Alot of it has to do with the spring tension being fine tuned and the straddle cable does matter; but mostly it is in how you tension the spings. I was just offering some advice as the it was specifically stated that the brakes were not to his liking. And I understand you are trying to keep it cheap but if you are really unhappy with the u brake spend the twenty bucks for an hombre with the fiesta kit, I am a big guy and those things can lock up the wheels on my flatland bike no problem.