Identify a side-pull brake caliper
 

Hi, I have checked the Park Tool website about servicing side-pull brakes but I cannot find one I have. See the attached pic.

Most of the time, the side-pull brakes do not work as well as dual pivot or V-brakes but this particular one I have is excellent. The mounting bolt does not go through the two brake arms and it only serves as an attaching bolt to the front fork. You center it almost the same way as centering dual pivot brakes.

It came in a Free Spirit with a Shimano 3-speed/coast brake so it is the front brake.

What is this type called? I would like to get more of these to replace other (bad) side-pull brakes I have on various old bikes.

Thanks.

Altenburger Synchron: This link has a excellent history and description http://www.flickr.com/photos/berangberang/6773898930/

That is a dual pivot brake. Each arm has its own pivot.

Thank you so much.

No wonder how well it works, it is considered a dual pivot brake.

It a early version of today side pull . the pivot point is the bolt you see on the left side . you can take the brake apart at that point or you can drop some oil onto it . the only way to find any is to go to a bike shop that been around from 60's or 70's and ask to look in their use parts boxes .

Thank you all. I will try to find some. It seems to be the reasonable upgrade to the single pivot side-pulls. No need to drill and the mounting bolt is long enough for the fork.

There are a couple listing on the Bay but the sellers are asking more than reasonable quality modern dual-pivots.

You might as well get a bolt and nut new Tektro, if you have to compete with C&V collectors for those.

the newer ones are likely stiffer between the pivot and the brake pad.

Sounds like a good plan. Do you know model numbers for some of the bolt and nut new Tektro?

Thanks,

http://www.tektro.com/

http://www.tektro.com/_english/06_co...00_contact.php

This brake, the Altenberger, is just one example I kept in mt drawer of doom at my old shop. then when some young whippersnapper would come in talking like he (never was a female) knew it all I'd pull the Altenberger out of the drawer and put him in the place. So many people think Shimano actually came up first with their designs... The other brake I'd show was the Dura Ace center pull with the QR on the stradle link.

The main problems with the Altenberger were the flexibility, the low friction pads (changing them to Weinemann helped a lot) and the tendency for the caliper arms to crack and brake if you tried to toe the pads too much. Andy.

That's certainly an interesting design, I wonder why it never went mainstream at the time...

http://www.amazon.com/Tektro-R539-Pi...tro+nut+brakes

any model that says standard nut should be fine. as long as the reach is sufficient. ebay is a good source for these too

From your cited article:

Actually, Gerry Burgess invented the dual pivot brake back in the early 60s:

http://www.os2.dhs.org/~john/gb_dual-pivot.jpg

He later licensed the design to Altenburger, as in the OP's example and Weinmann:

http://velobase.com/CompImages/Brake...CC6107ECA.jpeg

It wasn't until Burgess' patent on the design lapsed that Shimano started producing dual pivot brakes.

"It wasn't until Burgess' patent on the design lapsed that Shimano started producing dual pivot brakes." JohnDthompson

Like I said... Andy.