Hi I screwed up and put 26" wheels on a bike that should have 26 1 3/8 wheels and my brakes seem to suck because they are too long.

How can I fix this?

I was thinking:
put a 26 1 3/8 wheel on the front and keep 26" wheel on the back (must keep rear wheel)
Get Dual pivot brakes
Get drum brakes

Which of those options sounds like it will fix the problem but have the least / no side effects.

PS: I have clean rims, pads, well adjusted etc.

brakes work as a system. for decent braking you need good calipers, good cables and housing, good pads, and a good levers.

I suspect the bike is not worth too too much, but if it has a certain value to you, and you do not mind investing some money into it, get some tektro 73mm reach dual pivot brakes, stock pads are fine, some good stainless cables and lined housing, and some inexpensive tektro cantilever levers. These are relatively stiff, have decent pads, and insane amounts of tire clearance and reach. Furthermore, they are a snap to set up.

Drum brakes need purpose built hubs.

I can't imagine that you have the ability to corner... this thing must have a really low BB.

A picture would help, as a 26" rim (26x1.5 or 1.75) is smaller in diameter that a 26 x 1 3/8, so your brakes would not reach far enough.

Make sure the calipers are adjusted properly, no play, light tension so they don't flex. Next get some Scott Mathauser pads. Toe them in and when they brake in stopping should be fine. We ran long brakes all the time. Just don't expect disc brake performance from them.

You can also get new tektro's if you like but I would vote for replacing the pads. Stock pads never worked good in my mind compared to Mathauser's.

And that's why he's having troubles. In this case he lucked out and the adjustment slots are just barely long enough. But now he's either got too long a reach or had to cant the pads so they aren't making good contact.

Chico1st, if you're going to keep it for long enough to justify the expense then the long reach Tektro dual pivot brakes mentioned above would certainly improve the situation. But just switching to the Mathauser style salmon/rustly color pads would be a great first attempt at a cheaper fix.

But I have to agree that it sounds like you're trying to make a beater cheap cruiser bike into something that it isn't.