How to?: Attach front brakes

[seadragon]

Bought this commuter bike and dont want to take it to a bike shop and pay them to do it. I am sure its a doddle if you know what you are doing but I dont. All my other bikes have a rear coaster brake only, so this is new to me.

Can someone please give a newbie a hand and explain how I get to front brakes connected up?

Many thanks

[S1_RS]

At the lever end, screw the adjuster right in and then turn back enough so you expose the slot in the adjuster and the locking nut. You should now be able to remove the cable from the adjuster, the inner cable with just come out through the slot. You will now see the inner cable has a ball or small cylinder fixed to the end, place this in the end of the lever, the bit currently hanging loose. Slide the cable back into the slot and put the outer cable back in the adjuster. At the caliper end, pull the curved metal quadrant towards the other side and hook the outer cable into it. Now adjust the cable at the lever end to take up the slack.

[Pablo16v]

V- Brakes I see. Just pull the silver nipple across and slot it into the bracket so that it looks like this



Then adust the cable tension so that the brake pads are a mm or so away from the rim.

[Paul Drawmer]

Then..adjust the little tension screws so that the the two arms work in unison, and both touch and leave the rim at the same time.

Screwing the adjuster in increases the tension. The arm that moves first when you apply the brake, has the least tension. So, to equalise them, screw the adjuster in on the one that moves, or out on the one that doesn't. When you get it nearly right, quite small adjustments (1/4 turn) will be enough to make a difference.

[deadtom]

is the rear brake not connected up either? if it is, just do the front in the same way.

how come the cable is not connected up in the first place? you may have to adjust the spring tension, pad position and lever reach aswell if its not been done already.

[Gizmo!]

Bamboo mudguards. Nice.

[seadragon]

thanks guys will take a look and try, i appreciate the info and the pic. the rear brakes were already done

yes the bamboo is unusual, bamboo grips too, flax/resin frame, recycled rubber tyres, carbon fibre forks. Its my new commuter bike, currently on the 2nd page of this forum. Schwinn Vestige

[shalmaneser]

honestly if you're stumped by this then i think you're better off taking the bike to a shop to ensure it's safe to ride.