Campagnolo Brake Adjustment Query...

[Christopher Harrison]

Hi all,

Let me start by saying I am, more-or-less, technically incompetent!
When I try to fix things on my bike, they usually end-up a whole lot
worse...but I like to try, regardless ;)

My rear brakes (Campy Centaur) are misaligned, such that one pad is
all-but-rubbing against the rim. In the past, I've been able to
recentre the pads using the adjusting screw that is attached to the
spring on the non-cable side calliper (as described in the manual and,
also, from reading Zinn's book)... Unfortunately, this time, it's not
working: there is nothing wrong with the trueness of the wheel and the
screw is in as far as it will go, but the pads are not shifting to
where they ought to be. (n.b. The cable-side calliper has a similar
screw attached to the opposite spring; but it is headless, so I can't
do anything with it.)

As a quick fix, I have swapped the washers around that hold the
offending pad housing to the calliper: the inside one is quite thick,
whereas the outside one is thin. This has worked, but it's obviously
not as designed: the large, inner washer (which is now on the outside)
is clearly machined to fit on the inside like a ball-and-socket joint.

My queries are: Is this swapping of washers a bad idea? I assume it's
not going to cause too much trouble, but going by my track-record, I
just want to make sure ;) More importantly, what do you do when the
adjusting screw doesn't have the desired effect, to recentre the pads?

Thanks :)
Chris

[TT]

On Sep 17, 8:42 am, Christopher Harrison <Spam-

Just re-align the caliper. Put the washers back the way they were.

http://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=20

From above: "Inspect that caliper is approximately centered to wheel
(after wheel is centered in frame). Loosen mounting nut and move
caliper arms until centered to rim. Re-tighten the mounting nut."

and

"For Campagnolo® dual pivot type brakes, the centering screw is
located on the left caliper arm. See image (in link above)."

[Hank]

> located on the left caliper arm. See image (in link above)."- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Exactly. Much of the time, you can just recenter it by hand (of
course, if it goes too easily, it should be cinched down).

[Christopher Harrison]

When you put it like that, it seems so obvious... Like I say,
technically incompetent!!

Cheers :)

[AMuzi]

Did you first slip fingers aside the tire on both sides to
ensure the wheel is centered in the frame/fork? Do that.

Once assured the wheel is centered, replace the brake pad
hardware as original (oil threads) and then remove, oil and
retighten the brake mounting nut. Move your fine adjust
centering screw to a medium position (neither all the way in
nor out)

THEN center the caliper, using a wrench on the flats between
caliper and frame/fork.

--
Andrew Muzi
<www.yellowjersey.org/>
Open every day since 1 April, 1971