Do bikes require a specific brake type? I have a old bike of mine that I want to fix up for my younger brother. I don't know the brand, it just says Shogun racing on it (I haven't used it in ages and it was a gift.)

It had the factory default brakes on it and they both snapped off, leaving the bike brakeless, and this is what I want to fix. When it broke I removed the parts that remained and threw away the broken ones (the handles and the pieces of plastic that connect the brakes to the brake wires,) as they were getting in the way. All of the wires are still on, just the handles and and pads are removed and the tension released.

What I would like to know is, do bikes require specific brake types? Do you have to have a brand/make-specific brake, or can I just get a generic one off, say Amazon or my local bike shop?
Brakes are usually standard!

It comes down to three things:


Frame options/brake type 

If it is a frame with a "connector" for a v-brake, it won't be
possible to fit a caliper brake type (and vice-versa). Or if it
has no way to connect a disk-brake, then no way to use it without a
proper adapter (or even impossible to do it); you even have frames
without connectors for the brakes (ex: when the brakes are in the
wheel itself).

You need to try to indetify which type of brake it uses, and from
there get a standard one (as long as it "answers" the next two
points, wheel size and type of bicycle)
Wheel size

If the wheel is too big or too small for a v-brake type (for
example) then no way you can use it.

Also the frame "connector" for the v-brake (for example) if it is
too small for a certain wheel rim, there is no way it will work
unless you use the right size.
Type of bicycle

If it is a really old or out of the ordinary bicycle, the standard
brakes may not work, and you will need to find suitable/custom/old
ones...