Adjusting V Brake Pad Clearance With a Quick Grip

February 11th, 2008 by Jeff Moser

With the worst of the snow and mud behind me, I decided it was time for new brake pads, housing, and cables. Here’s a trick I used today that I’d like to share with you.

Getting perfect brake pad clearance is easy to do if you have a third hand. I like to use a Quick Grip for this application. Quick Grips are easy to find at your local hardware store, and come in handy for a variety of tasks.

Quick Grip

Here’s what I do to get perfect V brake pad clearance:

  1. With the cable loose, put the Quick Grip on the brake arms, and squeeze them all the way in until the brake pads touch the rim.
  2. Next, turn the barrel adjuster up at the brake lever almost all the way out.
  3. Going back down to the brake arms, pull the slack out of the cable, and tighten the bolt that holds the cable in place.
  4. Remove the Quick Grip. The brake pads should still be touching the rim.
  5. Finally, start turning the barrel adjuster on the brake lever back in, backing the pads off the rim. Keep turning the barrel adjuster in until the wheel spins with no rubbing, and the desired lever feel is obtained. The final position of the barrel adjuster is usually almost all the way in. This provides a little room to play with if you decide you need some more slack.

10 Responses to “Adjusting V Brake Pad Clearance With a Quick Grip”

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  1. 1 Fred  on Feb 11th, 2008 at 10:23 am

    Thanks for the posting. Somewhat counterintuitive, so not a method that many would discover on their own.

  2. 2 Mark  on Feb 11th, 2008 at 10:23 am

    I have used nearly the same technique for years, but with using only my hands. Maybe I just have BIG hands!?! What is the advantage of the Quick Grip? Well other than having another tool, never hurts to have another tool.

  3. 3 Ghost Rider  on Feb 11th, 2008 at 1:14 pm

    Great method! I never thought about using the cable adjuster in that particular way…sheer genius.

    Mark, the Quick Grip just makes things a bit easier. You can concentrate on one step at a time without losing your handgrip on the pads. I used to use my hands, too, but found that the Park 3rd hand tool makes the whole process easier. As some people might know, though, that Park tool isn’t the most adjustable or secure. I might just try a Quick Grip instead!

  4. 4 Quinn  on Feb 11th, 2008 at 1:16 pm

    I have large hands as well, and have been using the same technique for years, of resetting the barrel adjuster, pinching a penny between the pad and the rim, pulling the cable taught, tightening the bolt and adjusting the barrel.

    but I think I will pick up a Quick Grip and see how it works.

    Thanks Jeff

  5. 5 matthew  on Feb 11th, 2008 at 3:42 pm

    i do the same, only holding it with my hand rather than the clamp. my difference is i use a piece of white artist’s tape (thicker than masking tape) to toe the pads in.

  6. 6 Jeff Moser  on Feb 11th, 2008 at 7:17 pm

    Thanks guys.

    Mark - The Quick Grip is great for guys like me that don’t have a lot of dexterity. It just holds everything in place so I can use one hand on the wrench and one hand on cable. Otherwise, I’d probably slip or drop the wrench. Kind of like I did with the brake pads…washers all over the driveway!

  7. 7 Jeff P  on Feb 11th, 2008 at 8:04 pm

    Great idea. The Quick Grip can also be used for pressing in bushings on full suspension bikes.

  8. 8 Levi  on Feb 12th, 2008 at 8:36 am

    The QuickGrip is nice. Much easier than trying to clamp the brake pads in a C-clamp!

  9. 9 Marcus M  on Feb 12th, 2008 at 2:44 pm

    that is a great idea. Always tough to dial those brakes in without a third hand.

  10. 10 chris chavez  on Feb 13th, 2008 at 1:23 pm

    hello, i was hoping to sign up for your emails updates and notifications, to get those tips, thank you, chris

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