SECURE BIKE · CHECK PADS · TEST BEFORE RIDING
FIX
Replacing V-Brake Pads
Six illustrated steps. Work through them in order — each frame is a single, copyable action.
You need a 5 mm hex key and a new pair of pads. About fifteen minutes, no special skills. The simulator below is the same job shown as discrete frames — use the Play button or step through with the arrows.
Before you start
- Put the bike in a stand or flip it upside down so the wheel spins free.
- Squeeze the brake lever a few times to feel the current pad gap.
- Note which pad is the "leading" edge for toe-in later.
Warning
Never ride with the metal backing plate touching the rim. That destroys the braking surface.After fitting
Set the gap to 1–2 mm, squeeze the lever hard a few times to seat the pads, then spin the wheel and confirm it stops cleanly without rubbing.
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Want to see the parts in 3D? Open the caliper teardown simulator.