Sidepull Brake Trouble
 

I'm trying to fix up this bike that I saved from a garbage pile. All bearings are repacked and I'm reassembling. I am replacing all the cables and this front brake is acting fishy. One arm will not move. The brake naturally wants to sit touching the rim. When I rotate it I can get it to stay off the rim, but the arm still doesn't move and it bends the whole wheel to the fixed arm when I hit the brakes. Since brake models vary and I didn't know the best way to describe left arm, right arm, crank side, or whatever, I decided a picture would be best. Any ideas? No need to compliment my drawing skills, I'm not looking to moonlight as a graphic designer.

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Sidepull brakes often use a cone wrench to center them. If there are flats on the side of the bracket that holds the spring, that is what it is for. It sounds like you need new washers between the brake arms and the bracket. Or try to disassemble the brake and grease those areas up. If you or somebody else have already reassembled the brake you may have washers misplaced. You may also have the brake tightened up so that the additional pressure from the rear nut causes extra friction.

The bicycle brake caliper is a pretty simple piece of equipment. Ensure that it is clean and lightly lubricated. Ensure also that your cable/casing does not push or pull the brake arm to which it is fed. Getting cable/casing length is something you need to take care with.

Once you are sure the mechanics are correct, ensure that the main bolt is not too tight. A too tight bolt will prevent one arm, or the other, or both, from moving freely. Once everything is moving and not sloppy - not sloppy - you can then center the caliper, which, once again takes a bit of know how to get it right.

Hope that is a help.

I would disconnect the cable and remove the brake and give it a good servicing, most likely it needs to be lubed and adjusted ( let alone cleaned & polished LOL ) before putting it back on the frame. As I am reading this morning I am doing just that to a set of brakes from a Lotus that sat outside while sitting at my computer/work desk. The brakes were stiff to move, a little elbow grease goes a long way.

Glenn
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Wow, looks like I have work to do. Time to get started.

What lube do you recommend?

I usually use a smear of Finish Line white grease, it stays in place, doesn't make everything grimy and lasts a long time. Any grease would work though, just apply it carefully to only the parts you want to lubricate.

On the brake set I am working on, because it pivots on a plastic bushing I just used some lite oil ( sparingly). If it is metal to metal any grease will do as you don't need that much, too much grease attracts dirt & road grime.

If you want to get your brake looking like the set I am doing, get some 800 grit wet/dry sand paper & some Mothers Mag & Aluminum Polish. I start by scrubbing the brake with some dish soap and a old hand scrub brush, dry and disassemble it clean the pivot points as best as you can. I tried polishing first but wasn't happy with the finish so I used the 800 grit sand paper and cleaned it up a bit and repolished it & it came out much better. I wasn't out for a show piece & only spent about 15 to 20 min for the whole job & the results are a 100 times better looking then what I started with. Hope this helps, good luck & don't forget to take pictures.

Glenn