Has anyone solved the problem with Quinny Zapp brakes?

[Grumpla]

Hi, I have a second-hand Zapp which I bought very very cheap on the understanding that it was pretty knackered & dirty. I fixed the wheels up, the covers have cleaned beautifully and my Maxi Cosi fits the frame great, the only problem is that the brake seems to 'fall' and catch on the wheel slightly every now and then. It's not a big deal and I can certainly live with it given how light and tiny the Zapp is but looking here and elsewhere on the web it does seem that this is a common problem with Zapps.

Has anyone else fixed this problem? Obviously I can't send it back to the shop, but I am quite handy - has anybody out there fixed this themselves / know of how I might go about it? Obviously I am not bothered about invalidating any guarantees etc! Do you think if I went to a bike shop and asked them to have a look they'd just smirk at me? I'm based in Norwich if any locals have any top tips on where to go

Could you try contacting Dorel UK (the parent company of the Quinny brand) - their website is dorel uk. I've found them really helpful, they've sent out spare parts for free and they've never asked for proof of purchase .

I have this problem with my Jane. I had to get a bungee cord and tie up the brakes, Jane wanted a fortune to fix it but now I'm used to it!

Thanks cakeforbrains, I'm not sure I want to try and get free parts though (or if free parts is even what I need) I will email them though and see what they say (can't hurt right?)

RubyBooBerry - can't quite visualise what you mean, did you immobilise the brake? Or use a bungee to tighten the cable?

Immobilised the brake by pulling the plastic bits that catch the brakes up and away (if that makes sense! Previous owner was over enthusiastic with pressing down brake bar and it catches all the time when pushing, so now it is pulled up and away.

i never had any problems with mine,but i know i sometimes had to pull/push it slightly when putting the brake on so it can slip into the slot to fix the brake on (hope you get what i mean!)

sarahx

Thanks all

I have emailed Dorel and got a fairly helpful email back. They will inspect repair and return to me... but for £30 plus courier to them. That will work out several times what I paid for the Zapp so don't think I will be bothering! Impressed by their comms though.

The brake goes on fine, it just doesn't stay fully off (if you know what I mean) especially if you're on bumpy ground, the brake 'slips' into the wheel and catches on the cogs hence the rattling sound.

I think I'll probably just learn to live with it. And if not, I'll invest in a bungee cord.

mine was doing this and I had some dirt in my wheel - like a bit of twine that had wrapped around the wheel??

I think the Jane brake is very different to the zapp, it is a brake bar which goes down onto the wheels across the back, not a linked brake cable operated with a foot pedal like the Zapp. Therefore I don't think the bungee cord will work.

Navyeyelash - I already cleaned up the wheels thankyou. There was all sorts of crap on them, it did definitely help! Then I couldn't get them to go back on, then had to take the panel off the wheel housings, springs pinging across the room in a comedy style, to clean even more filthy black crud out of there shudders it was pretty extreme. Not helped by starting the great pram dismantle at about 10pm after a glass of wine either methinks ;)

Daisypod - I had another look last night and came to the same conclusion but I think there might be a similar sort of bodge I can manage (e.g. immobilise the brake entirely) by by locking the 'off' pedal fully down. Obviously the simplest way would be a squirt of good adhesive! But I would probably try something a little more reversible / sophisticated first.

I've been putting a rubber band around the brake pedal bit so that it stays up - but still not great, so ordered a replacement brake pedal from dorel uk for 9 pounds + 3.99 delivery. Hope this works! :-)

My 5 year old quinny zapp came back brand new. Folding problem sorted, brake pedal was changed with all three brand new tyres. Definately recommend durel UK, if you have more than one problem... 75 pounds flat charge including courier both ways.