Bending callipers?

[KenM]

I don't think they are, but my front brakes are behaving as though they are bending. Before I have squeezed them full on I have run out of cable, just as though the callipers were bending. I noticed this the other day riding to work when I had trouble controlling speed down a hill and had to rely almost entirely on my rear brakes. My LBS put in some new pads, which improved things a little, to help me get home a bit safer but they're only just adequate; probably about 3/4 of the breaking power I originally had. They couldn't really see why this is happening and I was hoping that somebody may know something that will save time (i.e. money) at the LBS. There is some hard plastic breaking off near the springs on each side as well, which weakens their release but this seems to be separate to the lack of power.

(I've got a photo showing the top of the callipers as I've run out of cable with less than full force applied but can't work out how to insert/upload it.)

The bike is not 5 months old and it looks as though new front breaks are needed. Is this a warranty claim?
Thanks,
-Ken

 

[John Tolhurst]

Nothing on the braking system of the Sofrider is particular to cruzbike, they are all standard mtb parts. It sounds like you have a split cable, I doubt replacing the pads would have done anything and I doubt they would have been worn in 6 months, how much milage have you done?

Underneath the input window here, it says "upload attachment'.

 

[Mark B]

John Tolhurst wrote: Nothing on the braking system of the Sofrider is particular to cruzbike, they are all standard mtb parts. It sounds like you have a split cable, I doubt replacing the pads would have done anything and I doubt they would have been worn in 6 months, how much milage have you done?

Underneath the input window here, it says "upload attachment'.

I'm betting on splt cable housing, as well. Easy and cheap remedy. Look where the cable housing bends down through the TFT clamp. I bet you see cable sticking out of the housing somewhere along the run.

Mark

 

[KenM]

Thanks for the suggestions!
I've checked the cable but I can't see anything obvious. I'll refer it to my LBS.
Yes, I know the components are standard, I'm just drawing on the general expertise here.

The pads were pretty worn; the groves had almost disappeared. I'm not sure about the distance as I regularly extend beyond the battery life of my phone/gps (not that I always use it) and the bike "computer" has spent more time at the dealer than on the bike. I hadn't thought that I'd gone a huge distance but its certainly not a trivial distance.
-Ken