Linear pull brakes - balancing screw spring

[Yorkie006]

Hi,
does anyone know where to get the little spring that goes on the balancing screw on linear pull brakes? It's for Apollo Slant mountain bike.
I tried looking on ebay but can't seem to find anywhere selling just the spring (or spring + screw) and don't want to replace the whole brake system.
Thank you!

[Jdsk]

Welcome.

Do you know the make and model of the brakes?

If not please add some photos.

Jonathan

[531colin]

Go to your local bike shop or charity bike recycling place, they will have something suitable in the scrap bin. (get a pair of springs, if you get just one it may not balance)
a couple of packets of chocolate biscuits is usually enough to smooth this sort of transaction.....

[Yorkie006]

Hi, unfortunately there is nothing written on the brakes at all.
I will need to get at least one set (preferably 2) of screws/springs as both brakes have 1 spring broken (compressed so badly, it no longer 'springs').
The bike is Apollo Slant supplied exclusively to Halfords - most of the parts are unbranded apart from the frame (Apollo) and gear related stuff (Shimano and SRAM mrx), so who knows what brand the rest of the bike is...
I can't take photos right now, sorry.

[PT1029]

You could find a nut and use it as a lock nut on the centring screw once/if* you get the brakes to centre consistently.
The brakes are cheap unbranded stamped out sheet steel, often very sloppy on the frame bosses even when the bolt is tight (which makes them more prone to squealing even when the pads are toed in).

*I say if, I have serviced Apollo Slants at work, very much the cheapest of cheap parts to work on. While new new ok enough on a good day. But after a time the brakes are really hard to adjust for centring as they don't centre consistently (even while trying to adjust). Greasing the pivots (which Apollo probably won't have done...) makes it a bit less bad.
If you bought a new V brake (say £10 - 15 with external springs that go up the side of the brake arm, and any plastic just being a cover, nota structural part of the spring tension), it will be money well spent as servicing/adjusting will become so much easier. Also the cable clamp will be a lot kinder to your cables then the ones you currently have.

[Eyebrox]

531 Colin's advice is good.

I work in a bike shop. There's hunners of these wee springs (and many with screws attached) all over the place - even in between floorboards and skirting boards as well as in the usual boxes of broken brake bits and related spare parts!

[peetee]

You could find a nut and use it as a lock nut on the centring screw once/if* you get the brakes to centre consistently.
The brakes are cheap unbranded stamped out sheet steel, often very sloppy on the frame bosses even when the bolt is tight (which makes them more prone to squealing even when the pads are toed in).

*I say if, I have serviced Apollo Slants at work, very much the cheapest of cheap parts to work on. While new new ok enough on a good day. But after a time the brakes are really hard to adjust for centring as they don't centre consistently (even while trying to adjust). Greasing the pivots (which Apollo probably won't have done...) makes it a bit less bad.
If you bought a new V brake (say £10 - 15 with external springs that go up the side of the brake arm, and any plastic just being a cover, nota structural part of the spring tension), it will be money well spent as servicing/adjusting will become so much easier. Also the cable clamp will be a lot kinder to your cables then the ones you currently have.

Totally agree. I have attended to hundreds of Apollo bikes with such brakes and they are notorious for inconsistent centring. Best advice is to bin them. With those out of the way and careful attention to lubrication of moving and adjustable components you should have a reliable, budget steed.

[rjb]

If they are those horrible pressed steel tin ones then ditch them and replace with some alloy ones. The slightest knock seems to break off the adjustment screw and they are easily damaged making balancing adjustment impossible.

[irc]

£18 for a full set. Better than the cheapest of the cheap.

https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bike-p ... 93402.html

[peetee]

£18 for a full set. Better than the cheapest of the cheap.

https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bike-p ... 93402.html

My choice too.

[The Path Racer]

It's not just on Apollos. I have the same brakes on my cheap Decathlon B'twin hybrid. I frequently have to adjust them so that both arms are synchronised. The levers have already been upgraded but once the brake blocks have worn out then they will be next.

[gregoryoftours]

£18 for a full set. Better than the cheapest of the cheap.

https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bike-p ... 93402.html

That's a really good deal with the levers, noodles and cables included.