First off, putting sugar water (coke, or pepsi) will work but it is a bad way to go, as it is very short term, and it builds up and you have to take off your pads to clean them and the rims quickly. Plus it will ruin the finish on your rims.

Here is a Pro rundown on 990 style brakes.

First off, teflon lined cables. Use Tri-Flow inside the cables, and MAKE SURE they don't bind. If they bind, all your work is worthless.

Get good levers that don't flex. Tech 77's are good.

Look at the calipers, do they flex? Or are they tight? They should not move up and down, they should be very smooth opening and closing.

If that is not the case then, take off your brakes, (making sure you don't mix up the springs, there is a left and a right spring, or loose the washers). Clean them till they are spotless, and put some light grease on the top of the brake mount, and on the shaft of the brake mount, and any washers.

Slide the arm back on, and put on the spring and dust cap. Now put some more grease on the bolt and start to tighten it. When you have it on don't tighten it up just yet, and do the other side. When both sides are done they should move easily with little effort.

Now, this is the hardest part, You have to set the tension of the springs so that they are the same. I Turn the bolt until the pads touch the rim and then I turn them about 1/4 more. They key to this part is that they are the exact same, otherwise one side will hit first and that will make them not work as well. You have to have a allen wrench and a wrench on the set bolt at the same time to set them correctly.

Then tighten everything down. Making sure your cable bolt is super tight, you don't want that to slip and ruin all your work.

If they are new cables, then in a few hours you will have to reset everything because the cables will stretch.

Set your brake pads so that they are parallel to the rim. NOT TOED in or out. They should hit flat on the rim. The best way to do this is to pull the lever (with your foot and the bike upside down) while you tighten the nut, Holding on to the pad so it doesn't move.

Softer the pads, the better they will work.

Chrome rims work best for braking.

If you want to spray something on your rims, get some simple green. It is amazing spray a little on your pad and rim, and ride with your finger barely holding the pad against the rim until they start to squeal.

When they squeal they are perfect.

Learning to dial in your brakes is an artform. And all good riders must learn this process some time, why not today?

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