Back brake won't spring back into place
11-02-21, 08:41 AM
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Back brake won't spring back into place
Hello everyone!
I am still a beginner when it comes to bike repair and so I do not know all of the vocabulary, however I will try to explain my problem as best I can.
There is a problem with my back break. It does not spring back into place after breaking, instead when I squeeze it, it stay that way instead of releasing the wheel properly. This started happening after the break wire got caught on my shoe and I mistakenly pulled it. However I was not able to tighten the break back into place, either using the little nozzle near where I squeeze the break on the handlebar, nor at the level of the part of the break on the wheel which can be adjusted. Adjusting either of these makes no difference because the break doesn't spring back into place.
I have checked whether there is a problem with the little spring within the break mechanism on the handlebar but it is intact. And as far as I can see, the break cable and its protective casing are also intact.
Does anyone have any idea of what the problem could be?
Thank you so much!
Milly
I am still a beginner when it comes to bike repair and so I do not know all of the vocabulary, however I will try to explain my problem as best I can.
There is a problem with my back break. It does not spring back into place after breaking, instead when I squeeze it, it stay that way instead of releasing the wheel properly. This started happening after the break wire got caught on my shoe and I mistakenly pulled it. However I was not able to tighten the break back into place, either using the little nozzle near where I squeeze the break on the handlebar, nor at the level of the part of the break on the wheel which can be adjusted. Adjusting either of these makes no difference because the break doesn't spring back into place.
I have checked whether there is a problem with the little spring within the break mechanism on the handlebar but it is intact. And as far as I can see, the break cable and its protective casing are also intact.
Does anyone have any idea of what the problem could be?
Thank you so much!
Milly
11-02-21, 08:45 AM
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Usually when my bikes did that, it was from very old rusty and gummed up cables/housings.
Knowing what kind of BRAKE, you have might give us a BREAK trying to figure out what is wrong with it.
Knowing what kind of BRAKE, you have might give us a BREAK trying to figure out what is wrong with it.
11-02-21, 08:48 AM
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Missing in this question is the actual type of brake that broke. Even knowing the make and model of bike that you have would be useful
11-02-21, 08:53 AM
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Assuming this is some sort of rim brake, it sounds like the cable is hung on a frame stop somewhere. Try squeezing the arms of the brake together by hand (or with a strap) until the rubber pads contact the rim (better yet do this without the wheel on if you are able). This will create slack in the cable, and you can follow it from the handlebar to the brake to make sure all of the plastic outer housings are seated into the appropriate frame fittings. If the cable is rusty/dirty or the plastic housings are damaged, they should be replaced. It sounds like a bike shop would be the best route for you if this is necessary.
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11-02-21, 09:02 AM
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11-02-21, 09:09 AM
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While cables and housing can cause the problem, it can also be caused by pads that are worn that have developed a lip on the bottom of the pad. The lip dives under the rim and hangs up.
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11-02-21, 09:38 AM
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Posts on forums are too easily read as being bad when they likely are not meant to be bad or snarky. Try to read everything with out thinking that you are being criticized.
11-02-21, 10:09 AM
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You were not being mocked. Nobody could tell by your question that English is not your native language. Many native English speakers also use the word "break" when they actually mean "brake". However, your question, while quite long provided very little information about what sort of bike you were asking about. You will soon be able to include photos of the brake parts which will be a great help in diagnosing the problem
11-03-21, 02:58 AM
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Check the cable routing. Has it twisted or snagged. Spray Wd40 where the cable comes out of the outer cable. Tiny sprays no dripping. Let it soak up it.
Do the same to any pivot points.
That's a start.
It's unlikely that you damaged anything when you pulled it.
Do the same to any pivot points.
That's a start.
It's unlikely that you damaged anything when you pulled it.
11-03-21, 08:08 AM
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Try tightening the pressure screws
11-06-21, 09:27 AM
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When my old Raleigh did what your's is doing, I replaced the cable with a cheapo Walmart cable I found in my parts stash, and presto, good as new. I agree, you werent being mocked. Not to say there arent some rude posters on this forum, but not too many. Young adults mostly, I suspect. Ignore them if they crop up in the future. Im amazed how people pick up English as a second language. How many Americans have a second language? Not many. Good luck.
11-10-21, 08:26 AM
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I have tried learning German, Spanish, Japanese, and now ASL (american sign language) and I suck at all of them. And by the way, I can't spell worth a damn. and I often spell brake, break. You are doing just fine Kiddo, welcome to the forum . Stick around, it is a great source of knooledge.
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11-10-21, 05:27 PM
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11-10-21, 05:31 PM
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what i would do is take the cable loose from the brake caliper and, by hand, pull on the cable through the housing. somewhere there's an obstruction whether in the housing or in the cable....like a kink. or, maybe one of the housing ends has become dislodged from it's stop
Last edited by thook; 11-10-21 at 05:34 PM.
11-10-21, 10:03 PM
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It's not mocking. It's making you aware that you used the wrong word. If you had spinach stuck to your teeth or forgot to pull up your zipper would you rather no one told you and you go around being seen by many more?
Posts on forums are too easily read as being bad when they likely are not meant to be bad or snarky. Try to read everything with out thinking that you are being criticized.
Posts on forums are too easily read as being bad when they likely are not meant to be bad or snarky. Try to read everything with out thinking that you are being criticized.
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11-11-21, 09:01 AM
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It is obvious to the most casual reader that it was mocking. If the correct spelling had been explained rather than the sarcastic break and brake in capital letters it would have been constructive criticism and received as such. It wasn't funny. An apology is due. I see this a lot on the BF. Don't try to whitewash it.
I would be more offended if someone was to be so blunt as to say I can't spell correctly or typed a word incorrectly as that in a written form would really sound uppity to me. I'd much rather they put it in a somewhat humorous and picking sort of way. But to each their own and for forum life people need to learn to ignore things that offend them as they might be mistaken as to the intent.
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