blewis1984

So I took my Trek into the shop a couple weeks ago for it's first tune up. A couple of days after I got it back I noticed something odd with the front brake. It's lopsided and one side is almost touching the wheel (there's maybe 1mm clearance). I don't want to take it all the way back to the shop just for this. It seems like it should be an easy fix. Any help on how to correct it?

Thanks!

-Brian

crispy010

V-brakes have rod springs that push the arms back away from the wheel. At the pivot of the brake arm there should be a small philips head screw. Threading this screw in will increase the spring tension and force the arm further away from the rim.

ericm979

See https://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=21, the part about the centering screw.

Make sure that the returns springs or their hangers are not broken. Some cheap linear pull brakes have plastic return spring hangers that break.

blewis1984

Thanks for the quick responses, guys. But I still seem to be having a problem. I tightened the screw as far as I could, but it didn't seem to do anything. As you can see in the pictures, looking at the bike head on, the brake on the left has a few mm between it and the wheel. However, the right one does not. Am I doing something wrong?

crispy010

The screw is all the way in. Back the screw out on the other side. Option 2 is to get a longer screw so you have more adjustment.

Velo Dog

Also, make sure the wheel is centered in the dropouts. It's a simple fix but easy to overlook. Just stand the bike up, open the quick release and see if the axle CLUNKS into place.

urbanknight

When I wrenched for a shop in the 90's, I remember those screws as being almost worthless on early model and cheaper V-brakes. Instead, we flipped the spring off the perch and gently bent it a little at a time until it centered.

crispy010

Sometimes it helps to sit on the top tube with the QR open to make sure the wheel is fully seated.