Avid Shorty Ultimate Installation

[Cat3roadracer]

Anyone install these brakes? Im following the instructions, but compressing the spring resulting in no movement at all. What am I missing?

Thanks.

[kppolich]

Install the spring and pick a hole on the canti post and rotate the post over to get some tension.

[Cat3roadracer]

Agreed, but when I tighten the bolt everything compresses and the arm doesn't move.

[gavingould]

missing washers/spacers? been a few years since i had those brakes but they would bind if something was missing.

[Cat3roadracer]

New set. I have all the washers, am I setting up correctly, probably not.

[p nut]

If it’s a new set, I’m guessing it came with the instructions? Do you have it set up like in the picture?

[Cat3roadracer]

Exactly like in the pictures

[gavingould]

i think on the bike i had them on (Felt F3x, the first year they did a carbon cross bike) i had washers in front of the canti arms (behind fixing bolt) and behind (between the frame/fork and arm) on either the front set or rear, but only washers behind on the other set.
the posts weren't exactly the same length...

[kppolich]

Originally Posted by Cat3roadracer

Exactly like in the pictures

can you pick a different hole and twist the spring to generate some tension while fixing it with the canti bolt?

[old fat man]

If these are new old stock, might be defective. Avid had to replace portions of these because they would bind and not compress/return when secured properly. If left loose, they worked, but obviously were loose.

Call sram, they'll know. I was sent replacement pieces for mine 5+ years ago

[Cat3roadracer]

I appreciate the input, but I still think it is user error. There is nothing mounting the arm to the brake boss itself. I think this is why it continues to slip. I see no method of securing the arm to the canti stud on the frame. There are holes on the stud on the frame, but nothing to mate on the brake arm

[p nut]

Just to clarify, because a poster earlier mentioned the “tensioning” holes on the canti post: these brakes don’t use those. Need to hold the red square washer with a wrench and tighten the Allen bolt to get the proper tension. Works way better than the “holes”.

And the spring goes on the outside, just as pictured above in the directions and below.

[chiasticon]

similar issues I've had with these were related to which washers were being used along with the bolts. too few and the spring would bind as the OP describes. this is mainly related to how long your canti posts are. the directions tell you which washers to use, depending on what your post lengths are.

OP have you measured your posts and used the washers the directions describe? note that the directions tell you to measure your posts, but it's a 1mm difference... totally possible you measured wrong. it's 1mm! so maybe try the other configuration?

[old fat man]

Also, be sure to use quality allen wrenches and perhaps a cone wrench on the red square spring tension adjuster because Avid/SRAM made the hardware out of swiss cheese.

[zennmotion]

Don't mean to discourage, but these things are overcomplicated, overpriced and the swiss cheese analogy is apt. Nothing like having your brakes fall apart while trying to adjust minutes before a CX start time, while tiny pieces disappear into the grass, too many tools needed to work on them- I eventually tossed mine after a season of frustration. There are mo better cantis out there IMO for less money (Tektro), or the same money (Shimano), or if you like, mo money (Paul). These suck.