I need a short term fix for my daughters huffy mtn. bike. I am getting her a Specialized Hardrock WSD for Christmas, but in the mean time she wants to keep riding some trails with me. I have tried everything I can think of to adjust these dang things to no avail. Can I swap them out with any sidepull type brakes, or is there a size difference depending on frames? I ride a Hardrock Sport and her brakes look the same as mine except mine actually work!!

Any help would be appreciated.

Justin

You say sidepull, but do you mean linear pull? The cable goes through a noodle and from one arm to the other?
If so, go to the LBS and get the cheapest shimano linear pull brakes, they should be $12-15, and will make a world of difference.

I will do that next weekend before we go ride. Are the cables or the levers at fault, or is it the brake assembly itself? The thing keeps rubbing on one side and it does not make a true grip on the wheel and therefor doesn't stop very well. BTW I think you are correct and they are linear pull. Thanks for the help.

Justin

maybe it needs some adjusting. www.parktool.com repair section has the drill. New ones won't work either if not set up right.

If it tends to drag on one side or the other it is the brakes. If it stays closed after you brake more likely the cable.

The cheap brakes they put on these bikes have poor tolerance and the don't work freely on their pivots. So when you try to adjust side clearance you are also trying to over comes a varying preload form the pivot as well.