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Disc brake questions Vs v-brakes

957 Views 8 Replies 5 Participants Last post by Mike T., Jul 13, 2006

TMaster

Discussion Starter · Jul 12, 2006

I've been riding V-brakes for a while on my stumper 00. I like my brakes i have them setup so the pads are very close to the rims, and you can just bearly pull them and they start to stop. Also The pressure to braking feel is great. A wide range of braking power for pulling.

I rode my friends 2003 Liquid with disc brakes, But i didnt like them. I had to pull the levers half way just to get them to start working. And then they would lock up without much effort at all. Plus the hydraulic fluid was leaking on one of them Which sucked.

So my questions are, Can i setup disc brakes so they feel like the V-brakes? being very responsive and a good feel? Also I don't want to add weight. I want something equal or lighter then the Vbrakes I have. Currently running Avid mags and Avid AD-3 levers.
I find myself riding the brakes a lot on advanced courses.

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shiggy

· #2 · Jul 12, 2006

The only discs you can easily adjust the feel of are the Avid BB7s. You should be able get them to feel close to the same as you have your rim brakes setup.

My preference to to have the brakes work with the lever close to the bar. Reduces hand fatigue, increases control/modulation and is easier to achieve with discs.

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mtb_biker

· #3 · Jul 12, 2006

Going to discs usually adds at least 1lb to your bike.

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TMaster

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jul 12, 2006

That sounds good about the levers closer to the bar. I never thought of that! I'll adjust them down so the levers are closer, and see how it feels. So i pretty much have to buy high dollar brake setup to get the feel and responce I want. :/

1Lb! more weight? I read somewhere that some of the expensive Disc brake setups were lighter then Vbrakes. :/

I just found out my frame doesn't have mounts on the rear for disc's, and the bracket is $$ and it will add more weight. So i think im going to try some XTR V-brakes and some Salmon kool-stop pads.

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shiggy

· #5 · Jul 12, 2006

Also, you should not judge disc brake by ones that are in disrepair and on a bike that is unfamiliar and much different than your own.

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iviguy

· #6 · Jul 12, 2006

shiggy said:
Also, you should not judge disc brake by ones that are in disrepair and on a bike that is unfamiliar and much different than your own.

Very true. I thought my V's were really nice and stopped very well, and they did. But the great thing about the disks I have now are how much easier it is to pull the lever. Its like power brakes on a car vs non power brakes. The hand fatigue is much less.

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TMaster

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jul 12, 2006 (Edited)

I have big hands. 7-3/4" from my wristcrease to the tip of my middle finger. I'll still check out adjusting the levers in.

What brand do you guys recomend for discs? Shimano or the avids? hayes? The Avids look like they cost the most. I have always liked shimano stuff. I don't want to mess with fluids, are the mechanical ones just as good as the hydraulic?

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shiggy

· #8 · Jul 13, 2006

The only cable discs to even consider are the Avid BB7. By far the most powerful, adjustable and reliable. They are not light compared to most other discs.

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Mike T.

· #9 · Jul 13, 2006

TMaster said:
I read somewhere that some of the expensive Disc brake setups were lighter then Vbrakes.

There is not a hope in hell that a set of disc brakes, no matter how expensive or light, will be lighter than v-brakes. Uhhh it's maybe possible (but I doubt it) that some boat-anchor el cheapo v-brake will be heavier than the world's lightest disc brake but as a generalization - no. The extra weight of disc hubs has to be factored in too.

The most blinged disc brake set - with Stan's rotors and a Ti bolt kit - will be quite close.

But then I'm a firm beliver that extra weight is just fine - if it provides a benefit. With disc brakes, for most people, it does.

Many people, and Shiggy is one of them, know that the world's heaviest (xc) disc brake (Avid BB7) is worth it. For some applications I agree.

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