The Diceman OHH

The bolt on the face of the brake caliper, are you supposed to snug that thing? My brakes got out of whack and I torqued it down but now the left caliper doesn't bite so hot and the quick release doesn't open the pads up that much. I loosened it up and fixed that problem, but now the right caliper is real flexy when I brake. It's an older pair of Tektros, problem is just the front brake. I searched google high and low but could not find info on that bolt.

cxwrench

I always find then when someone 'loosens something up' they basically end up nearly removing whatever they're trying to adjust. That said, try to undo what you've done. Then you center the brake with the nut on the back of the fork. Center then tighten. There are probably hundreds of YT videos about doing this. Best watched before randomly loosening things.

The Diceman OHH

Good advice thank you, I can post pics now so I can be a little more clear, red arrow below, there is zero info online about how to adjust this bolt. I don't think it's meant to be adjusted but backing it off a touch is the only way my brakes are halfway working. Just curious if that's how it's supposed to be.

alcjphil

That bolt should never be "Adjusted" you are on the wrong track

smd4

Tightening that bolt on my Shimano brakes as tight as I can does not result in any binding. My brakes use ball thrust bearings, however. That said, my guess is that like most pivot points, you want the two parts to pivot freely with zero slop between them.

easyupbug 

Not sure what you mean by working half way? That is a pivot, if it is clean and lubed you should not have a problem. Have you tried releasing the spring to know that it is binding up?

The Diceman OHH

That's the answer I was looking for. Thanks, I'm gonna pull the brake off, disassemble and clean go from there.

The Diceman OHH

Another good answer, Thanks did not know I had to lube them.

smd4

What problem are you trying to describe when you say your brakes got “out of whack?”

The Diceman OHH

First thing that drew my attention was the quick release lever was making noise flopping around, I tightened that bolt up then I thought what the hell I'll snug the red arrow one up too it was loose, all the way tight the calipers stay pinched. When I loosed it to free the pinch brakes work but the right caliper flexes when it hits the rim. Only way to make the brakes function satisfactory is to loosen the bolt about 3 pubic hairs (actual measurement).

smd4

Those brake arms are pretty thin. It’s understandable that they’d flex when they contact the rim.

Crankycrank

How to overhaul/adjust dual pivots. Not your Tektro in the video but basically the same.

The Diceman OHH

Your video cued up hit play. Very helpful, you don't snug them. Back off a pinch, my problem exactly brakes are fine. Thread MVP Crankycrank, honorable mention goes to guy above smd4 these cheap ass brakes just flex.

Edit skip to 5:13 can't cue.