Mountain bike brakes

[100SRV]

Hi,
I have an old but trusty Claud Butler Vantage (with rock shox Judy forks) to which I fitted a Clarks CMD8 Mechanical Front Disc Brake just to see what it was like, primarily because I wanted better braking when in wet and muddy conditions.

Not as good as vee brakes was the result!

I think the crux of the problem is that the motion ratio between the brake lever (I have retained the ones for the Shimano V-brake which is still present on the rear wheel). Sadly there doesn't appear to be a suitable replacement brake lever so I think I'm going to change to Avid cable type disc callipers...I have read some good reviews of the Avid BB7 Disc Brake System - is this a worthy upgrade?

cheers
100SRV

[Bobley]

Mech disks are a pain in the backside. I'm currently getting fed up with the amount of fidgetting my BB7 on my cyclocross bike require. I'm looking to change them to hydraulics as soon as there's enough cash in the bank for the wife to not notice and a I find a good deal on TRP Hy/Rds.

Meanwhile, Avid Elixir 5s are great brakes for almost the same price as a BB7.

http://www.merlincycles.com/avid-elixir-5-disc-bra...

[richardxjr]

Sorry Bobley, no, all Avid brakes are crap. Shimano everytime. Even base level BR-M395s are excellent, can be trimmed to size without bleeding (spare barb and olive are included) and are available in single brakes too.

But yes I agree mech disks not worth the aggro. A decent hydro is sublime.

[Celtic Dragon]

Everyone I know that rides have said inc me, that a properly set up set of V's are worlds better than cable discs, as hydro's are better than all.

I still run V's and will continue to do so on the back even after the fronts gone to disc.

[Bobley]

Fair enough. I had Elixirs on a Trek last year but I sold the bike before I needed to do any real maintenance. The whole family are on Shimano now baring the CX bikes. At least you're not on canti brakes - the only way to get them working well enough is to fit soft pads ££s a time.

My lads got old Shimano BR-M486 on his bike. They're better than my M770XTs.

I thought these looked a bargain... http://www.merlincycles.com/shimano-deore-m615-dis...

[gazza285]

Bobley said:

At least you're not on canti brakes - the only way to get them working well enough is to fit soft pads ££s a time.

Get some Froglegs or Tektro 720 cantilevers, preferably with 52mm pads, no problems stopping my CX or my old mountain bike with these on.

[P-Jay]

Everything is better than cable discs, although BB5 / BB7 are the best of a bad bunch.

I've recently bought some Shimano Deore - £50 an end (or less) and they're brilliant.

[HereBeMonsters]

Running a rim brake lever on a disc caliper is always going to end badly. I know from the same experience!

[richardxjr]

160mm disk?

This: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Shimano-M395-Hydraulic-F...

Or work upwards £ from there...

[100SRV]

hi,
thank you...great recommendation!

richardxjr said:

160mm disk?

This: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Shimano-M395-Hydraulic-F...

Or work upwards £ from there...

[J4CKO]

I have had

Avid Juicys - pretty Crap

Tektro Cable ones - are they actually brakes ?

Hope Mono Minis - Effective but noisy

Avid Elixir 5 - Best I have used

[Gumstabber]

Shimano hydraulics every time. Deore seems to be best bang for buck

[100SRV]

Hi,
thanks all, seems shimano hydraulic for my 160mm discs. Back on vee brakes for the time being - need the bike for my commute next week. Will draw up an adaptor for rear calliper and get that TIG welded on then discs all-round.

100SRV

[richardxjr]

100SRV said:

hi,
thank you...great recommendation!

richardxjr said:

160mm disk?

This: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Shimano-M395-Hydraulic-F...

Or work upwards £ from there...

Now 20% off. £27.96 delivered!

[Devil2575]

My bike has mecahnical disc brakes on it and I found the stopping power a revelation over the last bike I had with the old V set up on.

[jesfirth]

The quality of the brakes depends entirely on what you want to spend. At the top end the hope V2's on my DH bike with 200mm vented disks are unbelievable but they are £250 each end. As a cheap but good option pick up a second hand set of Hayes HIFX9 off eBay. They were the best brakes until about 5 years ago. All avids are crap btw.

[Fluffsri]

All this Avids are crap is bit of a blanket statement. I have always had Hopes and still have on my SS. I've had minis,mini mono and 4 pots. They were all great but my last bike came with Avids, I planned on changing them straight away to Hope 4 pots but they are bloody good. They pull up really well and have more feel then the Hopes. As for mechanical discs, I've been running BB5s on my cross bike for nearly a year now and they are ok. They stop better than V brakes but they are a pain, you have to keep adjusting them and after 50miles or so I have had to move the calipers so they dont rub. Decided to ditch them and bouth some TRP cable operated hyd calipers, feel great so far but need bedding in properly.

Edited by Fluffsri on Saturday 18th January 15:35

Edited by Fluffsri on Saturday 18th January 15:36

[dudleybloke]

IV got hope m4's on my Dh bike and cheap tektro hydros on another bike and both done the job effectively.

The best purchase was Kevlar pads from superstar. Totally transformed the braking on both setups.

Edited by dudleybloke on Saturday 18th January 19:02

[Dr Imran T]

I am surprised with some of the comments here. I thought BB7's were supposed to be pretty good???

I'm thinking of getting some as I can utilise my shifters and keep the current setup I have.

[Mr E]

Echo the 'mechanical discs suck' comments.

Well setup v brakes are excellent.
I ran a set of avid elixirs that were ok. Replaced with a set of shimano xt - which are splendid.