[Burt4x4]

THere are several LBS locations on my commute to work and back.
My latest question for the LBS is.

Can I buy just any rotor I want and use them with my current brakes.

1. NO, you must buy the same rotor make/brand as your caliper. It does matter they are all different. Me ="ok but does it work?" LBS = I wouldn't even waist time trying to mix match brands when it comes to brakes...

2. Yes, get the right post mount and get the rotor and caliper alignment right, probly want new pads with your new rotor and GO RIDE!

So what all you all opinion?
Some do some don't?
Some will some won't?

 

[moefosho]

http://forums.mtbr.com/brake-time/u...ther-rotors-another-brand-caliper-286460.html

Read this thread(sticky at the top of the page). Do a search. Google. This has been covered 1000 times.

 

[Glide the Clyde]

Thx mofo for taking more time and key strokes to tell a person to do a search rather than just answer the question. Didn't save any storage space with your response.

 

[Glide the Clyde]

To the OP: most better brand rotors will interchange with different brand calipers and pads. As I understand, the Shimano Ice Tech stuff is engineered to work well together but again, it will interchange. The outer diameter of rotors is standardized and you just have to make sure you have the correct adapters.

 

[Burt4x4]

Yeah mofo allways tells me to search

Search works for reading points and such but sometimes you just gotta use this fourm for what it is for = posting questions to get answers

Or is this just a search repository ONLY? I think NOT!

THanks Glide ~ You are most helpful and productive in your replies! Thank You!

So it's not so black and white as the one LBS made it seam. Very adiment about me not running some other brand with my Tektro HDC330 Hydro...he did try to sell me an Ice Tech setup so maybe that was his angle....I hate that. Why do they allways have to have a sales angle..just SHOOT STRAIGHT for once!!

Thanks
Burt

 

[aerius]

The answer is it depends. Some brakes require a wider braking surface than others, for instance you can use a Hayes rotor with a Shimano caliper but NOT the other way around. Every brand, and sometimes even models within a brand are different and will require different rotors. Sometimes you can mix & match, sometimes you can't. Without knowing the specific brand & model of brake caliper, we can't tell you what rotors may or may not work with it. And that's not even getting into rotor thickness.

Bottom line is it can be a pain the ass to get a given caliper/rotor combo to match when choosing from different manufacturers, some shops just don't want to deal with the headaches so they'll just tell you to get the matching rotors from the brake caliper manufacturer.

 

[Burt4x4]

Thank You aerius!

So with that said. My approch to getting bigger rotors without buying new brakes should be simply buy something similar in type. Like I have one piece rotors now so I probly shouldn't buy a two piece type (Ice TEch or Hope)..
Thanks

 

[411898]

Perhaps you ought to be a bit more specific with your question by asking which other brand/model rotors will work with your brand/model specific calipers.

 

[Burt4x4]

Howdy Hawg ~ WOW (Slap forehead) good Ide-ER!

I have Tektro HDC 330 Hydro w/160mm rotors
I would like to try 180mm up front
^^^ Alligator Windcutter can be had for $20...corse I need a post mount too..

 

[Burt4x4]

Here is a peek at the Tektro 160

 

[411898]

Just gotta hope that someone else with the same brakes has experimented.

Have you tried contacting Tektro directly of asking your LBS?

BTW, looks like you have a Specialized bike?

 

[WA-CO]

I am no mechanic, but first off, is this IS mount or PM? If PM, doesn't the brake caliper need some of adapter mount so push the caliper out to handle a different diameter rotor? If an IS mount there might be enough of a "slot" to move the caliper to accommodate?

Assuming the above isn't an issue, I would think you can swap an alligator windcutter (universal brake rotor) for your tektro with very little problem. Since your new rotor is only 20 bucks and from a labor standpoint, isn't hard to do, mount it up, and check it out? Do the pads ride (and bite) the rotor correctly? Does everything look OK? Go on a flat land test ride. Do you get decent brakes?

Honestly by the time you ask your LBS, get 5 difference answers, post up on MTBR, weed through 20 different opinions, you could have already tried this and answered the question yourself. I say go for it and report us your findings!:thumbsup:

 

[Burt4x4]

LOL Thanks WA-CO but were is the FUN in That!!?!! LOl I hear ya..

I do have post to post and I have NOT bought any parts yet..just doing the research. Then I will buy the parts slap them on and RIDE!!!!!

Kinda see the post mount here ^^

Yeah Hawg I ride a 13 HardRock Sport 19" (or it was...slowly upgrading as my riding goes UP!)
One day I expect the Frame and Seat / Seatpost(unles I get a dropper) to be the only stock parts left on this bike in the next two years...

Thanks ALL!!
Burt

 

[411898]

If you can't get these brakes sorted out, look at a set of Shimano Deore or SLX brakes. I'd go 180mm up front, 160mm in the rear. Inexpensive and they just work well.

 

[Burt4x4]

Right, one day or more like one winter I will swap the whole setup for SLX. It's in my "upgrade list".
But for now the Tektro HDC hydros will do. THey actually work very well. I just did my first bleed ever cuz my levers were softer than they use to be. They still worked but had to pull more on them. Once I did the bleed = full and nice like brand new again

SO I don't "need" brakes just "want" a bigger rotor up front. The trail I am hitting today after work is a switch back trail that goes up and up about 2miles...takes 30min up and ALL brakes and standing on the way down..good 15min of constent brakeing and my rotors get HOT..no discoloring or red hot just hot..
Good TImes...suppose to be 95 today ...gonna die but I'm doing it!!

 

[Shark]

As these guys said, depends.....

I just ran into issues with using a hope floating rotor with a Hayes caliper, the rivets made slight contact with the caliper...just enough to make noise.

 

[Burt4x4]

RIght, I was at first thinking Ice Tech or Hope, two piece design looks to be what most the high end brakes use.
But now I thnk a 1 piece will be more compatable with my current calipers, in come the Alligator....Next payday get me some parts to Tinker with

 

[jeffscott]

Right, one day or more like one winter I will swap the whole setup for SLX. It's in my "upgrade list".
But for now the Tektro HDC hydros will do. THey actually work very well. I just did my first bleed ever cuz my levers were softer than they use to be. They still worked but had to pull more on them. Once I did the bleed = full and nice like brand new again

SO I don't "need" brakes just "want" a bigger rotor up front. The trail I am hitting today after work is a switch back trail that goes up and up about 2miles...takes 30min up and ALL brakes and standing on the way down..good 15min of constent brakeing and my rotors get HOT..no discoloring or red hot just hot..
Good TImes...suppose to be 95 today ...gonna die but I'm doing it!!

If you are always on your brakes they will heat up a lot more than if you stab the brakes on and off...

I ride 1500 ft to 2000 ft descents around here, and was able to control the heat up by using this technique....works on even the steepest stuff...

But I bought a shimano 203 rotor for the front after I cooked the front brake going down Mauna Kea.

I started off down the road didn't stab the brakes...then they faded out completely....so I started stabbing the brakes off and on....and the started working again scary.

After that I bought a 203 front rotor.

 

[bvolz]

I ended up getting the icetech rotors for mine and slx brakes.(180 up front is amazing) ive used the rotor you have with a shimano slx caliper but not the reverse, but i would like to you would be ok. Since you plan on upgrading brakes eventually I would maybe try out thr icetech up front with 180 and if it works get the rear, if not you got a reason to upgrade the front brake lol. Then you have rotors to match your future upgrade.

 

[Burt4x4]

RIght on..yeah that is an idea...I might have to start buying drivetrain sooner than I thought..it's taking a beating ..but I need to make is last the summer .. or brake it!! SO the brake upgrade adventure my have to take a back seat for now LOL
Thanks
Burt