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Centering Dia-Compe brakes

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yelmarb:
Really struggling to get my Dia-Compe 1000 brakes to centre when I pull the brake lever. At the moment only the left side brake arm (when sitting on the bike) is moving. The right side moves about 1/2mm before it hits the rim. I've tried to tighten the main bolt so that the brake sits to the right but that hasn't helped. I've also been adjusting the 2 nuts on top and the lower nut but the caliper always wants to pull from the left hand side. Any ideas?

SteveG:
First you need to release the spring and make sure it not bent one side more than the other. Adjust it if you need to and then re-attach it.
Next loosen the adjuster off  so you get a reasonable amount of travel when you pull the lever and then adjust the pivot pin nuts (not the one holding the caliper to the frame).
It will take a few goes to do this and you need 2 spanners, loosen the locknut and tighten the other then lock it up again with the locknut. Don't overtighten the nuts as it is easy to strip the thread. You will need to find a comprimise between the nut being tight enough to stop the arms moving but not so tight the caliper wont release.
Once the caliper is opening and closing properly you need to set the cable so the blocks are just off the rim.
If the caliper still pulls one side more than the other you either need to bend the spring to make that side release properly or slightly loosen the frame attachment nut and twist the caliper the way it needs to go.

Hope this helps, if not it might be cos I've had a few  ;)

It could also be the brake cable holding the arm to one side to make sure it isn't too tight or loose

MartyC:
Using a largeish flat blade screwdriver, place the blade on the spring and gently tap the screwdriver with a hammer until it centres, another way is to use a centreing tool availble on egay.  Also, checkout this how to on the ParkTools website... http://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=22

kevin rettie:
That park tool website is brilliant, glad I read this post - cheers guys.    :daumenhoch:

yelmarb:
Thank you very much for you replies. I've tried bending springs and tightening and loosening the 2 bolts on top of the caliper and I've cut about 4" off the length of the brake cable but the left of side of the caliper is still the only one that does most of the movement - until it hits the rim and then the right side decides to move in - about 1mm.

So tempted to go down to my LBS and get them to sort it out (of which I do support by buying products from them) but you know..... it's my vintage BMX... I don't want anyone else messing with it.

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