I need help with my brakes!!!

[SLP Punk]

My new '06 Stumpjumper got a rear flat this weekend, so I obviously had to disconnect the brake cables to change the tube. They are the factory non-disc brakes, and I cannot reconnect the cables for some reason. They came apart easily enough, so this is a big mystery. Any advice, aside from getting out the tools? Otherwise I'll take it back in to Erik's and get schooled in "New Brakes 101". Thanks!

I suppose this should be in the wrenching forum, huh? Feel free to move it.

[Trevize1138]

First question: how did you disconnect the brake cable? Did you simply slide the little curved tube out of the bracket or did you actually use an allen wrench to totally disconnect the cable?

I'd guess you did the right thing and slid the little curved tube out of the bracket. Getting it back in there is a matter of pushing the two arms of the V brakes back together with one hand so you've got enough slack to re-insert the curved tube into the bracket on the other side.

If you don't have enough slack make sure the cable and housing haven't skipped out of a guide somewhere on the body of the bike and make sure the housing hasn't popped out of the brake lever on your handlebars. That often happens when you disconnect brakes due to lack of tension on the cable.

[berrywise]

make sure the housing hasn't popped out of the brake lever on your handlebars. That often happens when you disconnect brakes due to lack of tension on the cable.

Bizactly what I was thinking :)

[SLP Punk]

First question: how did you disconnect the brake cable? Did you simply slide the little curved tube out of the bracket or did you actually use an allen wrench to totally disconnect the cable?

I'd guess you did the right thing and slid the little curved tube out of the bracket. Getting it back in there is a matter of pushing the two arms of the V brakes back together with one hand so you've got enough slack to re-insert the curved tube into the bracket on the other side.

If you don't have enough slack make sure the cable and housing haven't skipped out of a guide somewhere on the body of the bike and make sure the housing hasn't popped out of the brake lever on your handlebars. That often happens when you disconnect brakes due to lack of tension on the cable.

Thanks, I'll give it a try. That must be it since I did disconnect it the right way and don't have the slack to reconnect.

[SLP Punk]

I'm still not able to get it hooked up, so I suppose I'll just take it into the shop and see what's up.

[zaskar]

You have a barrel adjuster at the lever as well. Is there any room for adjustment to give you just a little bit of slack? I can't picture any other reasons that would keep you from being able to reconnect.

Puzzling!?!