Top of v-brakes are loose

notnot

The Shimano v-brakes on front of my bike have come lose. They still stop the bike reliably, but the mechanism moves from left to right far too easily (you can easily put the top of the mechanism from left to right with a fingertip). This means it often ends up with the pads rubbing the wheel.

If anyone knows how I can tighten these up so they stay in the same position, that would be great. Hope the description I've given makes sense, and sorry about the stupid question!

desweller

Sounds like the springs are not engaged. On most V-brakes you can release the spring tension to aid wheel removal/replacement and pad position setting.

A photo would help diagnosis.

notnot

Thanks for the reply. Camera's on the blink, but they look rather like these ones http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=h ... AQ&dur=407

The top of the brake - the bit on the picture with a plastic ridged cover over the cable - slides far too easily from left to right (or vice versa) on my bike: you can push it with a fingertip, and it easily gets knocked out of place.

desweller

So it's just the rubber boot that covers the end of the noodle?

Don't worry about it. It just protects against dirt ingress, but I've never known one stay in place for very long.

notnot

Sadly not - the whole top of the brake (the bit the rubber boot covers, and the metal to either side of the boot) slides from left to right, which moves the pads out of position.

desweller

OK, so the brake arm moves too? And then does not spring back into place?

notnot

Yes - brake arms move and don't spring back into place, meaning that the pads can rub.

desweller

Could do with pictures. Like I say, sounds like your springs are not engaged.

The Rookie

Or not adjusted correctly....

gbsahne001

on the back of the arm there's a spring, if that's slipped from it's locating lug, then this can happen.

notnot

Right, here's a first rubbish photo

notnot

And here's the second

Any suggestions on what to try adjusting? Or I can take better pictures of particular bits in the daylight.

gbsahne001

Looks like the spring on the LH arm's either not in place properly or needs replacing, the guide for the brake cable also looks as though it needs replacing, as it's kinked and appears to be pinching the cable.

notnot

Thanks. If there's an idiot's guide to checking (and potentially replacing) brake arm springs, that would be great.

(The cable looks kinked in the photo, but I think that's an effect of camera angle/shadow. It's a nice smooth curve when you see it in real life )

The Rookie

Remove cable, push arm so pad touches rim, let go, does it spring back, if yes the spring is fitted and working (load can be adjusted by the small screw near the base, caution the heads round out easily) if no the spring is either damaged or not located in the fork (3 holes, one should have the and of the spring wire poking thorugh it).

the kinked noodle (the steel tube the cable tries to run through) will cause the brakes to stick on by not allowing the cable to retract.

notnot

Thanks! Adjusted springs and brakes, and I think I've fixed it Will go for a spin tomorrow to make sure - but looks much better here.