Bicycle Mechanics - rear brake problem

Hi Im new so go easy:), couple of days ago bought a new road bike. SCWINN FASTBACK love the bike but the rear brake wasnt tight enough so I tried adjusting it by the cable and I seem to have buggered it up :eek: , no matter how hard I try the left pad catches the rim and I cant get it tight enough can someone give a noob a little help, or point me in the right direction dont wont to take this to bike shop mfor little brake problem:o

Have you tried holding the pad with a pair of pliers when you tighten the retaining nut?

You mean the nut that attaches the brake to the frame?

Ok... I don't think I'm understanding your problem fully.

Are you saying that, with the cable relaxed... brakes NOT applied that the left pad is touching the rim, while the right one is still away from it, and when you apply the brakes the left pad tries to push the rim to the right, before the right pad attempts to make contact with the rim?

with the brakes relaxed the left pad isnt touching the rim but its closer than the right pad, when I apply the brake they move but the left pad is nearly touching the rim, the right pad is a lot further way then the left pad, also the brake is connected to the frame via 2 washers and then a screw from the other side, Am I missing something I never had this much trouble before, ussually to tighten up the brake You just adjust the brake cable making it tighter thus bringing the pads closer to the rim, hope this make sense cus its starting to confuse me now lol. I did try to tighten the washers that are atached to the spring and the spring popped out put it back on it seems to be ok, Am I right in thinking the right pad moves more than the left?, I just cant seem to position the brake so the left pad is further away hmm.

I think you have regular caliper brakes from your description of the "screw from the other side". There are two things to worry about being tight to make it work. The first is to make sure that the break assembly is securely attached to the fork. The second is to bind the brake caliper arms tight enough together so that there is not too much play but not too tight so that they bind when you apply the brakes.

When you tighten the brake assembly to the fork there is likely a nut on that "screw" you mentioned that will take a cone wrench. As you tighten the screw to the frame put the cone wrench on that nut to hold your brakes centered. You can micro adjust the position of the calipers using that nut.

After that you can worry about how close the brake pads are to your rim. Readjust the centering as needed.

Try the Park site for pics. http://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=20

The problem is the left brake pad is not SPRINGING BACK can I adjust the brake/spring so they are both moving correctly?, might just have to bite the bullet and take it somewere this is doing my head in.

Ok, this is simple. Go to the LBS get yourself a "Third Hand" or something similar.

http://www.parktool.com/images/products/productimages/det_BT-5_2005727_32726.jpg

Loosen the brake cable fixing nut, loosen the brake caliper fixing nut (the one that goes through your fork), install the Third Hand on your brake caliper and set the desired pad clearance, set the pads so you have equal spacing on both sides of the rim and tighten the caliper mount fixing nut, then tighten the cable fixing nut. Cucle the brakes on & off a few times to check for proper opperation and fine tune the brake adjustment with the barrel adjusters.

If you're still having problems, remove the caliper from the bike, carefully dissasemble the caliper (noting the location of everything), then clean, lube, and reinstall as above... that should do the trick.

Good luck

Thanks have sorted it now I removed the brake and re-attached it, Apparently you have to squeaze the brakes when tightening the nut on the forks, thanks for the reply much appreciated. By the way whats LBS I live in the u.k.

Thanks have sorted it now I removed the brake and re-attached it, Apparently you have to squeaze the brakes when tightening the nut on the forks, thanks for the reply much appreciated. By the way whats LBS I live in the u.k.

same as the us mate it means local bike shop..this is more of specialist dealers not really halfords!

Thanks have sorted it now I removed the brake and re-attached it, Apparently you have to squeaze the brakes when tightening the nut on the forks, thanks for the reply much appreciated. By the way whats LBS I live in the u.k.
Congrats mate, cheers! Happy trails!

Thanks have sorted it now I removed the brake and re-attached it, Apparently you have to squeaze the brakes when tightening the nut on the forks, thanks for the reply much appreciated. By the way whats LBS I live in the u.k.

LBS=Local Bike Store

^^^ That was covered in post 10, but thanks for playing :)