Fork crown drilled improperly
 

Check this out... servicing this guys 1974 Schwinn Suburban and I thought he bent the front brake, but I think they improperly drilled the fork crown for the brake. Fork doesn't appear bent and I checked the wheel... is true and centered accordingly. Just thought this was rare and odd, can't believe they sent it out of the Chicago factory like this. Any solutions other than acquiring a new fork?

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I would toe the brake shoes by bending the arms with an adjustable wrench. It wasn't that uncommon back in the day.

if it doesn't already use one of those recessed hex head nuts on the back side, you might be able to file the rear hole out and get better alignment. if you did that you most likely would need to add some threads to the mounting stud with the right threading die. bending the arms is the quick fix for sure.

Maybe it's just the pictures, but the fork doesn't look aligned, either.

Maybe if you have someone with an alignment table around, he'd be willing to pay to have it fixed?

Wow, thinking the same. Hole looks correct and the wheel/fork looks out of alignment.

The closer I look at the pictures the more I see what you are saying. The fork looks to be twisted somehow. Checking it this morning I believe that is what is going on here. Given the low cost of this cycle the owner will probably just want me to make it work for him. The brakes were toed in by someone else at some point because when they touch the rim they do so accordingly. This tells me someone already tried to adjust for this mess and given the amount of riding this person will do perhaps I'll let him know about it and set up the brakes the way they were. He can make up his mind as to whether or not he wants to ride it this way... if it was my bike there is no way I'd leave it like this. Thanks for the help everyone... the more eyes the better.

I work on a bike with that same problem. One leg of the fork was bent back more than the other and the axle had sustained a weird S-bend.

Sure looks like a bent fork to me....

+1. Andy.

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...1&d=1468244111

If you look at your photo, I have created a line across the shoulders of your fork crown. Both your brake bolt and your tire centerline should be perpendicular to this line. Your brake bolt line looks close, but your tire is WAAAY off. This fork has been damaged.