Toeing in Vintage Long Reach Sidepulls
My '52 Raleigh has quite a bit of brake squeal in the front brakes. I've been trying to toe in the pads the usual way, by using an adjustable wrench to bend the brake arm slightly, but given the age of the brake arms, I am wondering if, first of all, my usual way is the correct way, and second, if it is correct, is it OK to bend the arms on brakes that old. I have lived long enough to have a large enough catalogue of memories of accidentally snapping things to be overly cautious.
I was thinking the ideal solution would be to find a beveled washer that would toe in the brake pads without bending the arms at all. Is there such a thing?
I also wonder, just generally, how safe, in terms of dependably durable, old long reach brakes are. They flex quite a bit when I brake, and I assume they have been flexing like that for decades. Can I depend on them for decades longer, or would it be prudent to look for more modern long reach brakes to use on the bike? I do quite a bit of fast downhills toward intersections on my commute home. I've never had a brake arm snap, (though I did have my front brake cable snap once), but I wouldn't want it to happen.
I was thinking the ideal solution would be to find a beveled washer that would toe in the brake pads without bending the arms at all. Is there such a thing?
I also wonder, just generally, how safe, in terms of dependably durable, old long reach brakes are. They flex quite a bit when I brake, and I assume they have been flexing like that for decades. Can I depend on them for decades longer, or would it be prudent to look for more modern long reach brakes to use on the bike? I do quite a bit of fast downhills toward intersections on my commute home. I've never had a brake arm snap, (though I did have my front brake cable snap once), but I wouldn't want it to happen.