Bicycle Tutor

Whenever I squeeze my brakes, the arms are supposed to spring in when applied and both are supposed to spring out when released. Please correct me if i'm wrong. Anyway when my brakes are applied and released only one of the arms springs back while the other arm sticks and barely moves. It springs in when i apply them but doesn't come back.

I have exactly the same problem. After looking at the tutorial on how to adjust v-brakes, I took a look at the springs and it seem to be broken... maybe you have the same problem.
And here's my related question: is it possible to replace the spring or do I have to get a new set of brakes?

Your guess is as good as mine... lol. I have looked at the springs which dont seem to be broken, adjusted them(which only made it worse so i put em back where they originally were), lubed them, lubed the cable. This bike is only about a month old, so maybe the cables are stretching. But then again im only a rookie, so what do i know

It depends on what you mean. For the v-brakes I've worked on, they tend to want to lean to the side that the cable is on after you use them instead of wanting to spring back. Which means you usually have to balance them. But, I find with V-brakes that it can be touchy to try to balance them. Most of the "spring back" I've noticed on them comes from the plastic "spacer" that you see. And making it so both sides come back equally is tricky.
If this is what you mean, you have to play with them a little bit before you get it right. Of course, things always come easier with experience, so hopefully it will for you all.

Release the cable from the brakes. (take a note of where it is attached just so you can put it back).
This will allow you to "feel" each arm to check the tension.
Push the problem arm towards the wheel rim and it should spring back easily.
If not, then the arm can be removed to clean the pivot by undoing the attachment screw.
At the same time you should also be able to inspect the return spring and clean it.
After re-assembly, there is a small screw on each arm that is for adjusting the spring pressure and is used to balance the arms against each other.
If a spring is broken, I have not seen spare springs for sale. Obviously do a search or ask your LBS (local bike shop). Otherwise it means a complete new brake or get a used one for spares.

Skyguy how do I balance them, is that what the centering screws are for? You are right on the money about it being the side the cable is attached to.. Also the "Spacer" you are referring to is that the one with the three little holes that the tab on the spring fits in to?

As cyclerUK mentioned, both arms should move and spring back freely when the brake cable is released. If not, often times when the brakes are first installed on the frame the assembler may get a little aggro and tighten the brake arm on too hard. There is a little washer just underneath the brake post bolt (the bolt that holds the brake arm onto the post). It may get pinched and develop a groove on it that causes the brake arm to catch and get sticky. Just take the bolt all the way off, take off the washer (you may need to use something to knock the washer free, straight bladed screwdriver should do), reverse it and tighten it all down carefully again. Should swing freely. Cheers!

There are usually adjuster screws on both sides to get the centering right. Changing the spring to one of the other holes in the littel plate (if you have that too) will be a bigger adjustment and you might still have to play with the screws to get them perfect. Finally (or firstly) check to make sure your wheel is in the farme/fork all the way. If you put it in slightly off center, you should fix that rather than adjusting your brakes to suit the wheel.

Thanks for all of the above. However, after letting off the cable I found that a partly worn brake block was causing my son's brake to stick. Taking off the block and rubbing it on a rough brick then reassembling did the trick.

Thankyou for the feedback.
You have to keep an eye on the blocks.
Make sure they are properly centred on the rims.
To high and they will rub the tyre causing wear.
To low and they could "dive" under the rim and jam in the spokes - instant way to do a "stoppy" !!

same problem with me. I don't know what it is, it's like the v-brakes are trying to mess with you.