yashinon

The front caliper on my 7.4 FX keeps coming apart. Started just before a charity ride in which I spun the handlebar around a tad too much. The caliper has been loose ever since. Is there a way to fix this at home?

Thanks!

dksix

Are you speaking of the dust boot sliding off the end the end of the cable noodle?

yashinon

No the cable noodle coming out the "cradle" or whatever is holding it in place.

altondavis2

Looks fine to me.... WHats the problem ??

flan48

I know exactly what you're talking about. All you need to do is remove cable from the "cradle", and using pliers, close up the opening to the same width as your rear brake set up. Re-insert cable and you're done.
Best regards

zeeway

This also happens to mine, if I am not careful how I put it in the rack on my car. The front wheel arm on a Thule rack will push against the front brake, at times, and cause this to happen.

fietsbob

+1, There has been occasions where the piece the noodle sits against (on that arm without the cable clamp bolt) ,

spreads out and squeezing it back around the noodle seat end, with a pair of pliers is how I dealt with it.

yashinon

Thanks! I will try pliers!

flan48

Hi Yash,
So is the problem fixed?
Best regards

yashinon

I did use pliers yesterday and the caliper seems better. I don't use the front brakes very often, if it continues to be an issue, the bike still under warranty.

dynaryder

You should always use them. 70% of your braking power is in the front. Even if you aren't stopping hard,if you don't get used to properly using the front,you won't when it comes time to make an emergency stop.

Grey.

It's good advice. When I started riding again a few years ago I had to "re-learn" how to use the front brake properly.

yashinon

I guess along the line (as a young kid), I heard that using the front brake can cause the bike to flip. However, I understand your point.

dynaryder

That old saw has been around for years in the motorcycling world. Prolly due to the fact that the old drum brakes weren't that good,and the new discs were much stronger.

Interesting story: Honda's factory race champion Nick Doohan crashed and messed up his right ankle,which normally works the back brake. So he had a second lever added to the bar by the front brake so he could use both with his hand. He couldn't use it very effectively,but didn't care because he rarely used it. If a dude racing motorcycles at 200mph doesn't use his rear brake much,that pretty much shows how important it is in the two-wheeled world. Of course,it's useful off-road,but that's another topic.