Rear Brake Issue

[Ajax Bay]

Don't muck around with the calipers themselves until you have replaced both the inner cable and outer cable housing - it's not seen the light of day for 4+ years. Grease the inner cable (ie before inserting it) wherever it is going to be enclosed by the housing. As some others above had said, this is most likely the cause of your problem: friction in the cabling has now become greater than the power of the 'return' spring in the calipers. And +1 to the 'never upside down without lots of protection' team.

 

[lpretro1]

We regularly have ti strip down calipers in our workshop where people have road bikes and no rear mudguard. The dirt, water and all other crap gets in and eventually corrodes the pivots. If they are left wet and unloved then eventually they will cease to work properly & then it is replacement time. It is a good idea to spray some lube into the pivot points of the brake arms regularly wiping excess off afterwards - being careful not to squirt it all over brake pads, braking surfaces or tyre of course. Or better fit a mudguard (easier said than done on some bikes though!)

 

[Ajax Bay]

Plus 1 to lpetro's good idea:

It is a good idea to spray some lube into the pivot points of the brake arms regularly wiping excess off afterwards

Should be an element of one's regular maintenance regime.

 

[Ajax Bay]

Re: masochism: has to be a 'good thing' in the spirit of Rule V.

 

[cyberknight]

Another vote for recabling the brake and change the outers too if you can , i have had this a number of times and its always worse in winter .