Tagged Questions

2
votes
2answers
106 views

Jammed rear brakes

My rear brake is jamming to the point that only half seems to be moving. With worn blocks I got away with it, but now I have changed the pads I finally need to sort the problem. Could the brakes be ...
2
votes
2answers
91 views

How to fit tt brakes

got a set of profile design bull horns and fitting an aero lever/tt brake. name this one how is this inserted into the handlebar and how does one adjust? Cheers
0
votes
2answers
210 views

My v-brake lever (just one) is stiff. What's wrong?

After tuning my brakes a lot (I was learning how) I noticed suddenly my back brake got really stiff. Does't really matter if the cable is loose or not, the lever itself feels really hard to pull when ...
5
votes
1answer
176 views

There is a lip on my brake pad from bad positioning. Can I remove the lip?

One of my bikes had the brake pads positioned poorly and they developed a pretty pronounced lip where the pad hung off machined braking surface on one side. The bike is using cantilever brakes. These ...
2
votes
1answer
4k views

How to adjust Avid Elixir 1 hydraulic disc brakes?

I have a Trek X-Caliber and the rear disc is rubbing a little. So I want to adjust the brakes so it doesn't rub and make things a bit easier of course. I see many videos about brake adjustment but ...
2
votes
2answers
207 views

Stop my front brake lever screws from vibrating out?

One of the most common maintenance tasks on my Mongoose Tyax Super is to tighten a small screw in my front brake level. It shakes loose both due to use, and from a habit I picked up riding in ...
1
vote
2answers
472 views

The quick release on my shimano sora brakes pops open during braking

Occasionally, when using my bike with shimano sora brakes on the front and rear, the quick release will pop open during braking, reducing my braking power. Is there some way to prevent this? Is it ...
3
votes
3answers
518 views

What rear brake should I get for a Surly Steamroller?

I recently acquired a Surly Steamroller (fixed gear bike). I want to ride is as a single speed for everyday use. I changed out the rear wheel and got one with a flip-flop hub. I'd also like to add a ...
6
votes
5answers
539 views

Do brake cables become more elastic with time?

I bought a used bike a few months ago, and I've noticed a drastic reduction in brake power. At first, I was easily able to lock-up the rear wheel while squeezing the brake lever only half-way to the ...
5
votes
2answers
754 views

Brake callipers not long enough to allow adjustment of pads

I upgraded the standard Tektro brakes on my SE Lager to Shimano 105s. The braking performance is vastly improved. I also have Charge Plug wheels, rather than the stock wheels. However I've noticed ...
7
votes
1answer
1k views

My brake lever is coming loose from my handle bars; how can I tighten it?

I have a road bike with drop bars, and the left brake lever is slightly loose - it can rotate a few degrees around the handle bar from side to side. How can I tighten it? Is it possible to do so ...
7
votes
2answers
2k views

Fixing noisy V brakes

My V brakes make a lot of noise when I brake!! I am annoyed by such noise not to mention the pedestrians. My Mechanic said that it will not make those noise after using for couple of days, but it is ...
12
votes
4answers
988 views

What kinds of brake designs exist, and what are their general pros and cons?

Here are the ones I'm aware of: Center Pull Cantilever Slightly better braking than side pull brakes. No recentering problem. Relatively rare V-Brakes Cheap to produce. Similar in braking power ...
15
votes
5answers
2k views

Why do the front and rear brakes work independently?

Why do bicycles have two individual brake levers that work independently to brake each wheel? I've always used my right brake lever because it is more comfortable to do so and I haven't noticed any ...
4
votes
1answer
3k views

How do I stop my brake from sticking?

The rear brake (calliper) on my road bike sticks. When I pull the brake it pulls down but only half springs back and there's then slack in the leavers. This is causing rubbing on the rim. It's a ...
4
votes
2answers
561 views

Where can I get a basic toolkit for bicycle - Walmart etc?

I want some basic things in toolkit (like oiling of chain, tightening of brakes etc). Where can I find them and how much does it usually cost? I want to buy one, so can you name the basic tools with ...
5
votes
1answer
6k views

How do I bleed Avid Elixir brakes

My bike has a set of Avid Elixir R hydraulic brakes. The front brake barely goes on when I pull the lever and the back brake feels pretty soft. I think I need to bleed them. How do I go about doing ...
7
votes
1answer
432 views

How do I change my disc brake pads?

How do I change my disc-brake pads? How do I avoid letting the fluid out?
8
votes
2answers
710 views

When to change disk brake pads

I was wondering how to tell when your disk brake pads need replacing. My front seems to be not stopping as quickly as it used to, or as I would like. I know this could be road grime build up, but I ...
8
votes
2answers
4k views

Hydraulic Disc Brakes Maintenance

I have Hayes Nine hydraulic disc brakes on my mountain bike. I have recently replaced the brake pads and after that it seems that the pads are almost touching the rotor. How can I adjust it? I have ...