Welcome to SRAM MTB brakes

SRAM MTB brakes give you more ways to stop than ever before. There’s a brake for every ride style and every rider. We’re here to help set you up with the highest possible performance and the easiest possible maintenance for the SRAM brakes on your mountain bike.

Through a series of videos and articles, we’ll cover the basics of your brakes. From the essentials you’ll want to know before hitting the trails, to tuning and servicing tips to make your brakes work the way you want, we’ll get you ready to ride in just four steps.

Still need to install your brakes? Installation is easy.

Registration | Bed-in your brakes | Adjust your lever position | Use pad spacers | Piston massage

Register your brakes

Register your SRAM brakes to receive tips to personalize, tune, and maintain your brakes. Plus, you can easily store your proof of purchase upon registration. Enter each brake’s serial number below to begin.

Serial Number

Serial Number Locator

Ride essentials

Step 1: Bed in your brakes

To get the most out of your new brakes, complete the brake bed-in procedure before your first ride. Bed-in is the process of controlled slowing to gradually heat the braking surface while evenly transferring brake pad material onto the disc rotors, allowing for consistent performance and minimal noise.

Bedding in your brakes using our specific steps is the only proven way to ensure optimal power, consistent feel, and quieter braking...And it only takes 10 minutes. It’s easy and very essential to complete this at home or in the trailhead parking lot before your brake’s maiden voyage.

MTB brake bed-in

E-MTB brake bed-in

Tech tip: Every time you install new brake pads and rotors, bed-in must be repeated. Skipping bed-in will reduce your system’s power and increase the chance of brake noise.

Step 2: Adjust your lever position

Did you know your brake levers can slide along and around the bar to find the most comfortable position for you? With your wrists in a neutral riding position, make sure your index finger forms a straight line with your lower arm to achieve true one-finger braking with maximize power and minimize fatigue.

Customize your levers for your hands

Brake lever fit and feel is a personal choice, and adjusting your SRAM MTB brakes to find your preferred lever position is simple. Start with Reach Adjust to get full one-finger control no matter your hand size and finger length. Turn the Reach Adjust knob counterclockwise to move the lever blade closer to the handlebar.

Tool free reach adjust

Tooled reach adjust

Your brakes may have another point of adjustment as well. Check to see if your lever has a Contact Point Adjust dial. Totally separate from the Reach Adjust mechanism, this will alter the lever bite point, whether you want more immediate feel with a short throw or the increased modulation of a long throw. Follow the directional arrow on the lever to rotate the contact point inward, increasing the lever travel required for the brakes to engage the rotor.

Step 3: Use pad spacers

Pad spacers are small pieces of plastic that serve multiple important purposes. They ship with most new bikes and SRAM MTB brakes. These absolutely belong in your bike toolbox, not your junk drawer. From preparing the caliper for installation, swapping your brake pads, to simply keeping your pads in place while your wheels are removed, pad spacers are a powerful tool to have handy.

Tech tip: If you need to find pad spacers, ask your local bike shop to see if they have any spares. Pad spacers are caliper-specific, so make sure you use the right one by ordering with SRAM part numbers:

For Level brakes: 11.5018.062.000

For Code brakes: 11.5018.062.002

For DB 4/6/8 and Motive brakes: 11.5018.062.002

For Maven brakes, pad spacers will be included when purchasing new brake pads:
00.5315.023.031 (organic pads)
00.5315.023.032 (sintered pads)

Step 4: Get to know your piston massage

As your pads wear down over time, your caliper pistons may need a little extra massage to get moving properly. Don’t we all? Follow these steps to get your pistons moving happily again: