Iantojohn

So i recently decided to teach my self to ride a bike to get to and from work as a way to cut out bus fare from my really tight budget. So to help with that one of the regular customers at my job gave me her grandson's old bike. So when I checked to see if everything works right I noticed the entire rear brake on the right side is missing . I just wanted to know if it was something that I be able to replace myself since I don't really have the money right now to pay $100 + to a bike shop to do it. But considering I don't really know what kind of bike it is does that mean I should just suck it up and start saving get it fixed or is it something that really doesn't matter?

brianmcg123

Are you talking about the brake pad? Or is the entire arm missing?

ronin4740

Pad or Arm you should be able to replace it. Both may require an adjustable wrench and/or an allen key wrench but either is pretty easy... Let us know which it is and I'm sure someone here can help you get the job done. Post a few more times until you get to 10 posts so you can upload a photo too

WizardOfBoz

You may have to post a few more posts to upload a picture, but when you can, do this.

dsbrantjr

Or post the photos to a photo-sharing site and provide a link; IIRC that will work with fewer than 10 posts.

fietsbob

Ask bike shop what's in their parts bin , show them your bike .. they may have adequate used parts..

AeroGut

If there’s a bike co-op near you, that’s also a good place to get a replacement and some help putting it on.

Bill Kapaun

Is it a coaster brake?
Do the pedals spin backwards freely, or do they lock up the wheel?

Dan Burkhart 

Not enough info to really give you a helpful answer. There are numerous types of brakes, from side pull calipers to cantilever, and linear pull. I suggest you do a youtube search for servicing those brake types until you hit on one that matches what you have.
The alternative is as suggested above, keep the conversation going until you have 10 posts and you can upload photos.

alcjphil

" But considering I don't really know what kind of bike it is"

If you don't know what kind of bike you have, how is anyone going to be able to figure out what type of rear brake you need or how to install it?

Iantojohn

It's actually the brake pad that's missing

Iantojohn

And yes the pedals do spin backwards freely

rhenning

You can buy brake pads almost any where that has basic bike parts. Take the pad you still have and bring it to the shop/store and have them sell you new ones. You might have to buy a pair. Roger