i just got my new 2006 Pantera. last night i was putting it together and everything went on and fit like it should except for my brakes. i'm running 4+ year old Tektro mx-22's (i think). i have loved them to death on my old frames. i've never had a problem with them either.
my problem now is after i mounted my brakes, i noticed there is nearly no clearence or adjustment space. i did some detective work and i have come to find out that there is a tab on the bottom of the brake caliper that allows for an adjustment screw to compress the spring. it is resting against the chainstay, not allowing it to spread out completely.

my 2 questions are:
has anyone ever encountered this?
and
what brakes do you run on your Pantera?

I've not encountered it, but given the very small posts on the Pantera and the fact that your brake extends down past the the level of the bushing I'd say there's not much you can do about, apart from buy another brake. Most U brakes finish at the bottom of the bushing, in fact it's only the Tektro one that does this.

its worth getting a new one if you have lived with tektro for 4 years, go onto the un-stock stuff

what brakes do you run on your Pantera?

I dont have a Pantera, but i know from freinds bikes that Fly and Odyssey brakes will work on it with no problems.

(Of course Fly brakes would work, haha)

They are just a little pricey.

it's hard to part with my tektro's. they've been really great through the years. the fly brakes seem a little rediculous/over priced and i hated my evolvers when i had em. how's the primo e-brake? any other suggestions?

it's hard to part with my tektro's. they've been really great through the years. the fly brakes seem a little rediculous/over priced and i hated my evolvers when i had em. how's the primo e-brake? any other suggestions?
My Primo's are decent, the only problem that i have with them is no matter how hard i tighten them they lose thier tension every month or so, and i have to keep working on them...

But they will most likley solve your problem...

it's hard to part with my tektro's. they've been really great through the years. the fly brakes seem a little rediculous/over priced and i hated my evolvers when i had em. how's the primo e-brake? any other suggestions?

I had problems with my Ody's too. I have Revenge now. Expensive, but smoooooooooth. The dual sealed bearings make all the difference. You no longer have the metal/lube/metal to deal with, you have bearings to spin.:D

What was wrong with the Evolvers? You'd be better off going with the Primos anyway, as they're lower.


Kinetic Biker - If they're losing tension there's a problem, as you shouldn't have to tighten the allen bolt past pinkie finger tight. If you want to try and sort the problem put the brakes on without the springs in and tighten the bolts down onto the caps, if the brake arm doesn't move nice and freely you've got a problem, probably a crushed brake post.

What was wrong with the Evolvers?

Spring failure X2.

I've already said this - spring failure is a symptom, not the problem.

I've already said this - spring failure is a symptom, not the problem.

A sign the brakes are crap. My S&M Revenge work a-okay on the same mounts.

The chances of Evolvers being crap are pretty slim, they're just about the most popular aftermarket brake out there.
And whilst I'm sure that your Revenge brakes do work, I imagine that's more down to luck than anything else.

Kinetic Biker - If they're losing tension there's a problem, as you shouldn't have to tighten the allen bolt past pinkie finger tight. If you want to try and sort the problem put the brakes on without the springs in and tighten the bolts down onto the caps, if the brake arm doesn't move nice and freely you've got a problem, probably a crushed brake post.

I dont know why they are doing it, but i do know that the one part i dont work on myself is brakes, i take my bike to the local bike shop for my brakes. And i only trust two people to fix them, and they both know what there doing...
I have no patience(spelling?) for brakes, so i take them to people who do, and know what there doing.
For every other part i do it myself.