Getting spring in boss cantilever hole

[Blue Hills]

Managed it eventually but had terrible trouble getting the spring back in the middle hole (1 of 3) on my cantilevers when servicing them. Have had this problem before so I left the rear brakes untouched - a struggle for another day.

Anyone got any tips/tricks for doing this an easy way? - I got it in after pushing it into place with a screwdriver but was afraid I was going to bend/ruin the spring.

At least I know the spring's still good/powerful enough but any tips appreciated.

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

If it is the pad hitting either the forks/frame or the wheel causing you to have to fight the spring, loosening the pad might help.

 

[Andy_R]

If it is the pad hitting either the forks/frame or the wheel causing you to have to fight the spring, loosening the pad might help.

+1 loosen/remove pads before installing canti arm

 

[Blue Hills]

The pads were removed.

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

The pads were removed.

If that is the case presumably the issue is not about lining up the spring with the hole, but hard to get it inserted? Assuming everything is clean and tidy that could only happen if either the spring is oversized or hole undersized? But on the other hand if the front ones did go in then that can't be the case either... Did you clean out the gunges collected in and around the holes?

 

[Blue Hills]

All cleaned. It was a question of the tension in the spring.
I might be being very stupid [feel free to tell me ] , and I should maybe fiddle with the back when I have a bit of time, but I seem to remember this issue before - always overcome but a drag.

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

All cleaned. It was a question of the tension in the spring.

As you can see from pic of typical calipers viewed from the frame below if the pads (and at worst the wheels also) were released there should be nothing stopping you lining the springs up with any of the holes, wherever the holes are, unless of course if the springs and the holes were at different radii due to deformation or poor manufacturing tolerance, but I have not come across that before.