Road Cycling - Is it... dead?

Ok, so in the process of trying to get my rear brake to open wider for my new wheels (so they didn't rub constantly while riding) I decided to do it myself... By watching the first YouTube video I came across that sounded like it would help me... And of course it's in horrible video quality...!

"It looks like he's unscrewing something over here..." :unscrew, unscrew, unscr: *SNAP* "Uhhhh... huh..."

http://i467.photobucket.com/albums/rr32/auditt2t/omgwtf_eyes.gif

So, BF, is my rear caliper dead?

http://i467.photobucket.com/albums/rr32/auditt2t/rear1.jpg

I unscrewed the screw in the top right hand of the brake. See how the right side of the caliper slid down? I can't get it back up unless I pull both calipers apart with awesome strength. And the screw in the left caliper won't align with the hole in the right caliper... Like it's twisted?

http://i467.photobucket.com/albums/rr32/auditt2t/rear2.jpg

The only way I can see the screw is if I scrunch up the calipers together now. And from this perspective you can see how the screw won't/can't get into the right caliper's hole.

I don't think that part of the brake was suppose to be touched, eh?

They're probably not dead. You just need to figure out how to get that setscrew out of there. I'd suggest squeezing the calipers together and shaking it upside down. Preferably in a location where you can find the screw again after it falls out. Then you just thread it in from the top again. Also, based on what I see here, you were screwing it in, not unscrewing it. Righty tighty and all that.

Next time, just loosen the the cable clamp bolt, let the calipers open the desired amount & re-tighten the cable clamp. Then fine tune with the barrel adjuster.

This is what happens when you use youtube videos as maintenance instructions.

You need to undo the cable clamp. Then you can pivot the arm around so you can get the bolt back in the hole.
There is a set screw that keeps the bolt from loosening. You should back it off, then when the bolt is back in, tighten it. The pivot bolt needs to be tight enough so there is no play but not so tight that that it binds.

If you mess it up the brake could fail catastophically. You should take it to a shop.

Thanks for the replies. Whew.

I fixed it and set the screw back to its original position. But now when I pull on the rear brake, the caliper won't loosen up and there's some "extra" brake cable slack in between the headset and rear brake until I pull the calipers apart 1-2 mm. Then everything is back to normal. Until I pull on the rear brake again. Any ideas? Any detailed websites?

If this sounds really unsafe, I could hold off riding my bike until Monday. I suppose... :cry:

If this sounds really unsafe, I could hold off riding my bike until Monday. I suppose... :cry:

If the calipers are staying closed after you release the brake lever, it sounds like your fixing bolt may be too tight. Unbolt your brake and follow the directions on the Park Tool page (http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help/dual-pivot-brake-service) step by step and I think you'll be fine.

If you don't want to tackle this today, unless you're doing a lot of serious descending you'll be fine using your front brake.

Thanks. I'll try this when I get home from work.