AMERinMTL

Yeah yeah, i know they arn't the best brakes but they've been working out great for me till now, for soem reason i can't lock up my back wheel and i'm just not sure what to adjust. Basically i pull my brake lever until it won't go anymore, it locks the back wheel if it's spinning but put my weight on the bike and some forward movement and it brings me to a nice slooooowwwww stop. Annoying and my adjustments arn't helping to much. Any help would be nice, i tried the diatech site but apprently it's down right now? Guess i'll have to keep trying

CMcMahon

Get new brake pads; specifically, the salmon colored Kool Stop BMX or MTB pads.

Brian

New brake pads are like freshly chewed gum - soft and sticky.

hypersnazz

Also make sure your pads are adjusted properly. Hombres use pads with threaded posts (I'd love to get my hands around the neck of whoever designed the 990 with smooth posts), so all you gotta do to line 'em up nice and tight against the rim is loosen the nut just a little so the pad moves around (but isn't flopping around) and then gently squeeze the brake. You can get in there with your fingers and wiggle the pad around until it buts up real even against the rim. Tighten the nut back down, locking the pad in place and being careful the pad doesn't walk away while you're tightening (otherwise guess what? You gotta start over!). Repeat on the other side.

Brand new super sticky Kool Stops won't stop for sh*t unless they're properly adjusted and unless your old pads are worn down to a shiny glaze you probably can revive them. Start with the pad contacting the rim as close to flat as possible, if your brakes start squealing when you squeeze then VERY SLIGHTLY 'toe' the pads inward at the *forward* section of the pad. This can require some trial and error, but tell yourself at least you're not working on 990s in a Quamen rear triangle with no clearance for the 4.6 hands you'll need to complete the task.

AMERinMTL

well, it seems that the piece on the rear breaks that holds the cable on the end, not sure what it's called but it screws onto the break cable and goes on the one side of the break, well that metal piece somehow got a little loose and slid farther down the cable, didn't even think to look at that and randomly i checked it and there you go, problem fixed, further i adjusted things up and spent a good 30 min. just getting everything "sweet" and boy is it f-ing nice, everyone should take some time to do a full tune up, it's like i just got a new bike

hypersnazz

Ah, yeah. I don't have one of those anymore, thank god. Dual lower cables on both the BMX bikes.