MAK

I just purchased a new touring bike with cantilever brakes. The front brake is uneven with one side longer than the other. I've been a customer of the shop for a while and when I pointed out the lopsided front they said that it wasn't a problem and had to do with spring tension. The bike stops well with no problems right now.


I want to believe them but...? I'm just wondering if this is indeed normal and I want to know that it's not something that will cause a problem in the future.


Your expertise and experience will be appreciated. Thank you.

JanMM

Unclear what you mean by one side longer than the other.
A picture would help.

SkyDog75

If one brake arm is open farther than the other, it's due to uneven spring tension as the shop said. It generally won't hurt anything or affect stopping power. It just means one brake pad will ride slightly closer to the rim. If the rim goes out of true or the wheel slips in the dropout or fork end, the brake pad on that side might be a little more prone to rub since it's closer to the rim.

If you'd like to center the brake, spring tension on many modern cantilever brakes is adjustable via a screw on one or both brake arms. On older or more primitive cantilever brakes, spring tension is adjustable by bending the springs and/or setting them in different holes on the frame or fork.

JonathanGennick 

Would love a photo, or some clarity on what specifically is longer.

fietsbob

some brakes have a set screw to fine tune the pad contact via return spring, some don't.

BUT even if 1 pad touches the rim before the other, the braking is both of them squeezing the rim

because the transverse cable exerts equal force as its pulled up.




My Magura hydraulic rim brakes have fluid supplied to just 1 pad , but have a balance tube to the other pad's cylinder.

so they squeeze equally.






....

IK_biker

Cross-posting is not cosher here, and you do know better, having been an inmate for 12 years...
Cantilever brake alignment

MAK

Sorry, won't do it again.