Bicycle Mechanics - Adjust Avid 1D V-brake- no tension screw for springs

I'm trying to get my Avid 1D V-brakes adjusted and centered- there is no screw on the side of the arm to adjust spring tension. I have been unable to get them perfectly centered- one side always hits before the other. I know I can put a wrench on the spring flats while tightening the mounting bolt, but is there a trick to getting them centered? Thanks.

post a pic of the brake or just bend the spring

Are you sure they are called 1D, think is should be 'Single Digit'; this will be prefixed by a number, normally 3,5 or 7

If you look at the manufactures website, there are tech docs on there, which will show how to setup / adjust

http://www.sram.com/en/service/avid/view.php?catID=1&subcatID=2

DO NOT BEND THE SPRING, this will not adjust the brake, will invalidate any warranty. Look at the instructions, and adjust it properly

They are one of the older Avid V-brakes, from 1997. As far as I know, they only say 1D on the brake, aka SingleDigit.

Pictures then please so we can see what you have

This is one I found online, the bike is currently at my LBS for some front derailier work.
197130

These look like the SD 10 brakes, which appear to be very similar to the current SD3 & 5 brakes

If you look at the manual for the Single Digit 3's you will see a piece on the back of the brake where it attaches to the fork/frame brake boss, this has a crosshead screw or allen wrench bolt, which is the alignment adjustor, It's clearly visible in the photo on this link. http://www.socaltrailriders.org/forum/market-place/25327-fs-old-stuff-avid-vs-levers-xt-739-rd.html

If this is missing, the brake can not be adjusted, and really should be replaced by a complete unit

These look like the SD 10 brakes, which appear to be very similar to the current SD3 & 5 brakes

If you look at the manual for the Single Digit 3's you will see a piece on the back of the brake where it attaches to the fork/frame brake boss, this has a crosshead screw or allen wrench bolt, which is the alignment adjustor, It's clearly visible in the photo on this link. http://www.socaltrailriders.org/forum/market-place/25327-fs-old-stuff-avid-vs-levers-xt-739-rd.html

If this is missing, the brake can not be adjusted, and really should be replaced by a complete unit
There are no alignment adjusters, just the spring attached to the square wrench flat. I was considering just replacing them with modern Avid V-brakes that have screw spring adjusters, but was hoping to get a few more miles out of them.

im going to guess you put a cone wrench on the square in the back and loosen the mounting bolt a little, tension with cone wrench and tighten the mounting bolt. the left brake spring also looks like it has been bent