The Basics of V-Brakes - How They Work and How to Adjust

Michael from Ivanhoe Cycles will take you through the basic parts of a V-brake system. Then once that is done, he will take you through the easy steps to adjust the V-brake system. If you have noisy brakes on your bike and want to learn how to adjust them at home - voila! See if this tutorial can help you.
As always, we are open to any requests/suggestions of videos you would like us to make.
We hope you enjoy!

[@jpsivori3590]

Brilliant as some of the other YT vids on V-brake adjustment are, Michael's gave me the light bulb moment when he was tightening the locking nut : you have to squeeze the brake lever while adjusting the cable length going through the nut. 1 hour to adjust a brake (not very well at all) has been reduced to about 3 minutes. Great stuff.

[@stinkfun]

What a great instructional video. Clear, straightforward, calm. Imagine if Mr Rogers had an episode where he showed kids how to adjust V-brakes. This is it.

[@IvanhoeCycles]

Haha thanks David! Appreciate your feedback :)

[@kevind6956]

Very well explained and not rushed. One of the best 'how to' videos I have ever seen and I've finally resolved a persistent brake problem on my wife's bike. Thanks Mike.

[@IvanhoeCycles]

Great to hear & you're welcome :-)

[@hiramsimon7524]

Thank you, Michael. This was the first video on the subject that explained to me in a theoretical way how the brake system works. Because I am one of those people who needs to understand why he is doing what he is doing, that made it much more effective than the others I had looked at first. The proof was in the pudding, because I was actually able to properly adjust the brakes on my son's bike and not resort to the experts at the local bike shop - which would have been the normal course of action. Next I'll be hunting for a video from you on the subject of gears!

[@IvanhoeCycles]

That's fantastic - well done! Really glad you enjoyed the tutorial and found it useful.

[@lessteed9678]

The "That's better" after he adjusted the break just made my day and I don't know why :)

[@user-vb4rj9vv6t]

Les Steed Brake*

[@dehoedisc7247]

The Doctor of Brakes is pleased that the Patient is better, and expresses it with a simple, but soothing "ah".

[@IvanhoeCycles]

Hahaha glad to make your day :-))

[@emilydaisy747]

Oh me too! Michael is my favourite!

[@randalldixon5271]

Excellent video. This was my first time ( I'm 52 ) adjusting my brakes. After watching this video it took me less than 5 minutes. My cables had stretched and everything is still new on bike. Only rode it a couple of times so it had been sitting awhile. You were very clear, concise and knew what you were talking about!! Thank you very much!! Felt very good doing this myself!!

[@IvanhoeCycles]

Thanks! Glad you found it useful :-)

[@mroflynn7769]

Wonderful demonstration Michael , so clear and easy to follow. Great teacher.

[@AntonioSalazar-db1eb]

Great video, I wish all stuff on KZbin was this quality

[@IvanhoeCycles]

Thanks very much Antonio and glad you liked it :-)

[@janewarren8642]

Thank you. At last a simple guide that is easy to follow and actually teaches me what to do. I am really grateful.

[@w6263]

You are a godsend, seriously! Thank you so much for this video so clearly explained. Much appreciated! I didn't know the name for that part of the brake block 'Conical washers'.

[@TheRealRussellSmith]

Thank you so much! After lots of faffing I found your video and have now fixed the brakes on my daughters bike. She’s super happy about it and so am I!

[@IvanhoeCycles]

Glad it helped! :-))

[@derekjohnyuen9037]

That was very helpful. I was able to make the adjustments to my V-brakes I needed from your clear instructions - Thanks Michael.

[@IvanhoeCycles]

No worries Derek!

[@kellysinkinson8161]

Very clear instruction and smooth delivery. Helped me adjust my brakes for today's ride. Nice background music!

[@jifraser2041]

Thank you Micheal. Its Xmas Eve and you saved me from having to present a Xmas present to my 8 year old that was unrideable. Lovely clear video. You have much more patience that I do! Thank you again and Happy Christmas!

[@hectorgreek8389]

Excellent video,clear and relevant.Thank you from England.

[@hp4194]

This is really helpful, simple and clear enough for a non-mechanically minded granny to follow! Thank you.

[@IvanhoeCycles]

You're very welcome!

[@sophiemorrey2606]

Fantastic video, thank you. Really useful, clear instructions and excellent filming. 👍🏻

[@petervangeenhoven6991]

Super explanation! I've done this many times but feel like I learned something new in this video!

[@countmorrisgaming2314]

Very well put together video and very informative but straight to the point. Thank you

[@gpuretic]

Extremely instructive video, all the necessary adjustments explained in a simple way, thank you very much!

[@IvanhoeCycles]

You're very welcome!

[@zenmodo]

Thank you Michael! I have not had a lot of experience with V bakes nd your walk through was perfect. Will look forward to more videos from you.

[@itsvedanshstunts2658]

When he said '' that's better " I was saying that word all that day 😁

[@IvanhoeCycles]

Lol! Seems to be a favourite, that one...

[@huarra697]

Thank you brother. Nothing more and nothing less. Optimised content. Wonderful

[@IvanhoeCycles]

Much appreciated!

[@peterhamilton8913]

Very helpful video, thanks for sharing

[@cdrive5757]

Well done. Many will be grateful if you make more. Thanks!

[@sdlan4978]

Thanks for the video, im new to bike maintenance and this just fixed my girlfriends brake issue.

[@IvanhoeCycles]

Great to hear!

[@suhasjoshi24253]

Very nice video explaining abc of V- Brake system. Thank you for sharing.

[@IvanhoeCycles]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching :-)

[@andynonyabusiness149]

Thanks for the video. Very clear instructions. Completely took away the stress of working on my bike.

[@IvanhoeCycles]

Great to hear!

[@crazyjayb7817]

5 years later and still helping people :)

[@IvanhoeCycles]

Yeyaaa! So happy that these videos still help people. We're actually about to start making some more to post.

[@carolinaburgerqueen8982]

Wished I would have watched this before I started messing with my granddaughters new bike. 🚲 Urrggg!!!

[@verangakarunaratne7770]

Very clearly explained. Thank you very much !

[@IvanhoeCycles]

You are welcome!

[@benarmstrong1237]

Thank you very much. That was really helpful and allowed me to sort out an ongoing problem.

[@LoveHandlesss]

Clear and simple! Thank you!

[@IvanhoeCycles]

Thanks Antonis!

[@clocksandradios]

Excellent video. Thank you from Wales, UK

[@IvanhoeCycles]

Thank you from Melbourne, Australia!

[@colinfraser9872]

Damn....you made this so simple.....had a headache trying to fix mine.....thanks buddy....

[@IvanhoeCycles]

Glad we could help!

[@123lusaka]

Really clear instruction - very useful indeed. Nice unhurried delivery from Michael - Thanks from London!

[@IvanhoeCycles]

Glad it was helpful!

[@VishwajeetPandeyGV]

Thank you. Simple & complete instructions

[@IvanhoeCycles]

Thank you!

[@glenfisher189]

Thanks heaps mate. Just repaired my girlfriends brakes and she’s now happy to start riding her bike to work. Really helpful tutorial.

[@IvanhoeCycles]

No problem 👍

[@emmab7658]

Excellent explanation, this helped me a lot!

[@IvanhoeCycles]

Awesome! Glad we could help :-)

[@d.j.moynihan4821]

Super video. Well presented and explained. Very good and thank you!

[@Semaforre]

Thank you, easy to understand and apply for a newcomer :) My bike brakes much better now!

[@rawfoodphilosophy7061]

thank you very much. I was deciding on an expensive bike with disc brakes or a cheaper bike with v-brakes. I'm going with the cheaper bike. Very clear instructions and great for a person with no knowledge of bike brakes!!!

[@IvanhoeCycles]

Glad I could help

[@unreliablenarrator6649]

Excellent tutorial, clear and systematic.

[@IvanhoeCycles]

Many thanks!

[@harrycalderbank6715]

Outstanding video. You have a very easy to understand way of explaining things. My problem was with one side of the brakes moving and the other not. It continually rubbed on the wheel. Your explanation of how to adjust that spring tension was clear and very helpful. Well done and thanks!

[@IvanhoeCycles]

Thanks mate, really appreciate that!

[@cheeryblossoms2011]

Thank you so much! My brother just gave me a bike, but the front brake isn't working well. I'll give this a try tomorrow!

[@tonycalvert3426]

Very clear instruction which is easy to follow. Nice to know the cause of brake fade and how to remedy it. Keep up the good work.

[@IvanhoeCycles]

Thanks Tony! Glad it was helpful. Let us know if there are any other specific videos you would like to see in the future.

[@thewanderer8]

Perfect and to the point. Thanks.

[@robertbrusellenglishguitarist]

Many, many thanks for posting this video. My V-brakes are rubbing & I searched in youtube for ages & ages. I don't know, I must be a dinosaur or something. It's all hydraulic brakes now-a-days and then I stumbled across your video. Very well presented, concise & informative. You showed me exactly what to do. Excellent!!

[@IvanhoeCycles]

You're welcome!

[@murrrr8288]

Fantastic! Thank you!

[@pomplemouseevans68]

Super video, thankyou!

[@robineldridge7653]

Really well put together and the presentation was absolutely first class - thanks for a great session.

[@edh132]

Thank you sir, kept it simple and easy to understand. Bravo

[@IvanhoeCycles]

You are welcome!

[@xxxwhy123]

All the way from canada, thank you so much, precise and clear direction like this video provides is seldom come by, I will definitely subscribe to your channel and look forward to more repair videos.Again thanks, what a huge help.

[@IvanhoeCycles]

Thank you! That's really nice feedback. If there are any specific videos you would like to us to make in the future, let us know. We are always open for suggestions and ideas.

[@qajussi]

Great video. Very well explained. Thank you,.

[@IvanhoeCycles]

You're welcome :-)

[@JackieChan-dc5ds]

Great video. Clear and precise to the point. Thanks.

[@IvanhoeCycles]

Glad it was helpful!

[@IvanhoeCycles]

Glad it was helpful!

[@xiaobogu4205]

Perfect video for bike breaks

[@IvanhoeCycles]

Thank you!

[@mikewilliams68]

Very well explained tutorial. Only thing missing is the order that the washers go onto the brake block shaft.

[@JohnKirton]

I was stuck trying to figure out my brakes. Your video helped me A LOT

[@IvanhoeCycles]

That's awesome - glad to help!

[@robpealing]

Thank you for this helpful videos

[@IvanhoeCycles]

You are welcome!

[@claudiadose]

Thanks man, this was the best instruction.

[@IvanhoeCycles]

Glad it helped

[@justinvogel982]

Please somebody tell me what do I do when there's no mount for the V brakes at all on the Forks

[@nickandnicksconstructionti9508]

My son n I just went through heck from changing a tire tube then have a situation with the rear brake . Not knowing anything about a v- brake system I looked up several videos with no help . I just came across this video and it is extremely accurate. Showing every piece of the brake system. Now I can most certainly fix our bike brakes w actually knowing what everything does 👍

[@IvanhoeCycles]

Hey that's awesome! Really glad it was helpful.

[@tempestlag]

This helped me fix my break ! Thanks!

[@IvanhoeCycles]

You're welcome! Glad it helped :-)

[@michaelrowe5896]

Ivanhoe Cycles hi I might be dumb, but on my Giant Escape 3 the adjustment for the brakes didn’t work at all. I have no front brakes. Followed your instructions and took my time. Only one side of the brake moves and it is extremely frustrating I hate it. It’s brand new bike too. 2 months old not ridden much because of snow.

[@johnsamson4124]

Thanks so much this was verrry helpful, I wasn’t able to reattach my vbrake, adjusting the cable had worked!! :)

[@IvanhoeCycles]

That's great! Glad we could help.

[@PRINCI_0037]

Beautiful cycle a

[@TAZMAN200911]

Ah...Here, V-Brakes nowadays. Last time I was on a bike is 40 years ago. Different story then. Not a lot changed. Mainly the brakes, what I needed help with. Great video and well explained. thanks Guys.

[@IvanhoeCycles]

Thank you sir!

[@glenntoplis8872]

Thanks,I learnt a lot.

[@IvanhoeCycles]

No worries Glenn - thanks for watching!

[@awonderfulworld5328]

Your video is great and it has helped me a lot. Thank you so much 😊

[@IvanhoeCycles]

You're welcome 😊

[@30smsuperstrat]

Awesome tutorial !

[@IvanhoeCycles]

Thank you!

[@daisynguyen6015]

Thanks lots, your guiding video is really helpful

[@IvanhoeCycles]

Glad you found it helpful :-)

[@gillean2]

Excellent video!

[@IvanhoeCycles]

Thank you very much!

[@MustangGT715]

Great video! Thanks for making it! :-)

[@IvanhoeCycles]

Glad you liked it!

[@joeecho2508]

Great video after I saw this video,,felt better about adjusting my own breaks,,thanks for this video,,,,,

[@IvanhoeCycles]

Awesome! Glad we could help

[@armaandeepsingh3758]

great video I was able to adjust my breaks.

[@IvanhoeCycles]

Very glad to hear you found it helpful :-)

[@MacKenziePoet]

Superb explanation!

[@IvanhoeCycles]

Thank you!

[@9034833838]

My v-brakes were badly stuck. MY effort was all wasted. Thanks for the video. Really helped me diagnose and understand the problem. I although ended up filing them to make space and reduce braking power for speed but I could've solved the issue with the help of video. Thanks

[@IvanhoeCycles]

Glad you liked the video :-)

[@OwzatOllie]

Superb video. Thank you.

[@IvanhoeCycles]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@davidcoomber4050]

Great advice

[@IvanhoeCycles]

Thanks! Glad it was helpful :)

[@vipinvipin0808]

Thanks a lot, will try on my son's bicycle !!! 😊😊😊

[@IvanhoeCycles]

Most welcome 😊

[@brendalucas15]

Thank you! You are a natural teacher Michael. For those of us with sensory issues it would be so much better without the background music.

[@riqtan6696]

Very helpful video.

[@IvanhoeCycles]

Glad it was helpful!

[@brendan.rebello]

Very well done video.

[@IvanhoeCycles]

Thank you very much!

[@treydrier3169]

This is a great instructional video. Very easy to follow and understand. A few close-ups in the first half would have been effective but great job. Thank you!

[@IvanhoeCycles]

Hi Trey, thanks for the feedback and glad you found it helpful overall. We've noted your suggestion about the close-ups for future videos. :-)

[@gulzarsingh3681]

Awesome. Problem solved. Keep it up

[@IvanhoeCycles]

Thanks !

[@donaldsuitemusic8902]

Great video: I had a problem adjusting my brakes. I bought new pads and now there going to work like new and greased the brake pad levers.The grease was dryed out.

[@buster68553]

Excellent - thanks!

[@IvanhoeCycles]

No worries!

[@mohammedakbar3477]

Very helpful Thanks

[@IvanhoeCycles]

No worries - glad you liked the video!

[@deweybarnes61]

great video thank you

[@IvanhoeCycles]

No worries - glad you liked it!

[@2real4reel]

Awesome! Thanks!

[@IvanhoeCycles]

You're welcome!

[@nhithu4112]

Fantastic.

[@IvanhoeCycles]

Thank you! Cheers

[@bethporter734]

Really helpful thanks

[@IvanhoeCycles]

No problem!

[@nicnak4475]

So well explained thank you ! I assume the angle of the arms affects the brake performance so once the arms are past 90 degrees it's best to replace the brake blocks ? thank you .

[@juancamacho4959]

thanks very helpful!

[@IvanhoeCycles]

You're welcome!

[@gavkirk]

Brakes make you stop suffering Breaks. Great tuition.

[@IvanhoeCycles]

Hehe thanks mate

[@martinjones5965]

Great video thanks heaps. Cute how 6m46s 6m51s was obviously mean for cutting room floor :)

[@RoadDawgLife]

Excellent! You took your time and explained things well. Even with that crazy British accent :)

[@IvanhoeCycles]

Thank you! Except we're Australian... hahaha

[@kassrripples3659]

British accent lolololol.

[@timblasser3984]

Thanks.

[@lowkeylowkey1000]

The silver /chrome part on the brake grip is the Barrel. The part that you thread the cable through is the Housing. Had to mention this incase people start referencing them as Thing-a-ma-jig.

[@alfredopereira6884]

Sir, bicycle brakes had been a mystery until today. You fixed my bike in the US across an ocean. Thanks a million. P.S. Do you have a video about how to fix wobbling on a tire (spoke adjustment). If you do please let me know, if you don't it would be another gem.

[@IvanhoeCycles]

Glad to help! And no, unfortunately we don't yet. But we'll be aiming to do a bunch more tutorials this year coming.

[@Tobiasskjacobsen]

Thanks you so much for the phenomenal instructional video! Very informative and great teaching. It worked for me! I've spent so much time on my V-brakes - and now it finally worked. My was how to adjust the two brake arms and you showed us how. One of my brake arms didn't wanna move when i used the lever.

[@IvanhoeCycles]

You're very welcome!

[@justken5]

*thank's to this i'm fixing my own brakes*

[@IvanhoeCycles]

That's awesome!

[@LaurieSavage]

Excellent, clear and to the point. Thanks.

[@IvanhoeCycles]

Nice :-) Thanks for the feedback.