AEO

one of the plastic retainers on my bike is cracked and it's a hassle setting up the brakes properly.

Which V-brakes, preferably readily available and not too expensive, do not use plastic spring retainers? I've looked at avid, shimano and tektro, but they all look like they have plastic that cracks.

I know for a fact that it's possible to make V-brakes or cantis that don't use the plastic retainer cups, like how it is on tektro CR-720 cantis which use a one piece spring. I just can't seem to distinguish cosmetic plastic covers from plastic spring retainers on any of the pictures I see.

JanMM

No plastic spring covers on the the Tektro or older SRAM V-brakes in my garage. Power Tools/KHS brakes do have a plastic cover/retainer but it is fine after 10 years. The original SH canti's on my wife's '97 Giant hybrid had those crappy disintegrating spring covers. Switched it to the SRAM V-brakes.
Not aware that this has been a problem with V-brakes.

BCRider

I've seen a couple of brakes that use a stamped metal cup instead of the plastic. But they were painted so you just can't tell from pictures.

Maybe go "kick some tires" at the local shops and while you're pretending to be insterested in the bikes you can check out the brakes for brand and model that at least has a stamped metal cup instead of the plastic.

Greyryder

Avid Single Digit 7 is all metal. The only plastic on the arms is a little collar on the pin that the springs press against.

USAF1C1X1

I just got some vanilla Deore v-brakes for my bike and the only plastic is the same collar that Greyryder is talking about.

badamsjr

I have XT's and XTR's, and they do not have plastic.

AEO

are these structural or can you run the brakes without them?
because they sound exactly like what I'm avoiding. the plastic spring retainer is a piece of plastic that sits over the canti boss and has a metal pin that inserts itself into a hole to the side of the canti boss.

On good designs, the metal pin that inserts into the boss and the spring itself should be a single piece.
On bad designs, the metal pin is in the plastic retainer and another, separate piece of metal, the spring, pushes against the plastic retainer. Eventually, on the bad designs, this plastic cracks, leading to poor adjustment and just odd arm return behaviour.

fietsbob

Plastic spring cover often just keeps the dirt out, coiled spring, one anchor in the arm, the other on the frame.

Greyryder

It's not structural. It's just a bushing that prevents the spring and pin from wearing on one other. You'd have to cut them off, but mine are still looking good after two years of off road use.

AEO

okay, excellent. I'll try and buy those.