Bicycle Mechanics - Unaligned brakes?

Whenever I'm riding the bike I feel like the back brakes are touching the back wheel even though I didn't press the brakes. Then I took a look at the back wheel and I see that the brakes are like touching the wheel. And I'm not sure how to fix the brakes so that it doesn't touch the wheel again.

it's a brand new bike that probably been used only 3 or 4 times. Yet I could see that the back brakes already wore out a lot cause it's in contact with the tire regardless im using the brakes or not.


is there a way to fix this problem?

What type of brakes are they?

Yeah, knowing what type of brakes they are may help.

V-Brakes?

Cantilever?

V brake

To be clear, you are saying the 'rubber' pads on your brakes are rubbing on the 'rubber' of your tires?

no, the brakes are perfectly aligned with the tires so that only the "rubber" of the brakes touches the "metal" of the tires. But the problem is that the "rubber" of the brakes is CONSTANTLY touching the metal part of the tires. So basically whenever Im riding my bike there's a huge resistance due to the brakes always touching the tires even though I don't even press on my brakes.

no, the brakes are perfectly aligned with the tires so that only the "rubber" of the brakes touches the "metal" of the tires. But the problem is that the "rubber" of the brakes is CONSTANTLY touching the metal part of the tires. So basically whenever Im riding my bike there's a huge resistance due to the brakes always touching the tires even though I don't even press on my brakes.

There should be a little screw on the side of one or both brake arms. What that screw does is to increase or decrease the return spring tension. Generally turning the screw clockwise will cause that brake arm to move away from the rim. Fiddle with them and see if you can get the spring tension balanced on both arms.

There should be a little screw on the side of one or both brake arms. What that screw does is to increase or decrease the return spring tension. Generally turning the screw clockwise will cause that brake arm to move away from the rim. Fiddle with them and see if you can get the spring tension balanced on both arms.

Yep but just dont strip the screw or bolt cuz its a pain in the ass to adjust if you do:notamused:

is the wheel balanced and centered in the fork/rear? this can cause it to rub on one side i found out if not seated properly.

how do you tell if the spring tension on the brake arms are balanced?

how do you tell if the spring tension on the brake arms are balanced?

Just tweak the tension screw until the pads are centered around the rim.