The longer armed brake is intended to fit the front as it has potential to provide slightly greater leverage. I recommend running the straddle cable hanger as low as you feel comfortable with to further maximize leverage (I fully recognize this is easy for me to suggest as I live in a dry climate and riding does not constantly drag muck past the straddle cable). The lower you go the closer you come to linear-pull type brake leverage.
development_cycle":19k29w8d said:
2. Why don't my springs reach the holes in my frame?
Take a close look at the exploded view of the brake on page 3. You'll see that the brake utilizes a pressure fit system where the spring tension is adjusted at the front of the brake by way of the "Spring Tension Adjuster" and does not require the spring to be anchored at the frame.
Be sure to take heed of where the manual instructs to grease and where not to grease the brake mechanism. It does effect the overall function of the brake.