mountain bike brakes

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This is probably a long shot but i'm desperate. I'm a first year uni student currently undertaking a project looking at mountaon bike brakes, concentrating on Cantilevers, V-brakes and Disc brakes. I can find plenty of information for how the brakes work and which best etc.. but what i really need to know is how these different brakes are made and the materials used. I've searched everywhere and can't find anything. If anyone knows of any sites or where i can get hold of such information, i would be extremely grateful if you could email me at james120479@hotmail.com. Please Help!!

James - Couldn't find a website but here's what I know:

Cantilevers
These brakes are normally forged
The are made from Cast Iron(really, really low end bikes) or Aluminum usually 6061 Normal rubber pads
V-Brakes
These brakes can either be forged or machined Usually made from Aluminum but to reduce flex some people install Titanium Brake stiffeners Normal rubber pads
Disc Brakes
The Calipers and other parts can either be forged or machined Usually made from Aluminum and the disc from Stainless Steel Brake pads similar to those on a car or motorcycle
Hope this helps ;)

James

You might be able to help me. I have 700c rims on my tandem. It is a mountainbike frame so the rear brake pivots are made for 26" mountainbike rims. I need a V-brake with reach of 59mm (that is form the centre of the pivot to the centre of the nut holding the brake pad.) If you know of a scource in Johannesburg or Pretoria please let me know. Assuming you are form RS of A!!!!!!!

Keep those wheels spinning!!!!!!

Big H

<br />[<br />V-Brakes<br />[list] to reduce flex some people install Titanium Brake stiffeners <br /><br /><br />Hi Psycho,<br />I'm interested in the brakes stiffeners you mentioned - could you please elaborate. My bike <br />( http://www.pashley.co.uk/landrover/apb.htm ) has very thin seat stays and chain stays and having just upgraded to xt v-brakes from tectro cantilevers I'm worried about frame flex and fatigue. Any recomended brands/links<br />cheers<br />rifraf

rifraf - Brake stiffeners (a.k.a. Brake Boosters) will reduce frame and fork flex and improve braking performance:<br /><br />http://www.cambriabike.com/brakes/brkboost.htm <br /><br />http://www.davincitandems.com/comp.html (halfway down the page)<br /><br />Be sure to check if the one you’re looking to buy is compatible with V- brakes as some are made for cantilevers only.

Thanks for the tips/links Goat - appreciate it. :)<br />cheers<br />rifraf

center pull cantis are out! (you'll never get parts for them)<br /><br />go V - with those boosters or disc!