Bicycle Mechanics - Repair Help - Dia-Compe Grand Compe Brake

I found a pair of these awesome Dia-Compe Grand Compe brakes in the bin at my local co-op. I don't know what year or model in the Grand Compe family they are. A bicycle mechanic helped me put one together and I am using it on the back of my bike. However I have none of the special parts for the front one, and I am trying to fix it on my own in order to replace the standard Dia-Compe on the front of my bike.

This brake seems to require a special bolt for the top that is flat along one side, a special lever (one of which I got with the rear brake), and a barrel for the clamp behind the lever that is flat on both sides with the proper wire bolt and nut. I have not found any of these components at the local co-op when I dug through their bins. Atleast for the top bolt, I was going to do the same thing as on the rear, and sand down a standard adjustment bolt with sand paper on one side. Does anyone have and/or can anyone help me find any of the remaining parts?

Thank You

I have pictures of what the parts on the rear brake look like for reference.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v315/NukeouT/Helper%20Files/Photo0912.jpg
The front Dia-Compe Grand Compe brake I have with everything missing.

Reference of the rear brake that works.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v315/NukeouT/Helper%20Files/Photo0897.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v315/NukeouT/Helper%20Files/Photo0892.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v315/NukeouT/Helper%20Files/Photo0899.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v315/NukeouT/Helper%20Files/Photo0900.jpg

Those are nice, man. Good score!

Ya know, you could possibly find the needed parts on ebay. I acquired a Cyclone MkII rear derailleur that had no cable binder. I thought no way I'd be able to find that piece anywhere. Well, turns out there's NOS part coming up all the time for these old parts. You just have to keep an eye out. Use words like "barrel adjuster gran compe", "guick release gran compe", "gran compe brakes", "dia compe, etc.".......you get the drift? So, you never know. Then, maybe someone else around here has more/better help.

Good luck!

Maybe this'll help some......

http://www.yellowjersey.org/gc.html

http://www.yellowjersey.org/gc.html

The Gran-Compe GC-160 brake looks close, but the smaller parts GC170 looks quite different.. The GC65 parts from there look like they would work with my brake, so do the GC78.

I found a brakes that looks almost exactly like my set on this flicker Rossin, except for newer quick release levers. I dont know what year that bike is, or if those brakes came with that frame. Rossin was started in '74. If those brakes came stock that would date them to as far back as about '74 and as new as '85 when we start seeing newer Gran-Compe models. Seems like I can now atleast see what the parts that are needed may look like.

The Gran-Compe Brake
http://www.flickr.com/photos/raygunman/5184600216/in/set-72157625285316539

Rossin Flickr Gallery
http://www.flickr.com/photos/raygunman/sets/72157625285316539

Not sure why I didn't think to mention this before, but there should be a date on the back of one of the caliper arms.......ie, 06 78. I have three sets of differing models of older DC brakes and all have a date. Regardless, just to get the brake working for now, I don't see why you couldn't salvage some parts off of another/different DC or even Weinmann side pull until you locate what you're wanting. You don't have to have the quick release for the brake to work. There again, now that I think of it, I do have some Chang Star sidepulls that are a direct knock off of the DC 500 series of the early 80's w/ hardware that may get you up and running. Has the little rim protectors that protrude from behind the brake pads, too. I don't know.....if you wanna give it a shot, I'll give 'em to you for postage. If nothing but the rim protectors work (because they will fit for sure), you'd atleast have those along with some nuts and washers. Up to you, dude.;)

Oh, and btw, seems to me the DC 160 is what you have. However, there shouldn't be any mystery as to what parts you need for the incomplete caliper or what they look like as you already have one that is.

Not sure why I didn't think to mention this before, but there should be a date on the back of one of the caliper arms.......ie, 06 78. I have three sets of differing models of older DC brakes and all have a date. Regardless, just to get the brake working for now, I don't see why you couldn't salvage some parts off of another/different DC or even Weinmann side pull until you locate what you're wanting. You don't have to have the quick release for the brake to work. There again, now that I think of it, I do have some Chang Star sidepulls that are a direct knock off of the DC 500 series of the early 80's w/ hardware that may get you up and running. Has the little rim protectors that protrude from behind the brake pads, too. I don't know.....if you wanna give it a shot, I'll give 'em to you for postage. If nothing but the rim protectors work (because they will fit for sure), you'd atleast have those along with some nuts and washers. Up to you, dude.;)

Sure, lets try it. How much do you think postage would be?