Emergency help! Brakes again.

[Sara_H]

I know I've asked before buy I need urgent help.

I need to use my folding bike to morrow but front brake is rubbing.

One pad is pushed up against the wheel. I've tried adjusting those little screws but its not helping. One got a bit fraught and I'm not really sure which way to turn the screw any more. Clockwise or anti clockwise?

OH has gone to work in nights so can't assist. HELP!

 

[jack smith]

chillax! untighten the brake line and check for any faults, squeeze both pads against the rim and leave the space you prefer between the rim and pads and re tighten, the adjuster screw should noticably move the pads side to side so just screw it fully one way and then you know which way they adjust

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

If you've been screwing the in (clockwise) then unscrew then both a few turns (anticlockwise) first as overtightening can cause problems

Then gently screw in (clockwise) on the brake arm that is rubbing, about 1/4 turn at a time, alternating with unscrewing (anticlockwise) the opposite one 1/4 of a turn.

 

[Sara_H]

I'm wondering if it's broken, thouh it all looks in order. The arm on the side the pad is stuck isnt moving at all, no matter how much/which way I screw it.

 

[boydj]

The whole unit needs centering. Loosen the nut that connects the brake to the frame, apply the brakes and re-tighten. The adjustment screw will make only minor adustments and it sounds like your brakes have been knocked off-centre.

 

[Cyclist33]

have you v brakes or road calipers?

if v brakes, the spring may have popped out. look at the one on the arm that works to see how the spring should sit.

 

[Roadrider48]

The whole unit needs centering. Loosen the nut that connects the brake to the frame, apply the brakes and re-tighten. The adjustment screw will make only minor adustments and it sounds like your brakes have been knocked off-centre.

Spot on I would say.

 

[sreten]

Hi,

If a screw is undone too much the bit it pushes on spins past it
and the screw no longer has any adjustment effect when turned.

I can't remember the details, I took the brake arm off to fix
the problem on my bike, not sure if you actually need to,
details may differ with different makes of brakes.

Im my case it seemed broken, but reassembled
with the screw correctly engaged sorted it out.

rgds, sreten.

 

[Sara_H]

It's v brakes. I looks all normal.

I've been screwing and unscrewing for more than an hour and its not getting better. In fact its worse.

 

[Cyclist33]

Photos...?

 

[Cyclist33]

Spot on I would say.

Doesn't cut it if v-brakes, as each one is bolted to one of the fork's tines.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Hi Sara, this happened to me too, hope you solved it.
It's like @boydj and @sreten said, you need to undo the brake cable and recenter the unit, holding the brake arms with your hand. Leave the springs screwed in about equally, then do the fine adjustments after pulling the cable.
Good luck, it's so frustrating when you need a bike the next day and something is wrong with it.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Doesn't cut it if v-brakes, as each one is bolted to one of the fork's tines.

Not bolted, they still move on the forks? Ime.

 

[Cyclist33]

Not bolted, they still move on the forks? Ime.

As I understand it, yes, and that is why the advice to loosen the nut as given above, only applies to road caliper brakes where there is one bolt in the fork crown.

 

[sittingbull]

Tightening the screw (clockwise) on one side pulls that side's pad away from the rim, if there's no more adjustment, slackening the screw on the OTHER side does the same. First off I'd close the brake arms together with one hand and make sure the noodle is seated correctly (have a look at the brakes on the other end of the bike) as this can take up some slack causing one pad to rub if they weren't centred properly to start with. Has the wheel been removed recently?