Disc Brake Question

[charliebrown]

Hello All,<O:p</O:p
<O:p
I have a 2006 Stumpjumper and I am thinking about getting disc brakes for it. I think I am leaning toward mechanical ones instead of hydraulic. Does anyone have any recommendations and also are they hard to install? <O:p</O:p
<O:p
Thanks for the advice.<O:p</O:p
<O:p
eric<O:p</O:p

[Kosk]

If you go mechanical, get Avid BB7s, it's the ONLY option really.

Not really that hard to install.

Don't forget you will need disc-compatible hubs, which means either new hubs or new wheels, unless your bike came w/ disc ready wheels.

[Nickel]

The BB7s come with great instructions. The only hard part (I think) is getting everything lined up correctly.

[Tetreves]

Why?? :confused:

After riding in Fruita/Moab for a week with rim brakes (I only used discs for one day on a demo), I stand by my statement that the pro's of discs don't outweigh the con's. They add noise pollution, and if I can get enough stopping power from a rim brake in the mountains, you should be fine in MN with a quality rim brake.

Other than being high-tech and expensive, why do you REALLY need them?

[Ish]

Why?? :confused:

After riding in Fruita/Moab for a week with rim brakes (I only used discs for one day on a demo), I stand by my statement that the pro's of discs don't outweigh the con's. They add noise pollution, and if I can get enough stopping power from a rim brake in the mountains, you should be fine in MN with a quality rim brake.

Other than being high-tech and expensive, why do you REALLY need them?

I would have to disagree. After spending time out West over the years on both linear pull and hydro's, the hydro's are far better in stopping power, modulation and hand fatigue.

What issues did you have on the demo? Maybe they weren't set up properly ???

[dave t]

if I can get enough stopping power from a rim brake in the mountains, you should be fine in MN with a quality rim brake.

Other than being high-tech and expensive, why do you REALLY need them?
If power were the only issue, I couldn't really argue for disks but a good rim brake requires a good rim and it is pretty easy and pretty common to dent a rim even in MN.

As for $, can't you get a set of BB7s for about the same as a good set of v-brakes? (Assuming the wheels are disk ready)

[Heuy]

Hello All,<O:p</O:p
<O:p
I have a 2006 Stumpjumper and I am thinking about getting disc brakes for it. I think I am leaning toward mechanical ones instead of hydraulic. Does anyone have any recommendations and also are they hard to install? <O:p</O:p
<O:p
Thanks for the advice.<O:p</O:p
<O:p
eric<O:p</O:p

If you go mechanical, get Avid BB7s, it's the ONLY option really.

Not really that hard to install.

Don't forget you will need disc-compatible hubs, which means either new hubs or new wheels, unless your bike came w/ disc ready wheels.

When I was last shopping for bikes all of the '05 Stumpjumpers that didn't already have disks had compatible hubs. The difference is that disk compatible hubs have the bolt holes on the left side allowing you to bolt on a rotor.

IMO disks don't have any more stopping power, but better modulation.

[Kingbozo]

IMO disks don't have any more stopping power, but better modulation.

I don't know if that is the case. After using discs for years I rented a bike that had V Brakes and I was having to use a lot more "squeeze" than I ever did with my Hayes. My forearms were killing me at the end of the day.

[Tetreves]

What issues did you have on the demo? Maybe they weren't set up properly ???

They worked fine, just not any better (or worse) than my rim brakes. And in the mountains my forearms were the least tired part of my body.

I also don't find a lack of modulation on my rim brakes, but maybe my fingers are more sensitive from playing video games (fine motor skills). :D

As for cost, if rim brakes cost the same as disc brakes, and you already have rim brakes, it makes the rim brakes cheaper. :etard:

[Magic]

But here is the best reason for disc brakes, they work in all weather conditions. Unlike rim brakes that suck when they get wet. I'll never go back to rim brakes, hydro is where it's at.

[crux]

Modulation, Power, are two terms that get thrown around on this topic a bit to frequently. It really boils down to what brake you are running and how you set them up.

Example have a set af Avid Ultimate V-brakes and a set of Hayes entry level Disc (don't recall the name or vintage.) After one run down silverton mtn out in ID the Hayes were fried. Had my xc bike out in Tahoe on a much steeper route and worked great with one finger.

Properly setting up your brakes will make a big difference in how you will stop and how much modulation you will have.

That being said if all else were equal Hydro brakes will preform better than mechanical or v brakes. Best brakes I have found are the Formulas and will stick with them till I find something better.

Difficult of install depends upon the brake. Hopes will be the biggest pain, Magura and Formula are pretty easy to setup. Bleeding is another topic. It is not bad, just need to make sure everything is clean.

[jenkemfr]

I think disc's start to really shine when the rider wieght goes up,being 255 lbs. I can really feel the difference between the two.plus a rim brake will eventually wear out the rim,and who dosent love the sound of a wet rim brake......just rambling on now

[RichZilla]

I will preface this post by saying:

I AM NOT CALLING ANYONE NAMES!
Everyone can have their own opinion.

...but in my small group of riding buddies, we all slowly switched over from rim brakes to disc brakes. We had one guy that held out the longest and made fun of the rest of us for switching to the 'waste of money' stuff. "My brakes work great, I don't need that crap!", he would say. Well, the day finally came when he bought a new bike and it came with hydraulic disc brakes on it. After about a week of riding it, and right after we rode through a creek crossing, he said, "Anyone who says you don't need disc brakes is just plain stupid..." As you could imagine, we all laughed our asses off. Ever since that day, we have said it a million times.:laugh:

If you don't think disc brakes are better, then you just haven't ridden them enough to make an informed decision. Period.

[RichZilla]

<o =""></o>I have a 2006 Stumpjumper and I am thinking about getting disc brakes for it. I think I am leaning toward mechanical ones instead of hydraulic. Does anyone have any recommendations and also are they hard to install?

If you want to get mechanicals, you have to go with the Avids, just like Koski said. By far the best. Super simple to set up. You can use your current brake levers, just need to get new (longer) cables and housing. Make sure to Loc-Tite all the bolts (disc and caliper), you don't want them coming loose! Dialing them in is a snap. Don't be afraid, go for it!

If you are interested, I've got a set of used Avids that I'd let go for cheap. Send me a private message if you want to talk $.

[Stonehenge]

brake pad wear and contamination are also factors to concider. Maybe the rental had some of each and I would be sure they get a beating on each outing.
I have ridden rim brakes on bikes that are terrible and a few that are good.
I have ridden disc brakes on bikes that are not real good and some that are awsome.

Sold on disc after brake freeze up at river bottoms...rims got iced, climed the mound, just east of 35W, had no brakes at the top and could not turn east to down to exit. Had to aim for a tree on the south side AGAIN NO BRAKES. To avoid direct launch into the river from 20 some feet I crashed a 4" dia tree and grabbed it with one arm and one leg wrapped - reached out to grab my bike with the other hand. basically dangling over the river in winter with open water just below and hanging on barely to a tree was a wake up call.

Pros and cons to both types but for any wet or winter conditions ridding disc is far superior.

[RichZilla]

brake pad wear and contamination are also factors to concider. Maybe the rental had some of each and I would be sure they get a beating on each outing.
I have ridden rim brakes on bikes that are terrible and a few that are good.
I have ridden disc brakes on bikes that are not real good and some that are awsome.

Sold on disc after brake freeze up at river bottoms...rims got iced, climed the mound, just east of 35W, had no brakes at the top and could not turn east to down to exit. Had to aim for a tree on the south side AGAIN NO BRAKES. To avoid direct launch into the river from 20 some feet I crashed a 4" dia tree and grabbed it with one arm and one leg wrapped - reached out to grab my bike with the other hand. basically dangling over the river in winter with open water just below and hanging on barely to a tree was a wake up call.

Pros and cons to both types but for any wet or winter conditions ridding disc is far superior.

'Nuff said...