Hi guys,
I have an older bike and the brakes aren't working too well. I tried to adjust them but it's as if they are too small for the actual wheels installed. I would like to replace the whole system but I have no idea what to buy and what would actually fit. I've attached some photos to give you an idea of what I'm talking about. I think the previous owner tried to customize the bike with better brakes but actually ended up installing ones that didn't quite fit. Any ideas?

Difficult to say from your pictures, but the pads look pretty worn. New pads may make things look a whole lot better.

New pads don't even fit cause there isn't enough room to put them.

The seem to have 3 bolts for installation. Two on the sides and one in the middle. Does anyone know the name for this type?

Interesting.. Its a variety of U brake with a center bolt Mounting Plate . and a direct Pull mechanisim, rather than a center pull.


Braking comes from Pad friction on the rim.. that will certainly press the Brake pads against the rim

Do you consider an Up grade of simply Just the brake pads? looks like V brake type pads will work..

Kool Stop Company brake pads are well regarded.

replace the cables and Housing Die drawn cables are slick so lower friction..

U brakes are Typically a center pull , the cable pulls from above . but as a result needs a cable housing anchor above the brakes like the other center pull brakes, Cantilevers .


Measure Reach its the distance between the mounting hole and the Rim center where the brake pads grip.
that is the important information to know if you want something else.

It's a Long Reach ..

Another Plate adapter that bolts on via another upside down U adapter will take V brakes .. but that is going to be rather expensive. for all that

you want to put $200+ into this ? you can reach that amount rather quickly.

You need to release the cable clamp at the nut so it opens further ..

this suggests a Mechanics logic is Not a skill you have learned .

the project may be over your abilities and hiring a Bike Shop to fix it may be better & safer, but more expensive.

I'll give it a try again but I'm quite sure I tried releasing the cable clamp. It's as if the brakes were make for smaller wheels like a speed bike or sorts.


fietsbob, V Brake look interesting since I would be able to remove the plates.

They made them for BMX Bikes , Its another Plate .. posts on the plate are lower as the brakes pivots are below the rim.

Typically rear Only is common with those as braking forces pushes the Plate U legs into the frame .

So minimal loss in flexing the U plate... IT may work to use the back side of the front fork..

A drastic change is new wheels with Drum brake Hubs.. then no rim brakes are needed.

That is a U-brake. The brake itself is mounted on a plate (that says "Tektro" in your picture).

You could, hypothetically, replace it with any other u-brake, but to what end? A single-pivot caliper brake may fit as well.

As above, you could replace the pads, as long as the arms move freely. Typically, u-brakes use different shoes than v-brakes (shorter and lower profile), but that doesn't mean you can't use v-brake pads. You need to either screw in the adjustment barrel on the lever (if it's unscrewed, that is) to create slack, or let some cable back through the pinch bolt. In a shop environment, I almost never adjust the brake with the barrel, only leaving it unscrewed about 2mm or so, so the owner can set the pull to their liking.

With a single-pivot caliper brake, I assume I would no longer need the plate? From what I recall, a few years ago, I had bought a single-pivot caliper but it seemed to have been too long and even with the pads at their highest position they didn't touch the rim. Is it possible there are different heights or sizes in these sorts of brakes?

Yes, caliper brakes come in different "reaches" to allow for larger tires to fit in them. What reach brakes you need will be dependent on the frame. I still think a little TLC / servicing (new cables, new pads) would have these brakes working fine though.

You definitely need new pads; those are worn, dried out and way out of adjustment.

That being said, fietsbob is right, it's obvious you don't have the mechanical chops to deal with this and brakes are not the best place to start learning.

Go to your LBS, ask them to swap out your pads, and ask if they'll let you watch so you can learn...

You guys are funny about mechanical chops.

I'm sure you're right about the pads being worn out but I'll have to check again for the adjustment.

I'll give it a quick go myself but won't be shy to visit a shop if I can't figure it out.


Thanks a lot everyone for your help, much appreciated.

Replacing U-Brakes with V-Brakes will be difficult because of a different mount.

There are some long reach side-pull brakes that might work, but not necessarily any better.

Could spring tension be a problem? The spring should be adjustable. So, remove (loosen) the cable. Then verify that you get adequate tension with the springs to open the brakes. I think the tension is adjustable with an allen wrench and an open end wrench.

It almost appears as if there should be a noodle in there, but it doesn't appear that it came stock with that model of brake.