Brake on sons bmx

avrc

avrc

avrc

Associate
Joined
7 May 2007
Posts
975
Location
Cannock
My sons BMX has one rear brake only. It's a U brake set up. The pads engage the rim with very little force to the lever on the handle bars so I don't think it's a cable issue(?) The problem is that once he sits on the bike and brakes even though the pads make full contact the rim it is still able to move quite easily. If he gets off it and puts the brake on and pushes then it holds the wheel in place so it's failing once there is weight on the bike.

Will new pads fix this? If so is there a particular type? He only rides it to school and back.

g0LdyCW.jpg.png

6TvB0MO.jpg.png
 
new pads would help (ones with a good compound (look at the odyssey ones) - yours are not worn out but are probs not of a great quality)
however you can add power buy undoing the allen key bolts that attach the brake to the frame, and turning the spanner flat parts a little (make sure you do this the correct way) and then tighten the bolts up again
if the brake lever hits the bars before the brake hits the rim fully, the cable will have stretched - so you will need to pull a little bit more through


if you really want an easy solution, the odyssey springfield brake is about £15 and is super easy to setup
 
Last edited:
No need for new pads, just take those ones off and sand the surface nice and smooth which will get rid of any oil or whatever and straighten them out.

Looking at the first pic, it looks like the pad might not be that close to the rim when not engaged? You need to try get the pad as close as possible without it scraping.

Brakes will seemingly work fine with no weight on it because there isn't any force. As soon as you add force with some speed and weight, the bike is going to have an easier time rolling even with the brakes on. So it just sounds like the brakes aren't making proper contact at all.

It could simply be a cable tension problem.
 
Last edited:
U-brakes aren't all that great, and a single rear brake is never going to offer great stopping power. Pads might help as might some adjustment to the setup.

Also, change that chain. Good grief :p
 
The pics might be deceiving as the pads are as close as I can get them without touching.

I shall try sanding them and fiddling with those bolts. Thanks guys.
 
Vonhelmet said:
You could probably get a V-Brake on those mounts if you wanted to improve the braking power.

Also change that chain. Good grief :p
Click to expand...

Just want it to be able to stop! It used to stop fine. His bike gets left out in the rain hence the rusty chain, extra garden storage is on my to do list!
 
I've just sanded the pads down and fiddled with the mentioned bolts. There was uneven wear on the pads which I've flattened out but they don't seem any better to me. Granted I'm much heavier but I sat on it and tried the brake and it did very little.

What's my next port of call?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom