Bicycle Mechanics - brakes to fit a 70s-80s Fuji

okay, i know this question might sound strange, but hopefully someone knows what i'm talking about.

i recently acquired a Fuji Sagres (VALite tubing, I'm assuming late 70s - early 80s?). the only problem with it is that the front brake is absolute crap. i want to put a new front brake on. no problem. except, there's a problem.

the fork has no hole bored for the rear nut that comes with all modern brakes. on the stock brakes there's just a hex not on the back of the fork. i tried just using a regular brake with the stock nut at the back of the fork, but it appears the fork is really thick or something. the brake will not go all the way through the fork.

if anyone has any idea what i'm saying... is there any chance you also know of a solution?

thanks so much in advance.

jared

Hmm, very interesting. I sold Fuji bikes for many years, and from bad memory the Sagres either had a Dia-Compe center pull brakeset or a Dia-Compe side-pull brakeset. I do not remember any bike with caliper brakes not having a hole bored through the center of the front fork in order to attach the brake. On some bikes, there was a countersunk hole where an allen head nut would sink in. Considering that there is no hole whatsoever, I can only conclude that someone has replaced the original fork with an aftermarket one with no hole. I think that you might have to have a drillpress in order to sink a hold through the fork crown. Good luck !

He's saying there is a hole but without the countersinking. What kind of brake is it?
Tried new pads or better-quality pads?

You may need to buy 1 long reach brake (front), available at Nashbar and some other places.

You can solve the problem of mounting the brake in a variety of ways. See this site: http://sheldonbrown.com/gloss_ra-e.html#recessed

Too many modern mechanics on here :)

What you have is a fork that requires [what is referred to as] a nutted brake caliper, not a [modern style] recessed nut brake. The center fixing bolt is about 1/2" longer, and you may have a need for a curved washer on both the front and rear of your fork. Modern calipers don't usually have these.

As an alternative, you can drill out the hole in the rear of your fork. IIRC it's an 8mm hole, but I'd measure the shoulder on your recessed nut before committing to this.

To find a nutted mount caliper, come on over to C&V and post in the ISO/WTB sticky. You'll be glad you did.

And lets see what Bob Barker's won!
How are you building up the Fuji? My buddy had one of those exact bikes and it was absurdly light. Especially for having house brand steel. Didn't Fuji make the VAlite tubing? Anywhoo. sweet find.

VaLite was made for Fuji by Ishiwata.

You should be able to find a replacement Dia Compe sidepull next to nothing. Make sure the problem isn't the brake pads. Otherwise, drill out the hole a little on the back side of the fork and install a modern recessed nut brake -- but make sure it has enough reach first.

thank you to ALL OF YOU! you all nailed it, and Tinkeric, that link was very helpful. so i guess my brakes simply the traditional nut style, rather than the recessed type.

i will post on the iso/wtb board as you suggested Bob Barker.

as far as the brakes... the problem isn't the pad. the problem is that they're sidepulls and they don't open back up after released. that is to say, that the brakes are centered on the rim, then the lever is pulled and the brakes grab the rim. then if i let go of the lever, only one side of the calipers comes off the rim, the other is stationary.

i'm building it up as a singlespeed. actually, it's pretty much done. i just need a brake. stopping is pretty important to me.