Author Topic: disc brake conversion (Read 10948 times)

bike kid · « **on:** July 16, 2008, 10:02:24 pm »

I am converting my k2 razorback from rim brakes to disc, my frame and fork are already disc compatible, and I am getting a disc compatible wheelset. But I am wondering what type of disc brake to get, hydraulic or mechanical ?

Thanks in advance,
Bike kid

orange · « **Reply #1 on:** July 17, 2008, 12:05:43 am »

from what I've heard (but I'm no expert) hydraulic are way better than mechanical. Get some Hope or suchlike. Plenty 2nd hand around for around £45 a set.

kiwi · « **Reply #2 on:** July 17, 2008, 02:07:34 am »

just to rock the boat a bit i beleive the avid mechs are very good...despite the seeming complexity the hydraulics are prolly the most simple and efficient brake system.

jeffhop · « **Reply #3 on:** July 17, 2008, 07:19:24 am »

im with kiwi here, ive got avid bb5`s on my oz and theyre great and i believe the bb7`s are even better, ive had hope and hayes hydros but im definately a fan of the avids.

shovelon · « **Reply #4 on:** July 17, 2008, 08:53:09 am »

Quote from: jeffhop on July 17, 2008, 07:19:24 am

im with kiwi here, ive got avid bb5`s on my oz and theyre great and i believe the bb7`s are even better, ive had hope and hayes hydros but im definately a fan of the avids.

I have a bevey of disk brakes, hydro and mech. The best so far is my bb7, stupid simple and easy to adjust for no brake drag. I had Andrew(frankd3000)shave the caliper housing for lightness, installed the organic pads bonded to alum plates. Yummy!

bike kid · « **Reply #5 on:** July 17, 2008, 07:13:34 pm »

Thanks for all the advice. I am aiming towards mechanical because they are cheaper, but I am considering hydraulic because some people say they are higher quality. I want to get avid because they are good brakes and I currently have avid V- brakes on my bike.

Old Proflexer · « **Reply #6 on:** July 18, 2008, 06:25:04 am »

i still have some old shimano xt's (hydraulic) that are going strong -
my neighbor, bob (the lung) picked up some of the cheap deore's and is quite happy with them.

another guy i ride with has some of the avids and is quite pleased - i'd have to say that they've
come a long way and most of the mid range to higher end units would be pretty good at this point.

OP

willem · « **Reply #7 on:** July 18, 2008, 07:56:05 am »

Here's another way to look at it...

I ride Avid hydraulic Juicy's and BB's. The Juicy's are incredibly smooth and powerful. So far, they have been almost perfectly reliable. At the same time, Avid BB's are a little less smooth and powerful, but absolutely bulletproof.

So here are my conclusions:
Everything Avid makes is extraordinarily good quality.
The BB7's are significantly better than the BB5's. Both inner and outer pads are finger adjustable.
The Juicy's also get better as you go up in numbers as well. I'm perfectly happy with my Juicy 3's, but have used 7's and noticed an improvement.
If I'm going on an epic ride or a road trip where I cannot have a mechanical failure, I'll use the mechanical brakes EVERY TIME.

Do you really want to walk home from the Porcupine Rim or the Tahoe Rim trails because of an air bubble in your brake line?

BB7's are the way to go. Need more power? Get bigger rotors.

From my experience, stay away from Sh'mano, Tektro, and IRD Dual Banger mechs...

Good luck,
Will

Colin · « **Reply #8 on:** July 18, 2008, 10:43:07 am »

Useful discussion guys........thanks.......
I settled on Avids after reading a lot of reviews, Maguras also seemed to come out well, and they do use mineral oil rather than paint stripper.......<GRIN>
I've got a set of Avid Carbon Juicy 7's to go on my OzM rebuild and I was thinking what to put on the Missus's OzX, I think I'm tending towards the BB7's if they're low maintenance and good enough for what she'll throw at it....(it'll make a good "spare" for me as well, if I let the 4000se go.....)

Col.

bike kid · « **Reply #9 on:** July 18, 2008, 11:32:21 am »

I have gotten a disc compatible wheelset, but the problem is the front rotor is larger than the rear rotor, so I have to get an adapter, or a new rotor. I have everything I need to convert to disc except the brakes themselves. I may just get some avid mechanical calipers so I can still continue to use my brake levers I have now.

Thanks for all the help,
Bike kid

jeffhop · « **Reply #10 on:** July 18, 2008, 12:15:10 pm »

bike kid, where in the world are you? uk? us?

bike kid · « **Reply #11 on:** July 18, 2008, 12:52:57 pm »

I live in Salt lake city,Utah

kiwi · « **Reply #12 on:** July 18, 2008, 07:31:02 pm »

Quote from: willem on July 18, 2008, 07:56:05 am

........a road trip where I cannot have a mechanical failure, I'll use the mechanical brakes EVERY TIME.

Do you really want to walk home from the Porcupine Rim or the Tahoe Rim trails because of an air bubble in your brake line?

why then are all cars and most motorbikes hydraulic disk braked and not mechanical.A air bubble or leaking fluid might reduce the efficiency,a broken cable or seized actuator is curtains.

Old Proflexer · « **Reply #13 on:** July 19, 2008, 05:40:15 am »

my hydraulics got over heated on my landcruiser when coming down the mountain at mount whitney not long ago - had no braking power.

the only thing that saved my life was the rear parking brake (cable controlled) and the electronic brakes on the trailer (used the override under the dash)

they're all good -

OP

bike kid · « **Reply #14 on:** July 19, 2008, 07:54:17 pm »

Hydraulic brakes do have more braking power, but they are also more finicky and require more attention than mechanical brakes. If anything happens during a ride with hydraulic brakes, you have no braking, but with mechanical you are at least able to make a temporary fix.

Thanks for helping,
Bike kid

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Author Topic: disc brake conversion (Read 10948 times)