disk brakes?

Fleaman said:

I have a Trek 4500, and I like it alot, it isn't the
greatest bike but I dont want to buy a new one. I need
some more stopping power and was hoping to upgrade my
brakes to disks. I was wondering what I would need, I know
that disks, calipers,levers and hoses are needed, but how
do I attach them to my bike. Are most brands the same or
do some have better performance. Cost is an issue too, I
will probably buy used components off of ebay or
something. Do any of you have some insight on this
subject?

There's no reason why V-brakes shouldn't provide you with
plenty of "stopping power".

Bill "fix what ya got" S.

Quoted message said:

Subject: disk brakes?
From: "Fleaman" [email hidden]
Date: 6/5/2004 7:45 PM Eastern Daylight Time
Message-id: <hWswc.24674$jl6.4192@edtnps89>

I have a Trek 4500, and I like it alot, it isn't the
greatest bike but I dont want to buy a new one. I need some
more stopping power and was hoping to upgrade my brakes to
disks. I was wondering what I would need, I know that
disks, calipers,levers and hoses are needed, but how do I
attach them to my bike. Are most brands the same or do some
have better performance. Cost is an issue too, I will
probably buy used components off of ebay or something. Do
any of you have some insight on this subject?

Thanks in advance.

Jason

I'm not familair with Trek models, so I'm not sure if your
model comes with disc tabs or not, but that's the first
thing you need. The tabs are where you attach the brakes to
your bikes frame in the rear and fork on the front. Next
you'll need disc compatible wheels and hubs. Then of course
all of the components you mentioned.

I have ridden Avid V and disc brakes, and Magura hydraulic
disc brakes, and both the Avid Disc and V brakes are my
choice bar none. I had the Avid mechanical discs on my Giant
Rainier, and they were unstopable. Repeated stream crossings
and East Coast mud never phased them one bit. The power they
delivered was phenomenal. I recently bought myself a brand
new Giant NRS model, equipped with Avid V brakes. I did so
because I've always wanted a NRS, but coudlnt afford the
models that came equipped with disc brakes. When set up by a
good mechanic, in my opinion, the Avid Speed Dial 5's that I
have on the NRS are quite strong, and do not fade during
water crossings or mud runs. Either way, with Avid brakes,
in my opinion, you can't lose.

"Fleaman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:hWswc.24674$jl6.4192@edtnps89...

Quoted message said:

I have a Trek 4500, and I like it alot, it isn't the
greatest bike but I dont want to buy a new one. I need
some more stopping power and was hoping to upgrade my
brakes to disks. I was wondering what I would need, I know
that disks, calipers,levers and hoses are needed, but how
do I attach them to my bike. Are most brands the same or
do some have better performance. Cost is an issue too, I
will probably buy used components off of ebay or
something. Do any of you have some insight on this
subject?

Thanks in advance.

Jason

If you have disc tabs on frame and fork, and an ISO 6 bolt
mount on the hubs, you can use mechanical discs (which are
cheap and effective) with your existing V levers (should you
have integrated gear shifter/brake levers). If you don't
then it's more arseache than it's worth really. Get good V
brake pads, set them up well on arrow straight rims and and
have done with it.

I use a Hayes mechanical disc with an XT lever and it works
well. I run a V on the back as my Zaskar predates frame
mounts but the mechanical disc feels similar at the lever,
whereas a combination of hydraulic and a V brake feels
rather odd.

Andy Chequer

" S o r n i" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Fleaman said:

I have a Trek 4500, and I like it alot, it isn't the
greatest bike but I dont want to buy a new one. I need
some more stopping power and was hoping to upgrade my
brakes to disks. I was wondering what I would need, I
know that disks, calipers,levers and hoses are needed,
but how do I attach them to my bike. Are most brands the
same or do some have better performance. Cost is an
issue too, I will probably buy used components off of
ebay or something. Do any of you have some insight on
this subject?

There's no reason why V-brakes shouldn't provide you with
plenty of "stopping power".

Bill "fix what ya got" S.

Just wondering maybe if aftermarket pads would make much of
a difference, I am 230 lbs, so I need all the slowing I can!

Fleaman said:

" S o r n i" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Fleaman said:

I have a Trek 4500, and I like it alot, it isn't the
greatest bike but I dont want to buy a new one. I need
some more stopping power

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

There's no reason why V-brakes shouldn't provide you with
plenty of "stopping power".

Bill "fix what ya got" S.

Just wondering maybe if aftermarket pads would make
much of a difference, I am 230 lbs, so I need all the
slowing I can!

Worth a try. Buy some Kool-stops (salmon color if can find;
black OK too).

More important is adjustment, IME. Make sure the pads are
fairly close to the rims, so that the levers engage easily
and quickly. You don't want to be squeezing the bejeezus out
of 'em and still getting wheel rotation.

I'd advise re-cabling (with new housings or at least some
lube dribbled in old ones) and lubing of brake pivots --
have a friend or shop do it if necessary.

Bill "brakes just slow you down anyway" S.

" S o r n i" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Worth a try. Buy some Kool-stops (salmon color if can
find; black OK too).

I had serious squeel with the salmon Kool-stops, and I've
seen many other complaints too. It was a long time ago, but
IIRC, even when I adjusted the squeel out, it would come
back pretty soon. Going back to black was the only cure I
could find.

Oh, and to the OP: V-brakes are OK, and possibly yours could
be tuned to give you the performance you want, but disk
brakes are better.

"Andy Chequer" <andy@(youdontwantthisbitinit)thisisasparagus.com> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

whereas a combination of hydraulic and a V brake feels
rather odd.

I never thought so. I've had bikes set up that way for
almost 5 years. The front and rear brake respond much
differently anyway, even if they're exactly the same type.

"David" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

" S o r n i" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Worth a try. Buy some Kool-stops (salmon color if can
find; black OK

too).

Quoted message said:

I had serious squeel with the salmon Kool-stops, and I've
seen many other complaints too. It was a long time ago,
but IIRC, even when I adjusted the squeel out, it would
come back pretty soon. Going back to black was the only
cure I could find.

A very fine emory cloth works great, to keep the rim surface
nice and clean, and to remove any glazing of the pads. Put a
piece facing the rim, under the pad. Lightly squeeze the
brake, and rotate the wheel. For the pad, put a piece large
enough to move the wheel in a sawing motion.

Quoted message said:

Oh, and to the OP: V-brakes are OK, and possibly yours
could be tuned to give you the performance you want, but
disk brakes are better.

T'is true.

"mojo deluxe" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"David" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:2ifc2oFmf4cnU1@uni-
berlin.de...

Quoted message said:

" S o r n i" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Worth a try. Buy some Kool-stops (salmon color if can
find; black OK

too).

Quoted message said:

I had serious squeel with the salmon Kool-stops, and
I've seen many other complaints too. It was a long time
ago, but IIRC, even when I adjusted the squeel out, it
would come back pretty soon. Going back to black was the
only cure I could find.

A very fine emory cloth works great, to keep the rim
surface nice and clean, and to remove any glazing of the
pads. Put a piece facing the rim, under the pad. Lightly
squeeze the brake, and rotate the wheel. For the pad, put
a piece large enough to move the wheel in a sawing motion.

I scrubbed the rims, but not the pads. Changed the angles.
But the only long term cure for the squeel I found was just
going back to black pads. Likely Kool Stops, but it was so
long ago, I don't remember.

"Fleaman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:hWswc.24674$jl6.4192@edtnps89...

Quoted message said:

I have a Trek 4500, and I like it alot, it isn't the
greatest bike but I dont want to buy a new one. I need
some more stopping power and was hoping to upgrade my
brakes to disks. I was wondering what I would need, I know
that disks, calipers,levers and hoses are needed, but how
do I attach them to my bike. Are most brands the same or
do some have better performance. Cost is an issue too, I
will probably buy used components off of ebay or
something. Do any of you have some insight on this
subject?

Thanks in advance.

Jason

You also need wheels with disk hubs. I don't think that it's
worth the $.

--
DTW .../\.../\.../\...

I've spent most of my money on mountain biking and windsurfing.
The rest I've just wasted.

On 2004-06-06, D T W .../\... penned:

Quoted message said:

"Fleaman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:hWswc.24674$jl6.4192@edtnps89...

Quoted message said:

I have a Trek 4500, and I like it alot, it isn't the
greatest bike but I dont want to buy a new one. I need
some more stopping power and was hoping to upgrade my
brakes to disks. I was wondering what I would need, I
know that disks, calipers,levers and hoses are needed,
but how do I attach them to my bike. Are most brands the
same or do some have better performance. Cost is an issue
too, I will probably buy used components off of ebay or
something. Do any of you have some insight on this
subject?

Thanks in advance.

Jason

You also need wheels with disk hubs. I don't think that
it's worth the $.

This is the conclusion I reached when thinking about disc
for my old bike. It looked like I could get a good deal on
discs, but when I added in the cost of the wheels, it just
wasn't worth it. My V brakes worked fine, and I really
haven't had to deal with much mud or water, anyway.

Now that I'm looking at new bikes, though, all the ones
in my price range seem to come with disc, anyway, and
they do stop pretty hard. I never even came close to
endoing due to braking on my old bike; test riding the
Klein, I never endoed, either, but I definitely had to be
much more cautious.

--
monique

"Fleaman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:hWswc.24674$jl6.4192@edtnps89...

Quoted message said:

I have a Trek 4500, and I like it alot, it isn't the
greatest bike but I dont want to buy a new one. I need
some more stopping power and was hoping to upgrade my
brakes to disks. I was wondering what I would need, I know
that disks, calipers,levers and hoses are needed, but how
do I attach them to my bike. Are most brands the same or
do some have better performance. Cost is an issue too, I
will probably buy used components off of ebay or
something. Do any of you have some insight on this
subject?

Thanks in advance.

Jason

Thanks for all the info, I was just playing around with the
idea because when riding downhill, it seems that my brakes
are just squeeling and fading pretty good with the heat. If
I have some extra cash I may explore it, if not, I will wait
until I buy a new bike.

"David" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Andy Chequer"
<andy@(youdontwantthisbitinit)thisisasparagus.com>
wrote in

message

Quoted message said:

"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

whereas a combination of hydraulic and a V brake feels
rather odd.

I never thought so. I've had bikes set up that way for
almost 5 years. The front and rear brake respond much
differently anyway, even if they're exactly the same type.

Same here - no problems at all like this!

Shaun aRe

Quoted message said:

Same here - no problems at all like this!

Shaun aRe

Ah. It's another one of those "it's just you, Chequer"
things :-)

Andy Chequer, resolutely misaligned.

"Andy Chequer" <andy@(youdontwantthisbitinit)thisisasparagus.com> wrote in
message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Same here - no problems at all like this!

Shaun aRe

Ah. It's another one of those "it's just you, Chequer"
things :-)

Andy Chequer, resolutely misaligned.

Heh - maybe! It just really didn't bother me right from the
start - lever feel is a little different if you pay
conscious attention, but the brain is a wonderfully adaptive
thing ',;~}~

Shaun aRe - Starting, rather than stopping, is where I find
difficulties...heh...