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Hydraulic Disc Brakes for an Electric Bike

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Written by:

Noah Staum
Updated March 7, 2023

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While installing hydraulic disc brakes on your new eBike may seem daunting, this guide to changing breaks will help you get started with information on the tools you need and steps to follow. After all, electric bicycles can be fast and need a powerful brake performance to ensure the rider is safe. Learning how to fix problems as they come up, like replacing the hydraulic brake setup, can help ensure your ebike lasts a long time.

Key Takeaways:

  • Remove the old brake assembly before installing the new one.
  • Make sure you have a bike tool with an Allen wrench.
  • After installing the new brake, test the wheel and brake out to make sure everything is aligned properly.

Install New Hydraulic Disc Brakes on an Electric Bike

Difficulty: Moderate

Time Required: 30 minutes

Total Steps: 7

Tools Needed: Bike tool, cable cutter (or any sharp cutting tool)

1. Remove the Old Brake Caliper

The first step in changing out your old brakes for new ones is to remove the brake caliper that’s currently on your bike. Brake calipers will typically be mounted to the bike with two or three bolts. Two of the bolts attach the caliper to the bike and the third attached the brake hose to the caliber. Find the three bolts and use the appropriately sized Allen wrench on your bike tool to remove them from the bike.

Insider Tip

  • Brake calipers will typically be mounted to the bike with two or three bolts
  • You can leave the handlebar grip and other components you removed off until the end of the installation process
  • Loosely screw the caliper to the bike to give you room to make adjustments

2. Remove the Brake Lever

Once the caliper is off, you’ll need to remove the existing brake levers. Take off the handgrip on the handlebars and an upright bar or mirror if the bike has one. Unplug the lever from the bike’s wire harness. Then, loosen the brake lever using the bike tool and slide it off the bike handlebars. You can leave the handlebar grip and other components you removed off until the end of the installation process.

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3. Install the New Brake Lever

Now that you’ve removed the old lever, you can immediately slide on the lever of the new hydraulic brake system. Slide the new hydraulic brake lever onto the bike handle and plug the electrical cable into the bike’s wire harness and position and tighten as needed.

4. Shorten the Brake Hose

The brake hose of the brake assembly runs between the lever and the brake caliper. Though it may not be needed depending on the assembly you buy, you may want to shorten the brake hose if it is too long for your bike. If brake adjustments are needed, use a cable cutter or any type of sharp cutting tool to shorten the hose.

Warning

  • Though it may not be needed depending on the assembly you buy, you may want to shorten the brake hose if it is too long for your bike
  • After fully installing the brake assembly, you want to make sure that everything is aligned properly

5. Mount the Hydraulic Disk Brake Caliper

Run the brake hose from the lever down to the brake disc where you will mount the new caliper. Hydraulic brake calipers will typically have a mount with two bolt holes that attach to the frame of the bike. Loosely screw the caliper to the bike to give you room to make adjustments. Then, squeeze the brake lever to align the caliper and the disc and tighten the mounting bolts of the caliper fully.

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6. Test the New Hydraulic Disk Brake

After fully installing the entire braking assembly, you want to make sure that everything is aligned properly. With the brakes released, lift the bike and spin the wheel. Make sure that the wheel is spinning freely without any friction between the caliper and the brake disc. Then, place pressure on the brake lever to stop the spin. If you can brake successfully, then everything is aligned properly. This is important to help make sure that you are less likely to have brake failures because the brake line is too long in your hydraulic disc brake system.

7. Replace Any Removed Parts

Now that the installation is complete, you can put any parts that you removed from the bike back on. Reinstall the bike’s handle grips, mirrors, and any other accessories that may have been removed from the handlebar. And if you found this article useful, we have more ebike hydraulic disc brakes tips you can check out.

Now that you have replaced the entire braking system on your bike, you may be interested in some information about your ebike motor like what to do if your ebike motor makes a clicking noise or other maintenance tips to help make sure the functional lifespan of your bikes with disc brakes is the most it can be. Additionally, you can learn the difference between rear and front-drive motors with our guides for the top rear-drive motor electric bikes and the best front-drive electric bikes. Lastly, we have a great guide on how you can convert a traditional bike to electric, should that interest you.

Sources:

*https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1wgZ8yhlnk

*https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqR-k3C-6nk

https://evelo.com/blogs/learn/video-hydraulic-versus-mechanical-brakes-for-electric-bikes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disc_brake
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_brake#Disc_brakes

Hydraulic disk brakes have 100% braking power on a bike when you are moving in forward or reverse directions.

https://www.championtrailers.com/disc-brake-installation/

The front-wheel brake of the bike accounts for as much as 70% of a bike’s braking capabilities.

https://cyclingtips.com/2018/05/complete-faq-to-road-disc-brakes/

Installing Hydraulic Disc Brakes FAQ

What are the advantages of disc brakes?

One of the biggest advantages of disk brakes is that they give you an increased stopping range as compared to rim brakes. Hydraulic disc brakes allow riders to brake for longer without the risk of locking the wheels. Disc brakes are also better all-around in inclement weather.

What is required to install disc brakes?

To install new disc brakes onto your bike, you’ll need to purchase a new brake assembly that includes levers, calipers, cables, and all necessary mounting equipment and screws. Make sure that the assembly is compatible with your bike.

Can I install disc brakes on any mountain bike?

Hydraulic disc brakes are not necessarily compatible with all mountain bikes. Compatibility depends on the frame of the bike, the type of wheels, and the positioning of the forks. These factors can get in the way of a standard disc brake system. Always check to make sure that a brake system is compatible with your bike before attempting to install it.

How much do disc brakes cost for a mountain bike?

The cost of hydraulic disc brakes varies widely. Some kits come with a brake assembly for both the front and the rear of the bike, while others come with parts for one brake. Prices start around $100 and go up from there.

Are hydraulic disc brakes worth it?

Hydraulic brakes generally perform better than other brake types, such as mechanical disc brakes and rim brakes. They have a wider braking range and are more sensitive, requiring riders to apply less pressure on the brake lever. While they are more expensive than other brake types, they can be worth it for the performance benefits.
Noah Staum Profile image
Noah Staum
Noah has a special ability to discover stellar new products (read: spends hours online shopping), especially if they help people create, watch, listen to music, and improve quality of life. Based in Los Angeles, he’s worked with several global social apps and is the creator of nonormal.life and White Spot Studios.