Oh dear - V brakes.

[Sara_H]

I've just been to pick up my Dawes Mojave - desperate or this to work out as I really want a step through frame with a wide range of gears. OH has been warning me off as he says V brakes are practically impossible to adjust.

Anyway, have ridden it five miles home to discover the front bike is rubbing! Argh! OH is going to laugh his socks off!!

Any top tips for a simple fix, one pad is actually touching the wheel!!!

 

[MontyVeda]

there should be an adjusting screw on one side to balance the brakes centrally...

... the spring tension centering screw above.

just turn it one way or the other till the blocks are equidistant from the rim. (that's if they're rubbing on one side only).

if they're rubbing on both sides, slacken from the adjuster on the lever, or let a couple of mm's worth of cable out from the brake cable anchor bolt

 

[glasgowcyclist]

Sounds like you need to adjust the spring tension. Go to the brake block that is rubbing, and just below it you'll see the brake-arm's pivot point. There will be a small screw there which you shold adjust by 1/2 a turn at a time. Each time you adjust it, operate the brake lever at the bar. The dodgy brake block should now beging to pull away from the rim. Continue adjusting until both blocks pull an equale distance.
If there's no tightening adjustment left, try adjusting the screw on the opposite side by lososening it 1/2 a turn at a time.
V-brakes are dead easy to keep in trim. Have a read at this for a detailed description.
http://sheldonbrown.com/canti-direct.html

GC

 

[HLaB]

V brakes are easy to adjust the brak tensioning screws are the only real thing to it. Personal preference probably but when I've had v brakes I 've also moved the spring to the top most hole to increase tension this might make it easier again. You Tube (blocked at work) will probably have lots of 'know how' videos.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Before you tackle adjusting the brakes, make sure the wheel is sitting straight in the frame. And if it hasn't been ridden for a while or has been kept outside, a bit of oil-based TLC might loosen it up. If not, the advice above is good.

 

[Sara_H]

Thanks for your replies.

It is only one of the brake blocks that is rubbing. I've tried adjusting the screw but it's now all the way in and pad is still rubbing. I should loosen the screw on the other side?
[QUOTE 2696400, member: 45"]V-brakes are very very easy to maintain and adjust. Tell your OH he's a nobber.[/quote]
I have! but I'll tell him again from you when he gets in! He'll only buy a bike if its got disc brakes or centre pull. He doesn't really want me to have this bike (which I've got on trial for four weeks) but I really want a step through frame, which don't come with disc brakes!

Having said that, I sought some words of reassurance from my mate who used to run a bike shop and she said she doesn't even try to do them herself any more, just takes them to the bike shop!

 

[Sara_H]

Thanks guys! I've done it! I'm so proud!!!!

 

[sreten]

Hi,

Good that you have done it. Just a warning though :

If you undo the adjusters too much the thing they press against can spin
round and make them impossible to adjust. Disassembly and reassembly
with the screws engaged against the stops is then needed.

rgds, sreten.

 

[Davidc]

Thanks guys! I've done it! I'm so proud!!!!

Tell your OH that next time he has a V brake problem you'll show him how to fix it!

As sreten suggests get the two screws into about the half way position if you can - it's the balance between them that matters.

 

[Sara_H]

Hi,

Good that you have done it. Just a warning though :

If you undo the adjusters too much the thing they press against can spin
round and make them impossible to adjust. Disassembly and reassembly
with the screws engaged against the stops is then needed.

rgds, sreten.

Right, I'll bear it in mind. Thank you.

 

[sreten]

Hi,

The implication was those that think V brakes are difficult
to adjust have probably messed up and not realised.
When all is well they are very easy to adjust.

rgds, sreten.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

@Hellsbells2504 has a bike that was never ridden, brand new out of the box, assembled by a friend.
We were about to christen it today, when I noticed the front v-brakes were pulling to one side.
I know I'm pants at this - takes me ages on my bikes, still gave it a try, could not manage.
As there were other things wrong with the bike, we took it to a lbs.
It turned out the wheel was not seated properly, that's how adjustment of the brakes was impossible
Can I hijack the thread, ask where to buy replacements for a couple of rusty tension screws? Do I have to buy a new set of brakes?
Ta!

 

[RedRider]

Good stuff, bookmarking this thread for next time the OH's brakes go awry.