[JustinW]

I was doing some post-race repairs, and I decided to straighten my brake pads (V-Brakes). Well, I was pretty much finished, so I tightened them. Anyway, I kept trying for about a half hour, but they kept rotating when I thightened them. Is there any way to stop it from rotating so much?
-Thanks, Justin

 

[BikeGeek]

I just hold them while tightening.

 

[ChrisRobin]

...hold them while tightening them and LOCKTITE the threads...they'll never move again.

 

[Matt D]

WHOA THERE KILLER,
Don't locktite the threads. It will take some practice getting the right method but just keep trying, that's how mechanics learn.
Keep the wheel in the bike and line up the pad the way you want them (preferably so the leading end touches slightly before the trailing end; called toe-in). Hold the pad still with one hand and tighten the 5 mil with the other until it's holding itself where you want it. Then to tighten it down, you can kind of wedge your fingers between the tire and the top of the pad so when it turns you're holding it in place.

Another way that i used to do a lot:

Undo the cable at the brake

Turn out the barrel adjuster on the lever almost all the way

loosen both brake pads

with one hand, grab both brake arms and sqeeze them together (just like would happen if you were braking)

With the pressure you're applying with one hand, line up the pads so they are straight on the rim

Tighten the pads

Tighten the cable at the brake

You should now not be able to pull the lever, it should be all the way out

Turn the barrel adjuster back in and...magic...you're break pads are alligned.
You'll probably have to do it a few times to get the quirks out.

 

[BikeGeek]

If you're using v-brakes, I believe that they are designed to work best without toe-in. You lose some braking power when you toe the pads in. Is it noticeable? Who knows. I've just heard that you shouldn't do it...unless you have those XT V's that honk like geese, then you pretty much have to toe them in to preserve your sanity

 

[Matt D]

that's what i was referring to with the toe in. On a nice dry day straight pads will work fine, but throw in some moisture and honk away.
I've never heard that you'd loose breaking power. Physically that doesn't make any sense, the power would just be more progressive. The only thing i can think of is that you have to bend the pad a little which takes energy.

 

[greasemonkey]

grease the threads and the first (flat) washer that rests against the nut. that's why it's there ... then there won't be much friction to make the pad want to turn, and you can get it a lot tighter a lot easier.

there ya go.