Bicycle Mechanics - V-Brake: One side closer to rim

I'm having a little trouble adjusting the tightness of my breaks. If I try to tighten them up, one side touches the rim and rubs, so I then have to loosen it up.
How can I adjust one side to better match the spacing on the other side?

Dave

Isn't there a little screw on each brake? On the one's I've had there is one. It will increase/decrease the spring pressure on the pads. That's how I've adjusted mine in the past. You can also just unhook the spring on the one that is too close and bend it out a little to increase the pressure so it pulls it out further.
Hope this helps Dwagey!

I haven't taken the whole thing apart completely. But I have tinkered with what you are talking about. The brake itself. But I've noticed it only moves up and down not towards or away from the rim.


Dave

There are little screwes on each brake arm. If one side rubs, increase the tension (turn the screw to the right) on the other brake. That will even them out, and they wont rub. Those screws wont move them up and down, that moves them towards/away from the rim.

Check out the last pic on this page. It doesn't show the screw very well but I think you'll be able to find it.
http://www.parktool.com/repair_help/howfix_linearbrakes.shtml

I have had many problems with my old bike's V brakes. Well, I always tried to adjust the screws but end up in disaster most of the time.

Sometimes it's not the brake, but the wheel itself. Make sure it's positioned perpenticularly to the ground. Any slight error will cause the difference in the gaps.

This will sound stupid but did you remove your wheel recently to clean or change a tube or whatever? If you did when you put it back did you center the wheel in the dropouts? Check that. If that doesn't centre your v's use the tension screws on each side.:beer: