elad

HI,

I am trying to set up the rear set of Mafac Racer (vintage ) brakes on my new (vintage -again) bike.
The rear right brake holder keeps pulling the pad toward the rim diagonally, it's like the Brakes are deliberately toeing in. I have tried everything- changing the brake pads, playing with the traverse wire , and taking the whole brakeset apart. Please if there are any vintage experts out there- how do I get the brake pads to rest evenly on the rim.
P.S I have read that Mafac brakes were very good in their day-up with the best, so I assume that I am doing something wrong.
Thanks, E.

DIYGUY

Have you flipped the pads to be sure it is not the pad? If the brakes are the same reach for front and back, what happens if you switch them? If you cannot switch the brakes try switching front pads for rear ones and see what diff that makes. BTW - a little toe-in is preferred to cut down on chatter. Why is the toe-in a problem??

elad

Hi,
I should send some photos of the bike to make things clearer. The result of the exagerated to in is that the right brake pad is touching the rim at the tip of the pad, and a large space is created. instead of the brake pad being a couple of m.m away from the rim- well the front tip of the brake pad is touching the rim while the back end of the pad is away from the rim. The problem seems to be the spring. You have to see pictures of Mafac racer brakes to se what I mean.
Thanks,

Wordbiker

Slip an adjustable wrench over the brakearm, twist until the toe-in is set correctly.

Sure, you could get fancy and buy a tool like the Park Tool BT3



but the adjustable wrench accomplishes the same thing.