Front brake won’t release

Likely, there is too much resistance in the cable and housing for the spring in the brake to “spring” back. You could disconnect the cable from the brake and lever – the cable should move smoothly inside the housing. If it doesn’t, replace the cable and housing with new housing. Bring the old cable and housing with you to the bike shop to have them cut the housing to the same length, and make sure you buy the right cable.

You can sometimes lubricate the cable with a thin chain lube (don’t use just whatever oil) inside the existing housing to make it work in a pinch, but this runs the risk of contaminating your pads and rotors, and also is by no means a lasting fix, as dirt and grime will stick to the lubricant, making the problem worse.

You will need to re-align your front brake once you install the new cable. Follow these instructions carefully: [https://www.parktool.com/en-us/blog/repair-help/mechanical-disc-brake-alignment](https://www.parktool.com/en-us/blog/repair-help/mechanical-disc-brake-alignment)

Test ride around the block at low speeds before you head out on a ride – if you don’t adjust your brake properly, you may not be able to stop, potentially causing serious injury or death. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this, you should take it to your local bike shop and have them assess.

These are all fantastic points. I will disconnect the cable, inspect the housing, and check for overly tight zip ties. Thanks for the help