brakes

It sounds like you have side pull brakes. Go to your LBS and tell them what bike you have, or take it in and let them take a look at it. Then let them worry about setting you up with a set of brakes that are compatable. There are a lot of good brakes out there in all different price ranges. There are the big three-Shimano, Campy, and Sram. And then there are less well known but good manufacturers such as Tektro. I suggest that you try to get dual pivot brakes as I beleive that they will give you more efficient braking.

Did you try replacing the brake cables? Internal friction in the cable from wear or more typically dried out grease or a worn coating on the inner cable can cause drag which the caliper spring has trouble opposing. Brake cables are very cheap. A nice (Taiwanese) set can be had for around $6.00. Of course if you want to upgrade to modern double pull brakes that is another issue, but I'll bet it's your cables and not your caliper springs.

i dont think i described my brakes well enough...

they have two arms, and they cross each other, where they cross is a bolt that holds them to the frame.

the cable runs through the left side of the brake. the housing stops at the end of the arm that controls the right brake pad (but the cable is still on the left side) then the cable runs from there to where it gets crimped on the end of the left brake arm.

i dont have those 'center pull' brakes or anything. i just need to know if like the shimano 105 brakes and others mount using one bolt, or two. you guys with your nice bikes just look at them and tell me. i dont have one to look at.

david462 said:

i dont think i described my brakes well enough...

they have two arms, and they cross each other, where they cross is a bolt that holds them to the frame.

the cable runs through the left side of the brake. the housing stops at the end of the arm that controls the right brake pad (but the cable is still on the left side) then the cable runs from there to where it gets crimped on the end of the left brake arm.

i dont have those 'center pull' brakes or anything. i just need to know if like the shimano 105 brakes and others mount using one bolt, or two. you guys with your nice bikes just look at them and tell me. i dont have one to look at.

You have described your brakes adequately. They are called Side Pull Brakes and they mount using only one bolt. There is going to probably be a compatablilty issue with your frame though. Almost all of the brakes sets that you would purchase today would be manufactured for modern frames. Current model brakesets normally have a recessed mounting nut that slides into a hole in the frame that is specifically provided for this nut. A 1980's bike is most likely going to have an external nut. Also, a current bike is going to have flat spots provided on the fork and seat stay bridge for mounting the brakes. Your bike would use spacers. Since bike shops deal with requipping older bikes with new components, they have probably encountered your situation in the past and would be able to provide you with a set of brakes and all of the ancillary parts that you will need to make them work. As I previously stated, you can probably ask for any brand and model brake that you want and your LBS can most likely make it work.

Since you have stated that you want to "upgrade", I would suggest that you use the most current model of side pull brake which is called a "dual pivot" brake. This is not a center pull brake but it has the one advantage that centerpull brakes have. You mount it just like the brakes that you have. A dual pivot brake has three major pieces, a stationary bracket, a left arm, and a right arm. This design allows the rider to brake more evenly and smoothly because it eliminates the tendency of the brake pad on one side to contact on the rim before the other pad makes contact. A correctly adjusted dual pivot brake caliper will also always stay centered on the wheel after each use and will not need to be recentered frequently like the old single pivot brakes. Note that this is not a Center Pull Brake. If you go to your LBS and ask for a Dual Pivot Brake and they do not know what it is, go to a different bike shop.
This link will help you understand the different kinds of brakes. en.wikipedia.orgBicycle brake systemsOpen ↗

As p38lighting stated, it would be a good idea to replace your cables and cable housings when you are replacing your brakes. The friction between old cables and cable housings can hamper proper operation of brakes.