Bicycle Mechanics - Arg! Them brake pads!

I was doing some post-race repairs, and I decided to straighten my brake pads. Well, I was pretty much finished, so I tightened them. Anyway, I kept trying for about a half hour, but they kept rotating when I thightened them. Is there any way to stop it from rotating so much?
-Thanks, Justin

What brand of pads are you using? Are they threaded (as on road bike calipers) or studded (as on cantilevers)? Some folks like to stuff a bit of paper or cardboard between the pad and the caliper, on the forward side of the mounting bolt.

If you are working on V-brakes, there is a simple trick. Release the return spring on one brake arm. This will draw the opposite pad tight up against the rim. Now, you can tighten the pad down without it turning.

Originally posted by RegularGuy
If you are working on V-brakes, there is a simple trick. Release the return spring on one brake arm. This will draw the opposite pad tight up against the rim. Now, you can tighten the pad down without it turning.

I doubt that would really work....what u need to do is simply hold the pad straight with your hand....it will work if u hold it hard enough, and its really not that hard to do.

Originally posted by KleinMp99


I doubt that would really work....

It works for me.

i dont see how that would work, the arm wouldent be pulled hard enough for it to not move.

I release the springs also Regular Guy, only I release both of them and then put a rubber band around the brake arms. That holds the pads flat against the rim, and keeps them from rotating. If, however, the pad does rotate, you can hold it with one hand while tightening with the other because the rubber band leaves both of your hands free.

no no no no no no no no no no no no ......................if you release one spring, the other arm flops around, and if you release both springs and put a rubber band around the arms, it wont hold the arms tight enough against the rim for the pads not to move.....its almost impossible to push as hard as u can and find any luck with the pads not moving. Unless you have some freakin sticky pads...

Klein, it works. I have used the method I mentioned many times, and if you don't like it, write to Leonard Zinn, I got it from his book. Plus, read my post, I said it frees up both hands so you can hold the pad if needed. With no rubber band, you have to try to hold the pad against the rim AND hold it so that you can tighten it...That doesn't work unless you have three hands.