Help with Brakes!
 

Hi
I have a Cannondale Mountain 700 bike and today I got off it and noticed one of my front breaks was missing!
The missing side looks like this: http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=269484

The other side looks like this: http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=269485

My bike needs new brake pads anyways so I ordered a set of four off Amazon.
What is the part called that holds the brake pads in thats missing? Where can I buy that online?
How do I install these?

Please keep budget in mind. I am a teenager and I am willing to sacrifice quality for price.

Thanks so much for your assistance!

Bad news!!

The mounting hardware is properly part of the brake arm , and varies by brand and model. The parts are rarely, if ever, sold separately. If you're lucky you might find them in a dealer's junk brake bin, but otherwise you'll need to buy a new brake (both matching arms sold in pairs). On the bright side, new brakes include shoes.

saw a bunch of generic replacement hardware (new) in a drawer at work. doesnt seem that uncommon
seems to be some online too: http://budgetbicyclectr.com/cantilev...or-sale-online
tho cheaper at lbs

I can't tell from the photo, and don't remember the brake well enough to be sure, but I believe the OPs brakes have a cylindrically curved slot to allow for toe-in/toe-out of the shoes using a mating washer. Generic shoes use convex.concave washers to mate to a flat arm. I'm no saying replacement hardware doesn't exist, just that it can be hard to find, and has to match the specific brake arms correctly.

This was a common brake, so odds favor finding the parts in the scavenger bin of an old school dealer, or bike co-op.

Another option is for the OP to create the cylindrically convex curved washer for the front. Just take a piece of 1/8" steel cut to fit and grind down the outside edges to match the curvature of the concave slot..I've done something very similar and it worked great.

Ok, so I installed these Brake Pads for the back brakes of my bike: http://www.amazon.com/Avenir-Sticky-...rake+pads+bike

They worked very well and were extremely powerful. After about 5 minuets of use on a bike trail, the brake cable broke due to the strength of these breaks. Were they the right ones? What cable and brakes can I replace it with? Can I buy these on Amazon?

On a separate note, I cannot fit my Camelbak water bottle in the bottle holder on my bike. Anyone have any experience with a water botte holder that can fit this model?

Thanks for all your help!

Post in one of the "for trade" threads in the various subforums here. I'm sure someone will have one of those that they can offer. I'll check my own parts bin later, but I think the cantis I have are of a different design that won't have that part.

On the water bottle cage, if it is an aluminum cage, you can just bend it slightly. I have several Camelbak bottles and the they fit all my cages, though the shape does not lock in as tightly as I would prefer on some of them.

What model of bottle do you have? unless it's the Podium or Performance, it gets hard to find bottle cages which Camelbak bottles fit into, as the others in the line aren't the same shape as a regular bidon, and they aren't really designed for cycling either.

Why not just go to a LBS with your bottle, and try the cages they have to see if any fit?

The brake cable breaking had absolutely nothing to do with the strength of your brakes. It broke because it was worn, frayed or rusted. I have no idea if they were the right ones since the end fitting that goes to your brake levers has to match the proper type. Yes, you can get them on Amazon IF you know what to order. Otherwise, a trip to the bike shop is necessary.