Brakes don't work

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Hey all. My back brakes have stopped working because the cable and the end
bit of the cable no longer stay fixed in the brake adjuster by the handle
bars. They simply will not stay in even after one press. I have noticed that
the end of the cable is loose and wonder if it is supposed to be? I mean
that you can slide it up and down of its own accord.

Suffice to say I am wondering if I am doing something wrong or is there a
way to fix it, or a trip to the bike shop in order?

PS It's a mountain bike for what it's worth

Thanks all

"Ayatollah of rock 'n' roller" <thisisf@lse.co.ck> wrote in message
news:g8Y2j.1351$WJ3.216@newsfe4-gui.ntli.net...
> Hey all. My back brakes have stopped working because the cable and the end
> bit of the cable no longer stay fixed in the brake adjuster by the handle
> bars. They simply will not stay in even after one press. I have noticed
that
> the end of the cable is loose and wonder if it is supposed to be? I mean
> that you can slide it up and down of its own accord.
>
> Suffice to say I am wondering if I am doing something wrong or is there a
> way to fix it, or a trip to the bike shop in order?
>
> PS It's a mountain bike for what it's worth
>
> Thanks all
>

The cable shold be tight, though I'm having a hard time imagining what
you mean by "ble no longer stay fixed in the brake adjuster by the handle
bars". Get yourself the "Zinn and the Art of Mountain Bike Maintenance"
for issues like this.

-Zilla
>

"Ayatollah of rock 'n' roller" <thisisf@lse.co.ck> wrote in message
news:g8Y2j.1351$WJ3.216@newsfe4-gui.ntli.net...
> Hey all. My back brakes have stopped working because the cable and the end
> bit of the cable no longer stay fixed in the brake adjuster by the handle
> bars. They simply will not stay in even after one press. I have noticed
> that the end of the cable is loose and wonder if it is supposed to be? I
> mean that you can slide it up and down of its own accord.
>
> Suffice to say I am wondering if I am doing something wrong or is there a
> way to fix it, or a trip to the bike shop in order?
>
> PS It's a mountain bike for what it's worth
>
> Thanks all
Maybe the cable is being allowed to slide out of the adjuster nut?

The brake cable passes thru an adjustable nut to connect to the end of the
brake lever. The nut has a slot in it to allow the cable to be removed.
Make sure the slot in the nut is not lined up with the slot in the bottom of
the brake housing, or else the cable could slip out when the lever is
pulled. Just loosen the little locknut where the cable goes into the
handle, turn the adjuster nut one-half turn, and try the brakes again. The
cable should stay inside it's track.

Go here http://www.utahmountainbiking.com/fix/ and click on Brake Tuneup.
Scroll down until you see the pictures of the cable adjuster nut for better
details.

On Nov 27, 12:06 pm, "Ayatollah of rock 'n' roller"
<this...@lse.co.ck> wrote:
> Hey all. My back brakes have stopped working because the cable and the end
> bit of the cable no longer stay fixed in the brake adjuster by the handle
> bars. They simply will not stay in even after one press. I have noticed that
> the end of the cable is loose and wonder if it is supposed to be? I mean
> that you can slide it up and down of its own accord.
>
> Suffice to say I am wondering if I am doing something wrong or is there a
> way to fix it, or a trip to the bike shop in order?
>
> PS It's a mountain bike for what it's worth
>
> Thanks all

Sounds like a simple problem and a communications issue. Check out
www.sheldonbrown.com for plenty of good DIY info, or get a picture
posted so we can see what's going on and likely tell you how to sort
it out.

On 27 Nov, 19:06, "Ayatollah of rock 'n' roller" <this...@lse.co.ck>
wrote:
> Hey all. My back brakes have stopped working because the cable and the end
> bit of the cable no longer stay fixed in the brake adjuster by the handle
> bars. They simply will not stay in even after one press. I have noticed that
> the end of the cable is loose and wonder if it is supposed to be? I mean
> that you can slide it up and down of its own accord.
>
> Suffice to say I am wondering if I am doing something wrong or is there a
> way to fix it, or a trip to the bike shop in order?
>
> PS It's a mountain bike for what it's worth
>
> Thanks all

Probably the cable is rusted, and the brakes cant pull the cable back,
or the brake(v-brakes?) are rusted on the mounting pins on the frame,
try mowing the brakes(with the cable disconected) and see if they
spring back, if not then thats your problem, then you should remove
them and lubicate them(the brakes, not the pads...), some pivot around
the pin, others pivot around a smal tube iside the brakes. Or its the
cable.

Good luck