Can't get the bloody brakes working - help!

I'm trying to get an old peugeot road worthy for the Mrs and am having no end of trouble with the brakes. I can't work out what I'm doing wrong, so someone please help.

I can't seem to get any tension in the cable, I'm holding the pads against the rim and pulling as hard as I can on the cable then tightening the clamping bolt whilst keeping the tension in the cable. I've tried this quite a few times and haven't been able to get it so there is any resistance when I pull the brake lever. am I missing something obvious?

the brakes and levers are weienmann and the only thing that looks slightly off is that there is a slight gap around the cable where it comes out of the lever. any ideas?

cheers.

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You got the springs on teh brakes, or have they gone really crappy. If they've lsot power just bend them out again. If you haven't got any sprigns you haven't got any tension. Otherwise I don't know. :-)

the calipers look shitty, and bendy, and i remember having those types on my old BMX's and having the same problem.
They basically bend when you apply pressure.

wienmann calipers = new caliper time.
They are the work of the devil

the only good weinmann caliper is a dead weinmann caliper.

unless you shell out and get the weinmann 500s, usually about 99p on the bay.

I think you may have taped the cable away from where it goes into the lever taking all the tension out.To get more grab from the lever you could try gently bending it out more with a ring spanner looped over it, it may snap, you will hate me forever, but maybe worth a try .

I would also suggest those teflon coated cables and cases which helped me out no end to get a better return on the brake. Although I am not sure you can get them for road brakes.

I would also suggest those teflon coated cables and cases which helped me out no end to get a better return on the brake. Although I am not sure you can get them for road brakes.

yeah but that'll cost more than the callipers and lever are worth (or would cost to replace) - so would suggest this only if the callipers are welded to the frame. And no amount adjustment / improving cables is going to salvage such terrible callipers.

bending the springs is a good idea, or take the wheel out before you set them up. But personally I'd replace them <£20 from ebay. They're brakes, after all (I'm assuming you're not also taking out a million 3 insurance policy on her) Only problem is that most callipers on ebay have the recessed allen key fitting, not the nut at the back as I suspect these have.

If replacing, which I would recommend, first check whether they are long or short reach, bets are that they are the old, long reach callipers. Think you can mount the recessed allen key fitting calipers, but alas since these are normally modern short reach, you might not be able to fit them there. Just measure the diameter of the fork steering tube, to know length of the fitting you need.

t4003 - I bet it's the outer cable. Make sure it's well-oiled, make sure it's the right length (not too long, not too short), and make sure it's snug at the brake and the lever. Put on some of those metal things that slide on to them.

thanks for the input.

they are wienmann 500's - that bolt on rather than have an allen key attachment, look like they're quite long reach too. I've put a slightly better picture below.

after much dicking around I seem to have it sorted. I think part of the problem was that the cable housing wasn't being held firmly in pace and so I couldn't get the cable to move without the housing moving too - which was why I couldn't get the tension in the cable (I think that makes sense). To fix this I used an old crank bolt (which was a really good fit) to fill the hole in the brake lever (see pic) - with this there the cable can move freely and I can get some tension on it. There was probably a proper bit on their originally that did this that I chucked accidentally when I got rid of the frozen up old cables. I also did as suggested above and gave the springs a bit of a stretch which probably helped. the calipers themselves seem to be in pretty good condition - I don't think they have had much wear and still have the original pads with quite a bit of life in them.

I've been out for a test ride and everything seems ok, braking is smooth and responsive.

if she uses the bike a lot (I'm not holding my breath) then upgrading the brakes will be a good plan, but these should be alright for the occasional weekend ride - they seem to be working just fine. as this is a step through frame the back brake is a bit funny (last pic), can you got a modern equivalent to this? the cable comes from below, rather than above.

Cheers.

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