Bicycle Mechanics - Ultegra Caliper adjustment

I know this is going to show me to be a complete neophyte but anyways ...

I just adjusted my handle bars up to try to alleviate hand cramping, after
which I needed to adjust the front brakes as they had become too tight.

The thing I am not sure I understand is that they had space on the
left side ( as you look from the front of the bike ) but were jammed
hard on the rim on the right side. So I figured I just had to recenter
them with the adjustment bolt with an allen key. To put some more
space on the side I needed though I needed to go clockwise and it
was already tight and I didn't want to force it ...

I loosened off the cable a touch and tried adjust it that way but it
still seems to be jammed on the right hand side ... what am I doing
wrong? I already have our MTB's in the shop getting tuned and
want to at least solve some problem on my own.

Cheers
Damo.

I just adjusted my handle bars up to try to alleviate hand cramping, after
which I needed to adjust the front brakes as they had become too tight.

Exactly what did you do when you adjusted the handlebars? I'm thinking that your brake cable housing is now probably too short. If I'm right, you are going to need a new brake cable and housing.

You have a stem with the brake cable running through it? Make sure the stem is centered, and the wheel is in the fork straight for starters.

If you have cantilever brakes with a straddle wire and hanger, make sure the hanger is in the center of the straddle cable. Also make sure pads are clamped equidistantly (sp?). If you have one of those plastic Shimano thingys that "splits" the cable into a Y, the cable needs to be locked in the notch without the ramp. If you have Altus cantilevers, check the covers on the return springs. If they're cracked, you can't center the brakes properly.

Exactly what did you do when you adjusted the handlebars? I'm thinking that your brake cable housing is now probably too short. If I'm right, you are going to need a new brake cable and housing.

I think you might be right, I inverted the stem so that it went up instead of down and that did straighten the cable a bit, the housing still seems to be in the cup but I will have to check if it is seated or just floating in there ... bugger, this will mean rewrapping my handlebars too right?


You have a stem with the brake cable running through it? Make sure the stem is centered, and the wheel is in the fork straight for starters.

If you have cantilever brakes with a straddle wire and hanger, make sure the hanger is in the center of the straddle cable. Also make sure pads are clamped equidistantly (sp?). If you have one of those plastic Shimano thingys that "splits" the cable into a Y, the cable needs to be locked in the notch without the ramp. If you have Altus cantilevers, check the covers on the return springs. If they're cracked, you can't center the brakes properly.

No its just a road bike with Shimano Ultegra levers and calipers, the pads and all were perfectly aligned till I raised the bar. I figured there was enough cable to raise the bar a bit ... maybe not. The wheel is def in the fork straight...

Whaaaat, a road bike with a brake cable that goes thru the stem? And your description of inverting implies that it's a threadless stem, right?

Can you just post a pic?

No I don't have a roadbike with a cable through the stem, its just a regular setup. Yes the stem was threadless. Thanks for everyone's help, it turns out I just need to get another cable housing and not cut it as short.