about my Campy brake set.

Long story short, I got overconfident and bid on a set of used Chorus brakes. Showed up with no barrel adjusters and a frozen, stripped out cable anchor bolt on the front brake (which explains the crappy photos with the listing.)

Today I tried to free the bolt by cutting a slot across the top, to go at it with a flathead screwdriver. No joy. Thinking the bolt may be frozen to the plate, I attacked the seam between them. Now the aluminum plate has apparently fused with the bolt.

At least the rear brake works and is in good shape. I can always try to find another front brake.

I'll get over it. Just needed to vent.

That sucks

we've all been there.

Me, I would put them back on ebay, honestly describe them, list as "parts not working" and move on.

Well, that's a thought I had not considered. Guess I could auction the barrel adjusters separately. Lol

Have you tried breaking the galvanic corrosion by chemical means?

No, I have not. I'm not sure it's a corrosion issue, but I'm willing to try. What would you recommend?

acid does the trick. Park tools assert that even coke will get rid of it, but I wouldn't take any chances (plus it's sticky) and go for something more potent from the chemical cabinet. Be careful though, acid will also remove the finish of the brakes (the anodizing is actually nothing more than controlled and sealed corrosion), so don't dunk the entire unit in. If the problem is a deformed bolt you're out of luck.

Thanks for the info. Any particular acid? How about vinegar? I don't have much besides common household stuff.

vinegar works, from what I've gathered from threads on stuck seat posts/stems (also a problem of galvanic corrosion) most people here use lye. Lemon juice should be potent enough too.

I'm gonna try lemon - that should be appropriate! lol

Lye is not an acid. Just the opposite.

Actually, if your parts in question are made of
aluminum alloy, household ammonia should work well.

But you said Anchor bolt? I'd try one of the penetrant
oils like PB Blaster on anything steel that's threaded.

This is what I use, so it must be the only thing that will work.