WebreaderShopNewsletterTop dealers & workshops

Bicycle disc brakeShorten the brake line with these tips

Adrian Kaether

 · 01.03.2026

To shorten a brake line, you need some tools and expertise.
Photo: Georg Grieshaber
Not every manufacturer installs the cables in visually appealing radii ex works, and the cable length generally has to be adjusted when installing a new brake. We show you how to do this here.
Topics in this article

1 Prepare material

Shortening a brake line is one of the more complex manoeuvres in the workshop. We recommend it: You should have bled a brake at least once before. In addition to the material for bleeding a brake, you also need other small open-end spanners, a line cutter as well as a pin, olive and clamping jaws or an appropriate tool for crimping the pin to match the brake and brake line to shorten a brake line. A drip tray under the brake prevents a mess in the workshop.

  • Bleed set & bleed block
  • Line cutter (only use for DOT or mineral oil!)
  • Pin & olive, matching the brake line
  • Clamping jaws or tool for pressing the pin
  • Brake cleaner & brake fluid
  • Allen & open-end spanner
  • Brake piston adjuster
To shorten a brake line, you need some tools and expertise.Photo: Georg GrieshaberTo shorten a brake line, you need some tools and expertise.
As for bleeding: Remove the pads and insert the bleed block.Photo: Georg GrieshaberAs for bleeding: Remove the pads and insert the bleed block.

>> Bicycle disc brakes: tips on maintenance and care

>> "Many bikers brake incorrectly" - Interview with professional mechanic Yanick Gyger

>> Braking disc brakes correctly: 3 top tips for the best power

2 Disconnect the cable

Use an open-end spanner to loosen the union nut and carefully pull the cable out of the brake lever. Lateral movements of the lines help if the line is very tightly pressed. Caution: When loosening the cable, some oil or brake fluid will usually escape from the brake lever.

Use an open-end spanner to loosen the union nut on the brake line.Photo: Georg GrieshaberUse an open-end spanner to loosen the union nut on the brake line.Allow the union nut and covers to slide up to the fork bridge. Otherwise they are easily forgotten afterwards when the new olive is already on the pipe.Photo: Georg GrieshaberAllow the union nut and covers to slide up to the fork bridge. Otherwise they are easily forgotten afterwards when the new olive is already on the pipe.
How do you like this article?
Then carefully remove the line from the brake lever. Keep the bleed screw closed. This reduces oil leakage.Photo: Georg GrieshaberThen carefully remove the line from the brake lever. Keep the bleed screw closed. This reduces oil leakage.

3 Shorten cable

Shorten the cable with the cutter. Caution: Too short is annoying. Only ever use the cutter for lines with the same brake fluid, i.e. DOT or mineral oil. Pincers are not a good alternative for cutting the lines to length, as they crush the line more than they cut it.

Use a cable cutter to shorten the cable to the desired length. If in doubt: it is better to be a little too long than too short.Photo: Georg GrieshaberUse a cable cutter to shorten the cable to the desired length. If in doubt: it is better to be a little too long than too short.

4 Put on the olive

Always keep the pipe pointing upwards. This minimises oil leakage. Place the new olive on the shortened line, attach the pin and press it straight down by hand.

First the new olive is fitted, then the pin is crimped to the pipe by hand.Photo: Georg GrieshaberFirst the new olive is fitted, then the pin is crimped to the pipe by hand.

5 Press pin

Now press in the pin with a suitable tool. Inexpensive: Fix the cable in a vice with pliers and clamping jaws and carefully hammer the pin in straight with a hammer. A more professional method is to use a special tool.

Crimp the pin either with clamping jaws and a hammer or with a suitable special tool.Photo: Georg GrieshaberCrimp the pin either with clamping jaws and a hammer or with a suitable special tool.

6 Fixing the cable

Insert the cable into the brake lever by hand. Then secure with the union nut using gentle pressure. Just a few Newton metres are sufficient. The union nut presses the cable and handle together using the previously fitted olive and thus seals the system.

Use the union nut to sensitively secure the cable. The cable and brake lever are pressed tightly together using the olive.Photo: Georg GrieshaberUse the union nut to sensitively secure the cable. The cable and brake lever are pressed tightly together using the olive.

7 Venting & cleaning

Bleed the brake. Then check the pressure point. Finally, clean.

Finally, the brake must be bled and then cleaned. Shortening the lines therefore requires appropriate expertise.Photo: Georg GrieshaberFinally, the brake must be bled and then cleaned. Shortening the lines therefore requires appropriate expertise.

Adrian Kaether

Adrian Kaether's favourite thing to do is ride mountain bikes on bumpy enduro trails. The tech expert and bike tester knows all about Newton metres and watt hours, high and low-speed damping. As test manager at MYBIKE, Adrian also likes to think outside the box and tests cargo bikes and step-through bikes as well as the latest (e-)MTBs.

Home

Most read in category Workshop