555-Shaggy

My girlfriend bought a new mountain bike yesterday but the front brakes are not quite right, I think they just need a little adjustment.. let me try to explain..

When she applies the brakes both sides of the mecahism pull in towards the wheel rim as normal when the brakes are released, only one side moves back away from the wheel, effectively meaning that one sides brake pad is constantly touching the wheel. I know this is not right and the rear ones are fine (just to prove that that is what should happen). Does anyone have idea how to adjust them so that the mecahnism does move back away from the wheel correctly?

ChrisB

Park Tools site (with pic's) might help.

seanks

Depending upon the make/model of the brakes, there will be either a small screw/allen head on the side of each brake arm. You can tughten or slakcen these to adjust the spring loading on the arm.
So if one side is much tighter than the other it will in affect pull away from the rim with more strength than the other side. Bit of a balancing act but will work.

cheers

555-Shaggy

Cheers Chris, I think that's what I'm after.. the adjustment screw on her bike is almost fully out, so by tightening it, it should pull the pads away from the rim.. which is funny really, because on the other side, its screwed in much more.. I'll be trying that tonight then for her....

555-Shaggy

Seanks, thanks for your help mate. Would you tighten / loosen these with or without the cables attached, or does it not matter?

wvoce

first off check that the spring is behind the little stop on the back of the brake arm.

if it is you will need to adjust the temsion screws if it has any. They are little screws at the side of the brake arm. One way applies more tension to the spring the other way reduces it.

If no adjuster screws just bend the spring away from the wheel a bit - not too much as this will add some tension.

pics would help but i havent got any i'm afraid

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Best done with cables in place.

Try to get the two screws balanced as far as poss.

Alcazar

555-Shaggy

Cheers Alcazar.. I'll do that then, while she cooks my dinner

seanks

Cables atttached.
Also with regards to the springs. Only bend these if really unable to balance the sides with the adjuster screws, unclip bend, slot back in place...

555-Shaggy

After some fidling last night and moving the screws on both sides, I manged to get somewhere near, but they are still not perfect - looks like somewhere close is the best that can be, at least now the girlie is happy she is not pedaling with the brakes on now.

Thanks for all your help chaps