b3nsonx

hey, new to this forum. I have a really old GT bike, (10+ years old)
it still runs great and everything, but i cant lock the brakes when i brake really hard.
what should be upgraded for this? the pads or the cables?
a disc brake upgrade would be too expensive for me right now, so maybe in the future...

East Hill

We'd need photos to be sure, but it could be that the pads are very badly worn. It's easy enough to change both cables and pads, so why not do both?

Welcome to BF, and feel free to PM me with any questions !

East Hill

b3nsonx

could it also be that the rim of the bike is really dirty and the pads cant grip?
maybe i can try cleaning it to see if there's a difference?

East Hill

Could be...could be a combination of things. It wouldn't hurt to clean the rims though.

Have you ever changed the pads on the bike?

East Hill

b3nsonx

nope. i have a new set of pads right now, but the current ones seem to have a lot of pad left, so i think i will try cleaning the rim first. what should i use, rubbing alcohol?

East Hill

Get one of those nice scrubby back sponges, and your favourite bio-degradeable cleaner (something with citrus in it works really well).

Get a bucket of water, and have at it. Take a look at your brake pads, and if they look glazed, hit them with a bit of sandpaper.

East Hill

b3nsonx

cool, thanks.
what kind of grit sand paper should i use?
i have 100 and 600 grit.

East Hill

600(this is just for the brake pads, mind you, not the rims!).

You don't need to sand the pads right down, it's just in case you see that they look slick.

East Hill

b3nsonx

lol, thanks for all your help

East Hill

Anytime, and if you get your brakes working again, let me know .

East Hill

b3nsonx

yeah, the pads were REALLY glazed and i cleaned the rim, but there's a lot of black marks on it and im not sure what to do. should i use the 600 grit and sand the rim or is 600 too much?

Tude 

Seriously - I have never had to take a sandpaper to my actual wheel rim (course some of them have been so dirty that you would think I would want tooo) ---- and I wouldn't want too ... and I think I'd take a step back ... I'm sitting here right now looking over at my roadie on the trainer - and the wheels have some "ingrained" black "streaks" on them. But they are minimally invasive.

I'd take it to a LBS and have them mull over it - "really old" - meaning 10 years isn't that bad, depending on usage. Should not be that much $$ either for the cost - or even not $ for just the info on what needs to be done.

Just my thought.

b3nsonx

what's an LBS?
and what if i try to scrub it off with a toothbrush and some cleaning solution

East Hill

An LBS is a "Local Bike Shop". Have you tried a scrubby backed sponge? Those are very useful, and not nearly as destructive as sandpaper. I'm glad to hear that you have fixed the brake pads.

Try the scrubby sponge, and let us know how that works.

East Hill

b3nsonx

i have those, but my mom uses them for dishes, so i dont want to use it on my bike rim.
would a toothbrush work the same?

East Hill

It's a lot more work, and painfully slow.

Perhaps your mom could let you have one of the old dish ones?

East Hill

spin-n-grin

Last night I took a toothbrush and Simple Green (orange cleaner is good too, or dishwashing liquid if in a bind) to both of my non-anodized wheels which were covered in "black marks" because of the rain this past weekend. The black was a combination of road grime, rubber, oil, grease, rain and alloy dust that your brake pads love to mix together when they get wet. This is really abrasive too. Since you've changed your pads you wouldn't have to clean them, but ordinarily a good was does wonders. Sounds like your old pads could have been glazing - getting hard because of age and heat from the friction of braking - so best of luck.

East Hill-- Love your tag line, "Take a deep breath, and ask -- What would Sheldon do?" Even for those of us who never met him, he and his wealth of knowledge and love of life will be missed.

East Hill

Thank you. That tag line has made me stop and think many a time. His quick, but never cruel, wit is something I work to attain. I will never have the wealth of knowledge that Sheldon did, but I can always strive to be as kind and helpful.

And, welcome to you too!

East Hill