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IT is not something you normally consider until you've found out the expensive way but brake lever clamp tightness is something i recommend you all check.

Most brake lever clamps need only be tightened to 4-6nm / 20-30lbin

If you don't have access to a torque wrench then pop to a bike shop and have them checked.

The lever clamps should only be tightened to the point where they hold still for braking but could move in the case of a crash.

I personally bent both of my lever blades on my avid elixr's





and this is what is left of Matt's avid Code lever after he had an off



i would go as far as to say that both were excessively tight and would probably have suffered a lot less damage if the clamps had been correctly torqued.

I ended up replacing my brakes at a cost of £200 but lever blades would have cost around £20 each plus potential need to re-bleed the brakes.

Matts sheared at the clamp meaning a whole new lever assembly is required at a cost of £120 + as well as a fresh bleed required.

lots of you possibly have yours torqued correctly already but this is a warning for those that don't.

if you can move the lever body by hand with a reasonable amount of force you might be ok but it is worth checking before you write your brakes off.

Good advice there. A decent torque wrench is a good investment, although the one I have doesn't have a low enough torque setting for some of the bolts so if anyone finds a good one then post it here please. Needs to start at about 2Nm. The ones like the BBB and X-Tools one seem the get varying reviews. Norbar do a 1 - 20Nm one though.

Its a good point, when i built my bike i did everything up FT (fucking tight) but then i saw a youtube vid about brake lever position and the guy explained about only having them just nipped up so i went around and undone everything to the point of a really firm push would move it.

Great sound advice and my only regret is this essential advice was not brought to my attention before the FoD trip

However it was well worth the trip, had a fab day.

And this >> http://superstar.tibolts.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=36&products_id=550 from my favorite supplier

I bought mine from machine mart for about £27

Good tip... i smashed a lever last year cos it was too tight.. its a fine balance between tight and loose... last weekend they were too loose and all over the place. A torque wrench might need to be purchased!

Glad its appreciated

What will a torque wrench tell you in this situation, all bars are made from different alloys with different finishes and lever clamps are different too, recommended torque settings are fine as long as you have the recommended set up !

just use your finger pressure to see if its too loose and your hand pressure to see if its too tight ?

The one thing a torque wrench will do however is get you used to how little pressure is actually needed on most applications, you'll be surprised, but don't take the 'recommended' settings as gospel just winding a bolt up to a recommended torque because its on the packet is silly !

What you say is true - however a torque wrench can be used not only to apply recommended settings but also to measure what settings work for you.

Once you know what torque level gives you clamp tightness, but a bit of slip, you can note it and quickly apply it whenever you are messing about with ur clamps.. ive tried doing it manually and it always seems to be a bit hit and miss.

No difference to setting sag i guess.. you can do it by measuring it every time, but its much easier once you have it, to note the pressure and just use that.

Of course its also an excuse to buy another tool!

I recall reading this tip before and my Saint brake bolts are slightly worn so prob been tightening a bit too much, I also noticed one lever was a bit bent but did bend back...so hopefully now they havnt been over tightened.