Bicycle Mechanics - Cantilever brake repair parts - plastic spring housing

I've got a couple of bikes in need of the plastic spring housing on the cantilever brakes. I'm not sure what the official name is for these bits and I couldn't find them on the BikeToolsEtc site.

Does anyone know of a source for these? The LBS I help at seasonally is basically not able to get the repair packets anymore, or at least not from their usual sources.
Hopefully I don't have to buy a new complete brake arm just to get the plastic bits.

These two are off the front of a 1996 GT Outpost, one other bike in need is a Trek kids MTB, and I think I've got one or two more in need as well.

If I can't find spares I'm going to try superglue and then wire wrap around the outside of the housings and secure the wire with some sort of epoxy. Cheap but functional, if it works as a last resort.

Thank you for any links or help.

Unfortunatley Shimano doesn't make these anymore. Your best bet is new brakes. You could buy some used brakes and canabalize them for parts but that's going to be as expensive as new brakes. Sorry about the bad news. I went through this a few months ago.

That's what I was afraid of. Looks like I'm going to start snagging the dumpster cheapo bikes for bits and pieces. Oh well, thanks for the verification.

I actually just went through this repair on a 2002 Specialized Hard Rock. I was replacing the cables on my brakes, and found that one of the housings on the front brake was cracked. I stopped off at the LBS on my way home to see if they had any replacements, and they did not. However, they maintain a tub of used brake parts, and after doing some digging, I found a set of four matching brake arms with all parts for $10. Maybe your LBS has the same sort of deal. If not, I guess you're stuck buying a brand new set of brake arms.

Is that housing even necessary for the brakes to function?
They look simple enough that you could jury rig an alternative...

doesn't nashbar sell a whole canti kit for 9.99?

I got off cheap, found a set of brakes out in the garage that I pulled off a parts bike last summer, went right on so one bike is good to go (for the brakes at least).

I'll be keeping an eye on the dumpster bound bikes this upcoming season and adding brakes to the list of quick grab items before they get tossed.

Oh, and yeah, those plastic bits are needed on the brakes that have them, help to hold the spring assembly in position. And when the plastic breaks then you can't adjust the little adjustment screws to balance the brake arm spring tension.

I had the same ones, all were cracked, brakes would always rub lightly on the wheel, brakes are kinda important, so got new ones, changed from cantilever to v-brakes, first thing i checked was the spring housing to make sure they are not plastic.