Mountain Biking - Need help with v-brakes

OK, I just got my bike back from the first, free, "checkup" the LBS gives. Fork was lubed, everything that needed lubing was, it felt overall better except... the brakes. When I brake they make this swooshing sound, not squeeking. I looked at them and I saw that on one side, the screw was unscrewed quite far (I realised because the screw was blue and when it was screwed in totally I didn't notice the blue).
I'm going to be riding some nice trails this afternoon with some mates and there's a quite steep downhill, where the brakes would get really annoying: Any ideas? Unscrew the screw on the other side aswell? Clean the pads?


Thanks

I think those screws have something to do with the tension from the brake arm, are they linear pull?

http://www.parktool.com/repair_help/howfix_linearbrakes.shtml

http://www.parktool.com/repair_help/howfix_linearbrakes.shtml
Thanks. :)

Thanks. :)
When in doubt http://www.parktool.com/repair_help/FAQindex.shtml or www.sheldonbrown.com will provide the best answers

When in doubt http://www.parktool.com/repair_help/FAQindex.shtml or www.sheldonbrown.com will provide the best answers
I'll be sure to memorize that! :D

I'll be sure to memorize that! :D
dooooooo it!

LOL! It helped a bit to adjust the screws... but then what really helped was brushing aside the end of the brake cable. xD It was hitting the tyre every time I braked.
Braking still makes a noise but not half as bad as it was. I'll just experiment with what parktools tells me to do. :p

For gods sake don't let the pads hit the tire. That will cause unbelieveable damage very rapidly.

For gods sake don't let the pads hit the tire. That will cause unbelieveable damage very rapidly.
That's not what I meant! Not the pads, the end of the brake cable...

That's not what I meant! Not the pads, the end of the brake cable...
That's annoying

That's annoying
Yap. And the funny part is, I didn't realise this until I lifted the bike on it's rear wheel, spun the front and watched very carefully while applying the front brake. :p

Haven't you damaged your outer/inner cable? If you did, which you probably have, I suggest you replace it now. It'll rust and break eventually.

Haven't you damaged your outer/inner cable? If you did, which you probably have, I suggest you replace it now. It'll rust and break eventually.
I doubt I damaged it: all that was rubbing was that metal thing they put on the end of the brake cable so the cable strands don't fall apart: it was just the metal thing rubbing against the tyre, I'm sure. :)