Brakes Dont Work!

[mikesmith]

I Recently Changed my back tire. After I changed it my back brakes didnt work. I'm sure that my wheel is alined but it takes 2-3 seconds for the bike to actually stop. What do i do?!?!?

[OC Roadie]

When you changed the tire, did you release the brake calipers? Did you remember to re-engage them?

[mikesmith]

Ya I Did. I checked and rechecked everything

[DieselDan]

What kind of brakes do you have? Sounds like a pair of direct-pull cantilevers that were install worng to start with.

[MichaelW]

Some brake blocks have mould-release agent (from manufacturing) on the surface and need to be bedded in. I usually take new brake blocks to the top of a hill and roll down with some braking pressure applied. This strips off the surface rubber and coating.

[mikesmith]

Ya thats wat i have, direct-pull cantilevers. Mabye thats wat i get for buying it in a departement store.. I have another question..if one spring adjuster is striped out, could you tighten the other one to compensate? If you cant, that may be my problem.