V brake pads and spacers

[Twilkes]

V brake pads seem to have two sets of washers/spacers, a smaller set on the outside and a larger set on the inside behind the pad. I always seem to have to switch these around else the pads are far to close to the rim to enable them to be properly set up.

Am I doing something wrong or is this normal? Does it affect the angle of attack/wear rate of the pads? Or the amount of cable pull required to activate them?

 

[Tail End Charlie]

There are two different spacer widths to accommodate different rim widths. Sounds like you're doing it right. Won't affect wear or travel.

 

[Twilkes]

Ah never even thought of rim width, makes sense. I occasionally seem to have uneven wear across the pad vertically but it’s never been a problem, will crack on.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

Uneven wear vertically is a good way of describing it. It is a typical cosine error which comes from something that swings in an arc in order to bring the object closer to another. The worst of the worse is old cantilever brakes, then V-brakes, then the short arm and dual-pivot caliper brakes. Owneres of these brakes shoiuld learn where to inspect the pads for wear.

The closer you can set the pads up to the rim without rubbing, the less the cosine error. Hence, two sets of spacers.