MAXIMIZE Your BMX Brakes!

Through my years of riding brakes I've come across many ways to improve their function. This is one of the ways that I can't explain adequately myself so I hit up Patrick Kelly for help.
Patricks Channel : / @corporis
Learn more about BMX brakes here!
• BMX Brake Guide
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[@robertlee8400]

This took me 3 years to learn on my own .

[@supernoobsmith5718]

Buying an Odyssey chrome wheel is the best thing I ever did for brake performance with 990's. That's my trick. And clean pads.

[@Brant_Moore]

That'll definitely do it!

[@juliangaribay4711]

Before putting new pads on a bike clean them with dawn or soap and a toothbrush to get the oil of them because its there to protect the pads during shipping or storage

[@bmxriderforlife1234]

a few people used to tell me i was crazy for spacing out my pads so the arms hit a certain way. knew i wasnt just imagining it.

[@Brant_Moore]

No I believe there’s absolutely a difference even if it might not be measurable

[@bmxriderforlife1234]

also i noticed some brake arms seem to feel like they flex less when set up the way you describe.

[@RedDirtShooter]

Great video and awesome channel Brant! Listening to all these brake videos while working on my Kink BMX bike as well as my kiddos

[@Brant_Moore]

Heck yea thank you! I hope it helps you dial them in perfectly

[@SavageAudits]

Excellent!

[@kelvininoa187]

Man I hope this helps yesterday I fell while going down a hill with my uncle

[@StreetDreamzTT]

It does. Tried it today.

[@skylarsoper241]

Brant bro that no wear bike is so Rad 😊

[@mattrichards3070]

Really good vid!

[@Brant_Moore]

Thank you!! And thank you for being here to enjoy it!

[@unleadedbmxshop]

Hey guys! Good tip! Something might affect the rest of the bike when using thicker spacers between the pads and arms...The crankarm could be closer to the end of the pads, meaning it could hit the pads when pedaling. The pads could also catch your clothes when pedaling. Also, longer the leverage is, greater is the force on the rim. So if the chainstay length isn't a problem for you, you might pull back your rear wheel a bit, and same for the brake pads. In all cases, the brake arms stiffness will also play a role in it :)

[@YELLOWVETTE]

The leverage works the opposite way. Farther out is less leverage which would require more strength to pull. Closer to the pivot point means less strength required to get the same pressure at the pad.

[@thedarkenergist]

Nice!!! Subscribed to Patrick's channel as well. I've been trying to get my brakes truly dialed and locking for a while but even when everything is tight and tense, I'm still not locking. 100% going to try this when I get the chance.

[@Brant_Moore]

Have you checked out my last brake check video? Theres a lot of stuff in there that could help too. A couple questions. Gyro? If so, dual cables or single? If single, what type of straddle cable setup? If straight cable, what type of straddle cable setup? What brake pads & rim? What brake arms?

[@thedarkenergist]

I did! I'm like the last brake rider I know. I'm definitely going to use your cable trick for the upper gyro cable for sure. I use pretty much everything Odyssey. Odyssey Dual upper cables Odyssey single lower cable (No london mod, just standard straddle hanger that comes with the kit) Odyssey GTX-S bottom plate Odyssey monolever Odyssey EVO 2 arms and pads(black, will probably be switching to clear soon) Primo 7 Series rim with some of the paint missing :D Basically, I'm a bigger dude so doing fufanu's are pretty scary because I really can't lock the back wheel up easily. Changing pads the other day really helped, but brakes are the one area where I have yet to get it perfected. These 2 videos really helped man! Any other advice you have is always greatly appreciated.

[@Brant_Moore]

With a single bottom cable setup you have to have a straddle cable setup and if you’re using a cable rather than newer options, you can get some play that makes you have to pull harder after the pads hit the rim. Have you tried putting a sugary drink on the rim? That usually makes things stick really well. You put a little bit on then wipe it off

[@thedarkenergist]

@Brant_Moore I haven’t tried the soda/sugary drink just yet, but I think this video really touched on what my issue is. I do have the straddle cable and traditional back end setup, and I’m pretty happy with the adjustment, feel, and travel I have in the gyro and lever, it’s just missing that last bit of bite that this video explained. It’s like that feeling that you know the pads could be clamping harder if they had more travel. I’ll report back, but just wanted to thank you for what you do for the BMX community! Keep the videos coming and we’ll keep watching!

[@Brant_Moore]

First, thanks so much! You guys make it awesome and so worth it to keep making these videos. I do think the straddle cable setup is your problem. The dual lower setup just gives less room for flex

[@gods1lla]

Nice collab, really clear explanations/graphics. Good work guys.

[@Brant_Moore]

Thank you!!

[@jcobra09]

My Springfield arms rub. I’m trying to make sense of what you’re saying. I have to have on CC and keep pausing it to picture it all in my head 😂 any more Barney style advice? Thanks man! 🙏🏻

[@stephenwhite5444]

Awesome video! I'm running old 80's side pull brakes....I have clear pads on it which are very loud but I can stop hard enough to do tricks. Do you have any suggestions on getting them to not squeal so loud, OR a different pad that stops well enough for tricks but isn't real loud? I'm running aluminum rims (old school Mongoose Pro Class wheels)

[@raw_si_siht]

Clear pads will always be loud.

[@ratoneJR]

thanks

[@Brant_Moore]

Always happy to help!

[@Daniel_D_King]

Thats all good and well but... the reason we have a small and large spacer on the brakes is to use the small spacer untill the pads are worn then swap to the large spacer

[@duanefranklin2487]

Wouldn't the width of the rim play a role in this? The jist of the Science portion had more to do with getting the contact at as close as possible to 90°. You would also increase the power by moving the hanger as close as possible to the brake arms since they're designed to rotate on a pivot (brake boss). With your hanger in front of the seat tube, you're pulling the arms forward. If your hanger was behind the seattube or the straddle cable crossed behind the seattube, the "pull" is in line with the arc of the brake arm.

[@Brant_Moore]

All fair points. Brakes could definitely be more efficient and work better if they became popular enough again for innovation to happen

[@debonwaxman4888]

My breaks work great at the skatepark but the minute I ride dirt they already are useless from the dust. cleaning them makes them work but is there anything I can do so my breaks also work at the jumps and don’t get all gummed up

[@Brant_Moore]

I’ve never been able to keep it from happening unfortunately. Always have had to just clean my rims

[@j.parrish]

On an unrelated note, Park Tool really hooked you up with some nice gear man!

[@Brant_Moore]

They absolutely did and I am SO grateful! One of my favorite hoodies I've ever had

[@j.parrish]

@Brant_Moore You deserve it man! Yeah their blue is sharp looking on clothing.

[@Brant_Moore]

Thank you!!! That shirt I’m wearing is on sale for 10$ right on on their site! Super comfortable too

[@bmxriderforlife1234]

park tools stuff is the best. after having used their truing stand i cant use anything else. worth the price for sure.

[@pauljames4510]

Are you doing any more park tool videos ?

[@Brant_Moore]

Of course, all videos using tools will have park tools in them

[@jordantsosie4836]

I put the smaller spacer on the inside. It works better on my bike than using the bigger spacer. Always had trouble braking with newer frames since the back ends are much smaller now so brakes are pushed back more and using the big spacer doesn't allow the brakes to engage like they should.

[@Brant_Moore]

Yea man things are definitely dependent on the situation and the bike

[@jordantsosie4836]

@@Brant_Moore yeah it is. Especially with these new bikes now days.

[@Atrainswrld]

I just got a 26" cult. It's got black pads (990 type brakes) and black rims. The brakes work but they don't grip that good. So I will look into what your saying here tomorrow. I wanted to know if black pads on a black rims is an issue?

[@Brant_Moore]

I would try clear pads if you're not getting the kinda grip you want with black pads

[@Atrainswrld]

They grip fine I just didn't adjust the toe in of the brakes properly. I didn't know it was possible lol. I've got them when they need to be but not toed in right. I just battled putting them on for an HR. I'll try what I learned in the other video tomorrow

[@Brant_Moore]

You should be able to loosen the pads themselves and adjust them to be parallel with the rim. It’ll take some tinkering but you can definitely do it man!

[@Atrainswrld]

@@Brant_Moore thanks man, I just adjusted them the best I can and I guess I'll have to get new pads. These things aren't as good as everyone says. Atleast not for black rims. The Kool stop 2's that is. Which pads do you suggest? I'm not doing freestyle tricks, I just want to be able to skid if I need to.

[@Brant_Moore]

Any clear pads will be good/better

[@skylarsoper241]

Oh and what make are your break levers? , I’m still using my primo pervert

[@rgw1380rw]

I recently purchased a set of hazard lite rims. I need a freecoaster and high flange front hub, then my bike is complete for the most part!

[@ishkeeponee9272]

That's what they All say... Its NEVER complete 🤣

[@rgw1380rw]

@@ishkeeponee9272 😂 I'm thinking about a dayglo pink powder coating right now, then a new handlebar with a bit more of a trippy design, an ODSY chain ring, and an uuuuuhhh.......🤔

[@rgw1380rw]

@@ishkeeponee9272 A slurpee from 7/11, Tater Tots from Sonic😋👍......

[@rgw1380rw]

@@ishkeeponee9272 One brake pad to place under my pillow will be my absolute final purchase☝️😂!

[@ishkeeponee9272]

@@rgw1380rw u need to check my bikes on my channel matey

[@mexicool187]

Going to make my girlfriend change my break pads. No wait that's not a good idea great video though thanks. Made a video about breaks interesting

[@maxcatmur-hill4239]

Would this not mean you have to pull the lever further in to get them to engage though?

[@Brant_Moore]

You compensate in your cables and adjustment and set them up just like you would any other time

[@maxcatmur-hill4239]

@Brant_Moore gotcha! Also I think I was getting it the wrong way round, your getting the brake pad closer to the rim right?

[@CristianG13]

are we sure thats not Rob Dahm?

[@pine51]

Thought i was the only 1