Year of this bike
- Thread starter Shadow121
- Start date
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
netman
Veteran
netman
Veteran
Looks nice - hope you enjoy many happy miles!
Question about the brakes.
When I pull the front brakes the callipers come in and brake,
let go the leaver and one side of the calliper springs away out,
the other side only a little, but I can reach for the entire calliper
and twist it back to centre again, there is just a small resistance
on the main bolt that goes though the fork.
Should I spray some lube in there, or take it off and put some grease
so the calliper centres on its own when the brakes are released.
When I pull the front brakes the callipers come in and brake,
let go the leaver and one side of the calliper springs away out,
the other side only a little, but I can reach for the entire calliper
and twist it back to centre again, there is just a small resistance
on the main bolt that goes though the fork.
Should I spray some lube in there, or take it off and put some grease
so the calliper centres on its own when the brakes are released.
netman
Veteran
Probably just sticky after being sat around for a while... hold the brake blocks by hand onto the rim while tightening the caliper with an allen key through the rear of the fork. Spray some lube like GT85 into the caliper (hold some kitchen roll under to make sure no lube goes on the blocks or the rim). Squeeze them a few times and spray again and they should free up... give 'em a scrub first if they look dusty or muddy too.
I will spray the caliper from the top, plenty of kitchen roll
will be used to keep it off everything else.
I take it the caliper should centralise when lever is let go.
My current bike has canti brakes, so not used to callipers,
well it’s been thirty years since I used them.
The bolt through the fork is tight, there is no wear at all as the bike was unused,
from what I see the complete calliper is supposed to freely rotate on the centre
pin, this action is triggered when the brake lever is pulled, there is a spring
on the calliper that is supposed to push the callipers apart when the brake lever is let go,
one pas flies out when the brake is released, the other one just goes out a little,
when the brake is released, but if I reach for the calliper I can pull the other pad out
away from the rim, or centralise the calliper with my hand, it only takes a little
force to rotate it to the centre position, it seems to be binding a small amount
on the centre bolt that holds the calliper to the fork, the back calliper is the same.
I have no spray oil so will get to it tomorrow.
Am I missing something, as you say it is too loose, but I can’t find any play.
Last edited:
If the calliper was any tighter both pads would stay in on the wheel, as it is one comes
out in full, the other pad only clears the wheel a little, unless I centralise the calliper by hand.
Thats why I think a little lube on the centre bolt would free all up.
raleighnut
Legendary Member
- Location
- One of the 'Elite'
Is there a little 'tension' screw on one arm.
@raleighnut , yes, there is a tension nut to tighten the cable when the pad wears,
on the opposite side of the calliper is a bolt with an Allen key head that
allows the other side of the calliper to rotate, could it be a little tight,
it seems this bolt is the one the side of the calliper that does not come
out much when released rotates on.
raleighnut
Legendary Member
- Location
- One of the 'Elite'
See that little allen headed grubscrew on the top. you adjust that to 'balance' the spring tension on the 2 sides.
