Hi. My brakes are barely working. The funny thing is that they seem to have suddenly gotten bad. Even when I squeeze really hard on the brake levers, all that happens is I slightly slow down, especially on declines. I've adjusted the shoes to be closer to the rim, but that doesn't help.
I'm thinking that either the shoes are worn down or the brake cables are stretched. There is a lot on noise when I apply the brakes from the shoes rubbing against the rims. Does anybody have any advice on how to figure out what's wrong with my brakes? By the way, my bike is a Specialized Sirrus from around 2005, with Shimano V brakes, but it's not clear what model they are. Nothing very high end. Thanks.
Seems strange for them to suddenly quit working at both front and rear. Did the rims get dirty or oily from riding in rain? If so, try cleaning the rims and brake pads with alcohol or strong detergent.
If you can apply a large amount of force to the brake lever and it's not touching the bar then I'd say it wasn't a cable issue... so...
Take a white paper towel and rub it really hard against the rim, chances are there's lots of built up old rubber and dirt on there. If there is, that the tire/tube off and clean with a good solvent - make sure you use good gloves (nitrile rather than latex) and preferably do it outside. Rinse well and clean with dish soap.
Repeat until you can't see any traces of 'dirt' on a white paper towel.
Change the brake blocks. If you think about what they do and what may happen if they don't work properly, replacing them when they're past their prime is a no brainer.
It'll also be worth a visit to Shimano's website and check their tech notes for correct installation and adjustment.
If you can apply a large amount of force to the brake lever and it's not touching the bar then I'd say it wasn't a cable issue... so...
Take a white paper towel and rub it really hard against the rim, chances are there's lots of built up old rubber and dirt on there. If there is, that the tire/tube off and clean with a good solvent - make sure you use good gloves (nitrile rather than latex) and preferably do it outside. Rinse well and clean with dish soap.
Repeat until you can't see any traces of 'dirt' on a white paper towel.
Change the brake blocks. If you think about what they do and what may happen if they don't work properly, replacing them when they're past their prime is a no brainer.
It'll also be worth a visit to Shimano's website and check their tech notes for correct installation and adjustment.
Thanks, Swampy. I did the paper towel test and a lot of black crud came off. More than it looks like on the rim! I plan to do a thorough cleaning tomorrow and also get some new shoes. I was thinking about trying Kool Stop shoes, but Shimano, of course recommends only using their shoes with their brakes.
Thanks, Swampy. I did the paper towel test and a lot of black crud came off. More than it looks like on the rim! I plan to do a thorough cleaning tomorrow and also get some new shoes. I was thinking about trying Kool Stop shoes, but Shimano, of course recommends only using their shoes with their brakes.
