Side-pull brakes broken. Pull to one side and get stuck.

18 days ago by lastlybutfirstly to c/bicycle_touring

Update: It's fixed. More info in the comments.

I searched and couldn’t find any general bicycle forums here on Lemmy. This one seemed to be the closest match out of the three I found. So I hope it’s okay to ask for help here.

I have the exact same problem as in this video:

https://youtu.be/aP-N6D7NKtc

But the solution he presents does not work for me. All of the videos on YT about sidepull brakes have the same general solution and none of them work.

I center. I tighten. Etc. And when I pull the handle, the cable yanks the whole caliper sideways and I’m right back where I started.

I used to work on my cars when I owned them. I can fix my computer. My sink. My toilet. Everything on my bike except the brakes. They make no sense to me.

The anchor and the pivot of sidepull brakes are the same. So the fact that the caliper is being yanked to one side makes sense. The functional brakes I see don’t make sense. How do these things work?

Mavvik 2 points 18 days ago

I hate these things with a passion. In the past ive just lived with the suck but if you are motivated I think replacing the spring is usually the advice I've heard. Honestly though if your frame and fork are compatible with v brakes or cantilevers, I would change to those

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JayleneSlide 2 points 18 days ago

Without seeing exactly what your setup is, it's very difficult to diagnose your precise issue. The brake cable could be too short, your anchor bolt could be too long/not tight enough, the brake return spring could be bent/damaged. If you don't have an offset brake wrench, getting any of this right will be tricky.

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lastlybutfirstly 3 points 18 days ago

Can I post videos in here? I could maybe video what's going on.

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Atelopus-zeteki 1 point 18 days ago

Photos or video would be very helpful.

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JayleneSlide 1 point 18 days ago

Probably? I never tried.

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nocturne 1 point 18 days ago

You can post video to catbox.moe.

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nocturne 3 points 18 days ago

Yeah, pictures, or better yet video would be great.

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nocturne 2 points 18 days ago

Video is unavailable for me.

There is also !bikewrench@lemmy.world

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nocturne 2 points 18 days ago

I am guessing they are like this?

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lastlybutfirstly 1 point 18 days ago

They're just like that.

The video isn't coming up for you guys?

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nocturne 2 points 18 days ago

When you tighten them can you still freely open and close the arms? Can you manually actuate the brakes by pressing c& d (on my image) towards your rim?

Ideally when you press your brake handle the cable should pull A up, pushing C against the rim, which causes B to go down pressing D against the rim.

Edit: I had directions backwards

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lastlybutfirstly 1 point 18 days ago

By hand, yes. I took them off completely last night and I can squeeze them like a hand gripper exercise.

When I press the brake handle, A goes up and pulls C to the rim, and I guess B goes down and pushes D against the rim. But when I release. D stays against the rim.

It seems like when B goes down it twists the whole assembly around to the left.

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lastlybutfirstly 1 point 18 days ago

That's weird it's not coming up. Every video on fixing side-pull brakes are pretty much the same but this is the name of the video I linked to "Adjust / Center Side Pull Caliper Brakes That Are Hitting Rim Uneven" by Ivans Bikes Bmws.

My bike is an Outroad Road Bike 700C Commuter Bicycle

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nocturne 1 point 18 days ago

That's weird it's not coming up.

It says "this video is unavailable"

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lastlybutfirstly 2 points 17 days ago

UPDATE

I fixed it! Thank you so much to everyone here who helped!

My findings:

It all hinges on the notches the spring slides in to.

If the notches aren’t lined up and/or the spring slips out of the notches when the brake is pulled, one of the brakes gets stuck.

So to center the brakes, focus on the notches not the brakes.

Whichever pad is sticking, make sure the spring on that side is resting on the bottom of the notch and not the top when you center the brakes.

Otherwise, when you use the brakes, the spring will get pulled down to the bottom of the notch and the brake on that side will get stuck.

My notch is much larger than the one in the image so there was a lot of play there.

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JayleneSlide 1 point 18 days ago

For the bike you said you have, at least one pic shows dual-pivot sidepull brakes; other pics show single-pivot. If you have dual-pivot, that is a different adjustment procedure. If they are actually single-pivot, you need an offset brake wrench to get them adjusted properly (assuming they're not damaged and the brake post is the correct fit).

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bicycle_touring

bicycle_touring

@lemmy.world

login for more options

For all the pedal pushers out there that love long distance cycling. There are no gear requirements and no 'minimum distances' here.

Have you ridden for a cheeky overnighter or a 3 year global trek? Doesn't matter, you're welcome here.

Have you got panniers, bikepacking bags or just a backpack with the essentials? Doesn't matter, you're welcome here.

Have you got the latest in carbon engineering or your dads old 10 speed from the 70's? Doesn't matter, you're welcome here.

Related Communities

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