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Kids brake repair

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  • 24-07-2020 11:43pm
    #1
    peteb2
    Registered Users Posts: 1,813 ✭✭✭


    Bought a new preloved bike for my 7 year old. Didn’t realise till we were collecting it that the quick release for the brake boot on the front was busted. Bought new v brakes for it. But I cannot get one of the pads to stay off the rim .

    Cable could do with being replaced too. But all shops are sayings 4 weeks waiting etc. Anyone know anywhere quicker?? Based in firhouse.

    Thanks


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    #2
    Type 17
    Registered Users Posts: 2,730 ✭✭✭Type 17


    The key is to balance the return springs on each arm.

    If they are long wire springs up the back of each arm, unhook them both from behind their tab, and then screw in the screws/Allen bolts most of the way, and make sure that they are roughly evenly screwed in. (If there aren't long wire springs visible, just open the quick-release by unhooking the cable's noodle (silver pipe) from its cradle and screw in the adjusters and then re-hook the cable).

    Re-hook the springs, and see how the arms sit, by working the brakes a few times (make sure that the wheel isn't too buckled, or you may end up setting up the brakes on the buckled bit, and have them rubbing on the rest of the wheel).

    If only one arm moves, and the other's pad is touching the rim, unscrew the adjuster screw on the arm that moves a quarter of a turn while working the brake. the sweet spot where the two arms are balanced with no rubbing is in there somewhere, so keep opening the screw a quarter turn (or even an eighth) at a time, whilst working the brakes and watching the arms.

    If you go too far, then open the other screw a quarter/eighth to catch up. It's possible to tighten the screws to change the spring tension, but the springs' tension can make it hard (screwdriver walks out of the screw-head), and on cheaper brakes, the tip of the spring can walk off the back of the screw, so unhooking the springs, tightening the screws, and then balancing things up by unscrewing the adjusters is the way to go.

    In the absence of a new cable for now, unhook the noodle from the cradle and use the additional slack in the cable to expose the inner wire up at the brake lever, and drop in a few drops of oil onto the wire and work it in by sliding the outer housing up and down a bit. Do the same at the top of the noodle (curved chrome pipe) at the other end, by pulling the outer housing up the wire, out of the top of the noodle.


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