Front brake setup instructions req

toastyhamster · Post by **toastyhamster** » Fri Mar 19, 2010 10:06 am

I've had a good trawl through this section and can't find any instructions and I need some help!

I've found the marks on the spindles and linkages and lined them all up, but from the point of biting to hard on is beyond the travel at the lever, so even with it pulled fully back I can still push the bike just. I've tried it with and without the second shoe activated and it's the same for both, even with the linkage on maximum adjustment. Both linkages are definitely lined up correctly on the spindles.

Do the brake actuators have to be set first? One has a neat punch mark on the base, but I can't see any marks on the back plate nor on the other actuator.

I'm wondering whether I have the right linkage rod - it's completely smooth with nowhere to put a spanner to adjust it, unlike the rear linkage rod I have. I don't see that it matters though as long as it's the right length, and there seems to be enough adjustment in it that it should do what it's supposed to if I can get everything else right.

It's the only thing stopping me going for a test ride!

davomoto · Post by **davomoto** » Fri Mar 19, 2010 10:16 am

TH, sounds like the rod is incorrect. The brake arms should be paralell to each other. Once these are set, you may have to ride it a bit to bed the brake shoes in, especially if they're new.

Davo

toastyhamster · Post by **toastyhamster** » Fri Mar 19, 2010 11:22 am

There's one on ebay at the moment and it looks the same, that one has no hex part for a spanner either. No problem getting the arms parallel.

Shoes aren't new but have plenty on them.

toastyhamster · Post by **toastyhamster** » Sat Mar 20, 2010 10:35 am

Well I now have a decent front brake but I don't thin kit's set up right. By putting the punch marks on the spindles the right way round for fitting means that when matched with the linkage there's too much play for the cable to take up. If I reverse the spindles so the shoes sit in the shallower recess and put the linkage on exactly opposite the punch marks it all works fine, easy to adjust, plenty of adjustment left in the cable and a nice feel at the lever.

So something is probably wrong but I don't know what.