Brake Upgrades

fauxpas said:

K, is there a noticable difference between each shimano brake?

Sora >>> Tiagra >>> 105 >>> Ultegra >>> Dura Ace

I am currently on a cheap roadbike with nameless dual pivot brakes that are shocking... they slow me down, but nuthing like the power v-brakes on my old mountainbike gave me...

Will the better brakes really give much better performance as they all look like the same basic design...

Brakes are pretty much one of the least technical aspects of a bike. As you move up the Shimano line they are lighter, but they really don't brake better per se. Long as they slow ya down you're fine. I'd toss money into other components. Even low-end generic Textro brakes work great.

Upgrading the calipers won't do much for stopping power, but switching to better pads probably will.

I would get 105 brakes. They are strong and work great. Plus get some Kool Stop Salmon pads.

The problem with cheap brakes, is they get off center a lot, and are very flexy.

105 brakes aren't that expensive, and deliver all you need.

FWIW - I rotate my brake pads, so all of them get even wear, and so that I have better performance more of the time. I rotate front and rear pads, and then rotate them over either left or right. So right rear pad, would now go on left front.