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November, 2024

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FKS Brakes

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WeK
Posts: 1894 - Karma: 11
My brakes got messed up today, looking to see if this is something I can easily fix or if I need them replaced. I bought these like 4 months ago, so I guess I can warranty them if this is serious?

story ;  Landed switch while leaning foward, ski popped off, when I got to it I realized the brakes are bend the opposite way. The guy at the mountain shop told me I can try bending them back once my skis warm up (cold night), and if that doesn't work they could replacement for like $12. I've tried bending a little but just gave up as it seems to useless, but they were bent like normal brakes are except in the opposite direction, rather then being closer to vertical as they are now.

Some pictures:
1) just a photo of the top in case that helps with anything
http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/5132/fks1ea8.jpg

2) thats how they stand right now on their own
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/5659/fks2ov2.jpg

3) pushing down on the ski, far as they go. I've tried stepping the boot in, still just goes that far
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/5200/fks3zv5.jpg

I can still go to the shop I got them mounted at, 2-3 weeks ago, if there's any point in that. I don't really think it's anyones fault from what I understand. If they actually are bent, I think I just released and was still push down on the ski as the brake dug in, thus bending them directly the other way.



Dec 5 2007 8:55PM
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[nick]
Posts: 1043 - Karma: 423
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Dec 5 2007 9:04PM
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Shadows
Posts: 8068 - Karma: 43
they can replace them for 12 dollars? holy shit just do that.
Dec 5 2007 9:07PM
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Aenigma
Posts: 11256 - Karma: 424
Obviously you can't ski with them like that, so there's no harm in trying to fix it.  Try putting your boot in the binding, then taking a broken ski pole (or something similar) and bending them back up into position.  This should work because it would push down if you're doing it right, but definitely be careful and frequently check if anything bad is happening.
Dec 5 2007 9:08PM
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Silence
Posts: 16030 - Karma: 150
haha word - get another 20 pairs at that price and flip them ^ here too
Dec 5 2007 9:08PM
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[nick]
Posts: 1043 - Karma: 423
I'm pretty sure they can't replace them without take the bindings off the ski and then remounting them.
Dec 5 2007 9:08PM
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WeK
Posts: 1894 - Karma: 11
That's what the guy said. I have no doubt in it changing into $40 after a phone call. They mount and wax for a quarter of the price of other places though so I'm not sure.


-Is there anything else I risk breaking by pushing them back with the pole method? If it really is $12 I'd rather give them 12bucks then risk snapping a spring or something
Dec 5 2007 9:10PM
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skiwithchuck
Posts: 115 - Karma: 39
The fks heel needs to be taken off to change the brakes and the job is a real pain in the ass. I reckon the guy that you talked to doesnt know much about bindings cause fks brakes are unfindable unless you contact rossignol/look directly, they cost about 50$ a pair . Rossignol will not send you only the brakes cause they dont have any, instead they will send ya the whole rear plate on which you heel sit and in which the brake is stuck. The guy you talked to is definitively lost or stoned!

Dec 5 2007 9:14PM
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Rippy087
Posts: 666 - Karma: 12
i''m guessing he is going to charge you more than 12 bucks to fix it, but i'd still rather have a shop tech do it than doing it again (I bent my own fks breaks by complete dissassembly and it was a nightmare)
Dec 5 2007 9:17PM
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WeK
Posts: 1894 - Karma: 11
Alright so I just worked my ass off with a wrench and warmed everything up with a hairdryer, which likely did nothing, but I got them bended most of the way.

Came out with this. Seems to be pretty satisfactory, but any comments on whether you think it'll drag or not? They stay out a little outside the ski, but they stay at the top which is why I think I should be fine. I can see myself having possible problems if I catch them on something vertical on the side but I can't think of a time when that'll happen.

They look nearly identical to the ones that are fine. I'm not sure if there's any other method I can use to try to get them to come in a little more once the boots down. I can't get a good angle to bend them at, and I'm afraid if I bend them too much then they won't even come down. I could potentially cut them in half but I don't know if that'll do any good.

Here's some photos.

Ones that are fine:
Click for larger image

Newly bent:
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Dec 5 2007 10:14PM
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Rippy087
Posts: 666 - Karma: 12
that actually looks really good, you might want to pull them up just a tad though
Dec 5 2007 10:20PM
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MarkieR
Posts: 5337 - Karma: 98

nice work bro.  way to be proactive.

Dec 5 2007 10:21PM
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WeK
Posts: 1894 - Karma: 11
I was thinking about bending them inward halfway through, but realized they wouldn't be able to go down. Would it make sense to just bend them UP halfway down the brake?

Basically instead of having the brake go ----- along a ski, bend it halfway through, such that it'll go parallel for a little, then go at an angle up.

I don't think it'd be too hard, and I don't see any negatives.

Dec 5 2007 10:24PM
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Rippy087
Posts: 666 - Karma: 12
why not just bend the entire thing upward a few more millimeters?
Dec 5 2007 10:36PM
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WeK
Posts: 1894 - Karma: 11
It won't go anymore. I've pushed it a good inch up and it just goes right back down after. I don't think it wants to go anymore without breaking
Dec 5 2007 10:50PM
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Silence
Posts: 16030 - Karma: 150
great work mate, they are very skiable now
Dec 5 2007 10:54PM
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fouldsys
Posts: 7404 - Karma: 39
thats happend to me at least 10 times. i just bend them back with my hands. and if you can find them for 12 bucks buy a bunch and sell em on here. i would buy 3 or 4 pairs.
Dec 5 2007 11:05PM
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MEGAZORD
Posts: 4531 - Karma: -7
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Dec 5 2007 11:08PM
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WeK
Posts: 1894 - Karma: 11
Incase anyones wondering or needs help with theres'.

I used a the end of a wrench like this:
http://www.qsradio.com/Adjustable%20Wrench.JPG

bigger the better. First I just put the brake into the loop and pulled up. I just now got them perfectly bent, exactly back to how they were, even better IMO. I stuck the loop in such that the wrench is hanging down, and just lay the ski flat on the floor and push down so that the wrench is appearing to bend the brake at the halfway point, ended up pushing them above the ski, with no actual bend halfway through.

Thanks for the help
Dec 5 2007 11:47PM
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MEGAZORD
Posts: 4531 - Karma: -7
Just use a ski pole or similar item as a breaker bar and its easy as hell
Dec 5 2007 11:47PM
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WeK
Posts: 1894 - Karma: 11
I tried the end of a paint thing, has a halo inside, no luck
Dec 5 2007 11:57PM
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