The left brake pad rubs against the hub on a Roadmaster Men's Sport SX bike. How do I get the pads to squeeze and release evenly?

On some Roadmasters it's impossible with stock brakes.

First make sure that rim is centered in frame/fork.

Then determine which brake style you have. I've seen Roadmaster MTBs with calipers and V-brakes. They may have had some Cantilever and disc brake models that I haven't seen yet.

Then report your brake type here for answers or search for videos on adjusting the brake type you have.

Moved from Introductions.

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You might want to check out Park Tool's site regarding brakes- https://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-...ice-and-repair

Whatever kind of brakes you have, you want to check that the spring is in place, on the tab on the brake arm, and pushing it open. This seems to be an extremely common cause for brakes suddenly going off center and dragging.

First of all you need to make sure the brake housing itself isn't pushing the brake to one side https://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help/housing-length. This page covers just about all adjustments of liner-pull brakes https://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-...e-v-brake-type.

And hopefully, it's rubbing the rim and not the hub!

With a Roadmaster you never know.

Hogwash, never seen a caliper that could not be centered, although in 20+ years as a mechanic I may have missed something.

I must say I have yet to figure out how people find this forum without finding lots of other info as well. A Google search for adjust bicycle brakes gives the excellent sheldonbrown.com discussion as the first result. I suggest studying written instructions first, then look at videos to see the process in action. Many videos include incorrect or incomplete info.

If you try that and the other links and still fail then come back here with a more full explanation, including when the problem started, what you have tried and a picture of the brake if possible.

The nearest bike co-op to you is a 20 minute drive, but worth it if you can get there (Google again - bike co-op San Leandro)

People will accept a thousand unqualified anonymous statements via Twit, etc. without considering even one well-reputed, verifiable written source. It's a generational thing (and gender as well).

I adjust them in person , not over the internet.

The calipers are easier than the crappy stamped V-brakes arms that are adjusted with sheet metal screws that thread into plastic spring holders.

Some cheap long-reach MTB calipers don't really do much braking even when centered, however.

The shop I work at specializes in Roadmaster, Next, Pacific, etc.

if the co-op is well stocked I'd usually advise looking for some $5/pair- brakes to upgrade to. Even some crappy ProMax Vees would be a step up from what a Roadmaster is typically specced with.