerful stopper now. Quite literally you may have saved my life, thank you for making this!

[@jackclark9365]

I've never built a bike before and now I've decided to do it as a project with money I get from helping out. Without this guy I would have never know how to do this.

[@dijevanja5039]

That rusted tension bolt is driving me crazy. Best canti setup video ever. I do some bike workshops for kids and always ask myself how would Calvin explain it.

[@woodbine66]

Agree, best cantilever vid anywhere. Tells you all you need to know in clear, easy to understand steps. Many thanks to the person in vid and Park Tools.

[@Kenji-ds9rf]

Nothing on YT come close to how good you demonstrate.

[@planetstarbucks2348]

Just want to say thanks for posting this and the other brake repair videos. I just replaced the pads and cables on my old bike and I'd have been completely lost without this.

[@rchandos]

There are a lot of adjustments for these kind of brakes which baffled me until I saw this video. Thanks!

[@Daluke61]

Got to jump on the thumbs-up crowd on this one; very informative, helpful and simple... all good!

[@haithamabdullah400]

No video as professional, demonstrative, and sophisticated like this one. Thank you so much.

[@grunthaner]

As a school teacher you get an A+ for this outstanding video. Thank you very much for a job well done. I have watched this video 2 times now as I forgot to take notes ; ).

[@CantrellMS]

The video for which I've waited my whole life. Thank you Calvin. I love you.

[@KillSwitchNY]

Amazingly detailed video. I am mechanically inclined with cars but I just picked up an old Diamondback mountain bike with the stradle style cantilever and I was lost. This video is going to save me alot of time!

[@bretmohler9719]

man this was so helpful thank you!! i just got a canti bike the other week and had a few braking issues. this video was a perfect walk through of addressing each issue and now they feel as good as my disk brake systems.

[@raymondmclellan1363]

Superb. Clear instructions delivered in a very approachable manner.

[@MarjanJanczyk]

You are the best, i have a super old bike and it has this old school cantilever breaks. You made my day

[@martinwarner1178]

No more finer instructions could you get. Thank you Sir. Peace be unto you.

[@billybob4765]

Very useful in adjusting the canti brakes on my bike. Thanks.

[@mitchelllewis8673]

These videos are so helpful. Thank you!

[@Sicko1981]

Thank you for explaining, how to adjust the spring tension.

[@DilbertMuc]

Damned! I've had endless frustration with those levers for years and only now I stumbled upon this video. Followed its steps on the bike and was done in 5 minutes. 😔 Now you have one more subscriber on this channel. 😏

[@CrobinHood8BitGuy]

Thank you so much, I was up until 11:40 messing with my brakes. I took them off to tuneup and couldn’t get them back on right. I’m gonna try this tomorrow morning

[@Bicyclefarms]

Thanks, Park Tool! Love your instructions and products!

[@martyntilley6272]

Absolutely the best brake video on KZbin!

[@ronwhite8503]

Excellent video and I now know how to set up my canti's properly.....what a difference, thanks.

[@jonowens460]

Could never get it right😮 thanks man; if you do it in this order, you can't miss.

[@r123b8]

I just got into bikes and am fixing one now. This is the perfect video !!!!

[@istvanistvan6241]

08mp, 11.50mp: már el is bszta: a gumiba ér a fékpofa. 80$ szerszám + gumik leszerelése (ilyet se láttam még)! Bravo... A 12 éves unokahúgom 10 perc alatt megcsinálja mind a két kereket.

[@carlito6409]

La meilleur vidéo de réglage Cantilever du web, Merci !!

[@sqdtnz]

This video should be #1 on IMDB

[@camilaran]

Thank you very much for your videos, I've learned a lot with them.

[@alexanderthomas2660]

Thanks a lot for this. It has turned a bunch of guesswork with dubious results, into an easy to follow procedure with great results. Now I need to be careful not to faceplant with this greatly improved brake efficiency…

[@enriquezamora3453]

Really helpful, as are all your videos. Thanks a lot.

[@agu3425]

Great video! I could adjust my bike's cantilever brakes without any problem

[@Br4m76]

I watch it thoroughly and realized that I was wrong. thank you.

[@k.andregladden6195]

Great Video. Well explained. Professionally Done 👍🏽

[@DavidFraser007]

Thank you, great explanation. Just done my old bike.

[@quill_master9454]

Holly Molly that was really helpful great job guys! 👍👍

[@armantavakoli7926]

Love this video, such a good explanation.

[@cushym8]

Wonderful! U solved my problem on my Hoo Koo E Koo. Thanks

[@masreyalap]

Thanks for such an informative video, I am desperately having a question that I can not find the answer anywhere online. I have a bike with smooth stud cantilever brakes pads with shaft diameter of 6mm, when I browse Amazon to buy new pads for my bike they mostly mention 6.75 mm for brake pad shaft diameter, and most brake pads online they do not even mention the shaft diameter. How do you guys choose the right brake pad shaft diameter for your bikes?

[@ryanwilson3126]

A big BIG help. Thanks

[@MrThatnativeguy]

I ran into an odd one today its an older Canadian mountain bike it has V brakes calipers but interestingly with a smooth post pad setup like the cantis shown in this video.

[@aadmonk]

These videos are awesome!

[@stephenpinn8645]

Excellent video !!

[@IPPEAK]

Very good explanation. Thanks !

[@petrzitta3673]

Thank you very much for your precize video.

[@ciprianwinerElectronicManiac]

So that's how the original Deore LX looked like on my old bike. The rest of the groupset still works after 27 years. 😁

[@NoWhiteBalls]

Very well explained! Thank you very much :o)

[@3gcraftsman]

Great video thanks.

[@giselleboily9404]

woo hoo! i fixed my breaks...only thing is I don't thing the centering screw works...is that possible? I just manually adjusted the pads with the arms. Great vid:)

[@parktool]

Good work! The screws work by pushing on a small piece of the spring. Sometimes the screw slips to the side of the spring and does not give you the adjustment desired. They can be difficult.

[@giselleboily9404]

Park Tool interesting-thanks!!

[@McLeands]

Great, thanks for the help.

[@platypusdieo4399]

What an awesome video thank you! When installing brakes should the centering screw be half way screwed in when starting everything? I have brakes out of sorts and was not sure if I should start by putting centering screw half way in and THEN readjusting cable tensions etc? thanks!

[@thealvaco]

Well done!

[@InCountry6970]

Calvin, you da man, thanks !!!

[@bentspoke3574]

Good series

[@jeanlaws4139]

I'm working on a set of brakes like this now,when I try locking the cable in the. Set position,,IAS soon as I pull the lever,the thing just slips down and rest on the fender ,it won't stay where I put it .any thoughts on what I might be doing wrong? Thanks in advance.

[@nagualemituje]

Thank You! Great!

[@АтанасАтанасов-я8ъ]

Do you use cable hangers?

[@marita195]

Hello, This is a very helpful video, but still I have some problems adjusting my bike. The link unit is tilting more to one side, so that the break pads on the one side are very close to the rim, but on the other side they are very far away. Any idea what might be causing that? Do I have to replace the link unit? Any help will be appreciated!

[@parktool]

Some of the straddle cables are adjustable and can be evened out. Some are pre set and if the grey side gets cut then it will need to be replaced.

[@Johnyster]

My fork and chainstay are too narrow to keep the arm vertical. The pad touch the rim

[@ordish]

Can all internet tutorials be like this?

[@Gjldo]

a shimano tl-cb10 tool will help a great deal in setting cantis

[@nickschenkel7363]

I have an older (mid 90's) cannondale with coda smooth post cantilever brakes, but they don't attach to the frame fitting. How do I ensure the correct tension/setup when mounting the calipers?

[@rchandos]

I have older Shimano smooth post brake pads where the post is not exactly in the center of the pad, but slightly offset toward one end. Why is this, and can they be replaced by the more common type that have the post in the exact center of the pad? Thank you.

[@parktool]

The brake pads with the stud off-set is common. If this is a replaceable pad style, where the aluminum holder is reused and the pad slides out, be sure the closed end goes forward. Normally, the shorter end of these off-set pads goes toward the fork, for the front, or to the frame, for the rear. It is intended to assist in clearance when opening up. You can replace with either style.

[@1atblridkcoem1atblridkcoem9]

I have a wide rim and smooth arm brake pads that are bottom'd out. one pad is rubbing, the other is far from the rim but i have no adjustment screw, what do i do!?!?!

[@nunyabusiness2294]

EXCELLENT!

[@JasonDBike]

14:33 the flat angle of the horizontal wire makes braking a lot more efficient. I prefer to set up my bikes like that. The wider the better

[@peterjv8748]

The straddle wire should be very close to 90 degrees when the pads contact the rim to make for best mechanical advantage. Strange he doesn't mention that in this video.

[@adriang.4628]

when are we supposed to move the cable over the notch at the cable unit?

[@parktool]

Correct, up and over the notch

[@Luveagle972]

This video helped me better understand how this cantilever brake system works but I still was not able to fix my issue: my front brakes work fine after I adjusted them but my rear brakes do not. The brakes are in idle position 1 or 2mm away from the rim. When I push the brake, they will stop the wheel but then they remain in position. They do not loosen so I have to manually pull them away from the rim...as a result, the whole cable becomes very loose. There is no tension left. When I put the brake pads back in idle position, the tension becomes normal again. It’s like some part is missing some greasing but I don’t know which one...Or could it be because my cable or housing is slightly worn out close to my hands...not sure but any insight would be welcome. Thanks

[@parktool]

Remove the wheel, and then pull each caliper arm toward the rim. Do you feel any spring tension? You may need to remove each arm and grease the spring and stud. While the wheel is off, pull the cable at the brake end with one hand and pull the lever with the other. Does it feel like there is much cable friction?

[@ofthelord1020]

Dirty pivots, you need to clean your brakes, i just had the same problem and i put the brakes in boiling water after using wd40 on all the pivots and working it in, then once you remove them from the water dry for a min and while still hot put oil on all the pivots and work it in the joints. The dirt and grime in the joints is what is stopping you brakes from springing back.

[@Paul58069]

Your brake pad, when really crooked or positioned incorrectly, or both, can get stuck under the rim. If so, use new brakepads or rub the old ones flat on a piece of coarse sandpaper. THen adjust them correctly so they land flat on the side of the rim, without the tendency to slide under.

[@nugenki]

3:46 I would have thought this would result in the greater mechanical advantage.

[@wingerrrrrrrrr]

It seemed the same to me also, but it could be that the x displacement is smaller for a given cable travel, so it may require too much extra travel on the brake lever when braking.

[@davidward6917]

Omg 🙌 thank you!

[@bicycleninja8039]

Liked and subbed thanks!

[@shominister]

adjusting cantilever brakes is like rocket science comparint go v brakes

[@carroll6]

Have Schwinn Clear Creek..vintage bike..is this the right vid? It looks like center pull..center pull cable is pulled off to one side.. I am just starting out, examining these brakes. The cable is frayed on one side, and doesn't have a "end" piece of hardware.

[@OldTimer]

I have a problem when replacing brake pads reassembling the bolt though the concave washers. Nothing appears to hold the bolt in place when the nut is fully tightened, what am I doing wrong?

[@parktool]

Is the brake a smooth stud, like this video, or a threaded stud? It may be you have a part missing in there.

[@OldTimer]

@@parktool thanks for the swift reply, it was my fault! I had two 5b ofof the same concaved nuts on the calipers ( I didn't notice they were different until closer inspection ✌️)

[@jamiel7125]

15:15 Ha! grip shift grips with Shimano rapid-fire levers....continuity skewed like so many brake pads.

[@panchovillasmith8218]

thank you very much

[@carroll6]

can this be done without the tensioning tool? I want to get going, and I will have to send off for the tension pliers.

[@parktool]

This can totally be done without the tensioning tool. a pair of pliers can get you going. Thanks!

[@TheIVJackal]

I absolutely detest these brakes as I always have a hard time adjusting them, keeping them in place when tightening is such a pain! Something I noticed you did but did not explain was why you have the brake pad sticking out so far? The closer it is to the arm, wouldn't that make it less likely to shudder? Maybe that's the trouble I'm having, I adjust there with the pad right up against the arm? Help me out, thanks! :)

[@parktool]

There are many things going on in the "smooth stud" cantilever, where pads can move in and out toward the caliper arm. However that aspect is not so important. Try this as a thought experiment. Consider only the caliper arms, not pads at all. Attach the brake wire and adjust the cable carrier so the arms are parallel to one another. Consider a line from the frame mounting bolt to the bolt holding the pad. Those should be parallel, basically the "working position", not a relaxed position. Now in this position, install and adjust each pad so it is touching the rim, each pad with some toe. Pull the lever to test. Use the barrel adjuster set the feel at the lever.

[@TheIVJackal]

@@parktool Thank you very much! That was the step I was missing but makes a ton of sense. This will help me out tremendously! God bless :)

[@pieterd5376]

Brillant.

[@epiclauren4757]

how do you get that tension from the other cable(running from brake to handle)? mine is to loose and i won‘t activate the break.

[@parktool]

Begin at the head of the brake cable. Inspect that it is fitted into the lever properly. Follow the cable out the lever and see that cable housing is seated into the lever adjusting barrel. As a test, drop the wheel and pull down on the cable and work the lever. It should pull on the cable.

[@epiclauren4757]

@@parktool thanks for the fast respond. i understand the principe but my bike is really old. the cantibel brake isn‘t being pulled upwards because there is no tension on the brake cable and i don‘t see any hooking point or something unfortunately. should there be a hole or something?

[@parktool]

Use our Contact page at the website www.parktool.com and send us some pictures to the Tech section. Get a couple of different angles.

[@epiclauren4757]

@@parktool Thank you very much for the respond!! I will do that soon, thank you so much:)

[@epiclauren4757]

@@parktool Thank you very much for the respond!! I will do that soon, thank you so much:)

[@guillermoregalado1382]

Were can you buy the twisters for the cable

[@TheFloridaBikeVlogger]

lol I need him to do mine next lol

[@genXcripple]

can anyone tell me if grease is okay to use on threads of brake post mounting bolts? i’ve heard both locktite, and grease? i’ve always used grease as i’ve needed to change setups and lube things with frequent harsh weather riding. many thanks for any input/opinions 🤘🤜

[@parktool]

Grease would be fine, just get it tight enough.

[@marselvilla5989]

Can anybody please tell me the name of the tool at 14:50? (Yes, I checked the video description)

[@parktool]

That would be the BT-2 Cable Stretcher aka 4th Hand! www.parktool.com/product/cable-stretcher-bt-2

[@rchydrozz751]

At 0.21 is it just me or do the 2 arms look different.

[@theone2be33]

Can brake frame fittings be replaced? Mine broke so is flush with frame.

[@parktool]

Please send a picture to [e-mail] . We can serve you better with a picture of what you have going on in this case. Thanks.

[@theone2be33]

Park Tool rear brake. The sleeve thats on the frame that the brake arm slides onto so that you can bolt the brake arm onto it. Maybe i just get a longer bolt will solve the problem

[@parktool]

Some of those bosses are replaceable and they come in 2-3 different thread pitches. If there are wrench flats close to the frame you should be able to thread them out and get new ones. beware they use red or green thread locker to install them and they will be extremely tight and I would suggest using a heat gun to help if your bosses have wrench flats. If not, You are out of luck unless you have a local frame builder that would be willing to weld a new one back on, If it is steel at least.

[@theone2be33]

Park Tool oh yeah. I didnt even think of thread lock being in there. Cause i did try to put a bolt in it and try and pull it out with no success. Will try a longer bolt. Thanx for your input! 👍I learned a lot from all your videos

[@janipapp7671]

The problem is that, i got a fork on my bike and it messing up the whole system of the brake

[@romanmentor9238]

The trickiest part is to adjust brake pads so that all of their surface would touch the rim

[@morganfreeman5171]

3:40 the wheel needs to be centered in the forks