V Brake help please

[deepakvrao]

Hi Guys,

My wife's V brakes don't seem to spring back snappily like mine do. Is it worth opening them up and cleaning the pivot area/spring etc? Any other suggestions?

Edit: Just re checked and I find it absolutely springy and normal when the brakes are opened. It's drag in the cable I guess. Much more in the rear than the front. Worth opening out the cable and lubing? Suggestions for lube? It is a full length housing as it is on the folder, so it is not short lengths of housing and remaining exposed inner. I think I remember Naveen saying that it is due to length of the housing.

Any other suggestions?

[bikeyvenky]

Deepak,

It could very well be due to the length of the housing. Just more friction. In that case, taking it out and lubing it with some grease should help. So does changing to better cables.

[deepakvrao]

Thanks Venky. Changing cables is not an option. We leave in 4 days. Will try lubing. Grease? or thin oil/lube?

[matelang]

AFAIK grease always. Also apply some grease on the pivot spring and the noodle. Worth trying to bring more tension through the adjusting screw? If spring works well, I keep the rim-pad distance as 2mm.

[bikeyvenky]

Thanks Venky. Changing cables is not an option. We leave in 4 days. Will try lubing. Grease? or thin oil/lube?

Remove the inner cable from the hose and use thin oil/lube for the hose. The thin oil usually drains off quickly and would actually brings any much out along with it. Then, apply a thin layer of grease on the inner cable. That's how I do it at least.

[shankarbn]

My favorite thing to work on . If the brakes feel spongy, you need to check three things :

1. Cable routing & length : Trim unwanted cable length and make sure there are not too many loops on the frame
2. Tension spring screws (or whatever they're called) : Make sure you have even tension on both brake arms.. uneven tension might work for a while but it just gives you a tough time during a ride when brakes misalign for whatever reason
3. Cable tension : As tight as possible

Word of caution : Don't over grease - it does more harm than good.. every single time!

[shankarbn]

And I disagree with Venky - changing cables might not help as much as trimming them to perfect length. I use local (80 rupee set) cables and V brake pads with the cheapo caliper brakes on my commuter and it snaps as well as the jagwire on the surly. Its not so much the cables, its how you set it up.

[dandekarvaibhav]

Hey Shankar,

Thanks for the info... Have been suffering with the exact problem.
Ignored the problem just like I ignore the rear bake.

Tried lubing & greasing and also trimming.
Problem just doesn't go.
The brakes lock to the place even after I release the cable.

Should I replace the Cable to Jagwire or something? ( Jagwire on Mach???)
Went the cheapo way first.

[cryptic_abbreviator]

Hi,

- nothing obstructing the noodle (seat post mounted tail lamp was the culprit in my case)
- that little spring tension adjustment screw on the underside of the brake lever
- centre brakes if reqd
- brake pad is worn out on one side
- cable (as mentioned above)
- stickiness on the pivot - remove and lube (I use the icetools teflon chain lube)

I guess you would have already attempted all of these, but putting them down anyway

ciao
gr

[shankarbn]

Like I said, cheapo cables work fine for me. Check the tension springs and lube the tension springs if they don't snap back - they're usually the culprit if the cable is alright. I like jagwire but didn't feel like investing 400 rupees on the brake cables on my commuter - especially since the local ones were available in blue

[dandekarvaibhav]

OK didnt give out one vital detail.

I use regular levers to operate V-brakes. Opps!

Check http://www.bikeszone.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=11309

[dandekarvaibhav]

My favorite thing to work on .

Are you for real?

[Anool]

has anyone tried dry graphite powder ?

I have a bottle, and will be trying it as soon as I face any brake cable issues. I'm hoping it would be much better than a wet lube.

Like this :


A Google search will throw up a lot of links.

[deepakvrao]

My favorite thing to work on .

Are you for real?

Seriously, LOL.

Dreading the work now.

[deepakvrao]

Well, realized that I had to unwrap the bar tape to get the inner cable out and back again, so gave it a miss. Opened the other end and saw that there was friction thru the noodle, but not so much when the noodle was removed. So, lubed that and it's better now. Not anywhere near a 'snappy' return of the brake arms, but atleast a reasonably quick release of the rims.

[pkdhut]

OK didnt give out one vital detail.

I use regular levers to operate V-brakes. Opps!

Check http://www.bikeszone.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=11309

Could you please help detail this out how did u fit V-brakes in there ?
When I asked BSA guys they said nope it just cannot be done also w.r.t. 27"1/4 rim they said no alternative is available for Mach1
- Need some pointers pls (loc - South Blr)

Regards,
Varun