>Q. When I pull my brakes on, the front wheel judders. Is this just because I've got V-brakes and they're rubbish or can I stop it happening?
Susan Cheadle, via email
A. V-brakes might not be as sexy as discs but they can still work well if adjusted right. The first fix is to adjust the brake pads (undo the central bolt until you can move their angle through the cone and cup washers) so that the front end of the pad, not the back edge contacts the rim first.
If they still squeak and judder then part of your brake assembly might be loose. Tighten any bolts up securely, and check for obvious rattle or play which might mean they need replacing.
On old Shimano V-brakes the little parallel link arm used to come loose and squeal, which could be fixed by zip tying it to the body of the brake to stop the looseness. If sorting the brakes doesn't fix it, then check the rims are clean and free from dents or obvious 'steps' at the joint seam. >
