Shimano105 Front Brake
Thread started by
el_spaniard at 03.9.09 - 12:41 pm
The No-Name front brake on my fixed gear has kept me from meeting the almighty on several occasions.
So I have a little bit of extra cash on hand and was thinking of getting a new front brake & nice brake pads.
Anyone have any experience with 105 brakes?
Good brake pads?
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105 brakes just cost more and weigh less. youre not a weight weenie, are you? if your current isnt broke, theres no need to fix it.
kool-stop makes some great brake pads.
ruinedbyidiots03.9.09 - 12:46 pm
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@ruinedbyidiots
I could care less about weight. I ride a steel frame...
I weigh 200 pounds...I just don't want the stock brakes to give up on me one of these days at an inappropriate moment.
They haven't given up on me yet, and I've had some pretty nasty emergency stops. So maybe I shouldn't worry. MAYBE.
el_spaniard03.9.09 - 12:55 pm
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I use a 105 front on my fixed. I've had no problems with it.
You probably won't notice a difference unless your current brake is a single pivot or something old.
zombiefiesta03.9.09 - 12:57 pm
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i think brakes are one of the last components you have to worry about failing.
just make sure you have good pads, and a clean cable/housing system. they all work on the same principle of mechanics, spring, pivot point, i think if its well maintained and cleaned and lubed, it should be fine.
_iJunes03.9.09 - 12:58 pm
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@ijunes
Sweet. I'll save my money.
I got another question...
Whats a good indicator of when the braking surface on a rim is so bad it should be replaced?
el_spaniard03.9.09 - 1:04 pm
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"..they all work on the same principle of mechanics, "
Not true at all.
Just within the category of road brakes, there are single pivot, dual pivot, centerpull, campy delta, and probably a couple more.
If you want to get into other types of brakes, there are countless more. Brakes are definitely not all the same. Some are actuated by cable, some by rod, some by hydraulic fluid, some by the chain (coaster brakes), etc.
zombiefiesta03.9.09 - 1:05 pm
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Indeed, if you existing brake is single pivot and you're talking about a new dual-pivot brake, then there definitely will be an improvement.
dokydoky03.9.09 - 1:14 pm
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rim replacement:
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.bicycles.tech/browse_thread/thread/c442099c2aaf06da/5b6961f110f61a06
That said, I ride 20 year old rims where you can see and feel a different wear pattern next to each spoke nipple.
zombiefiesta03.9.09 - 1:14 pm
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@zombie,
im assuming for the two types hes comparing that they are the same. but i guess this isn't a safe assumption.
of course the only type of brakes i've used and cared for are the ultegra and dura ace double pivot, and the rsx and 105 single pivot.
although i've wanted to try the mavic ssc's i've heard they're great.
_iJunes03.9.09 - 1:26 pm
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assuming you are going from some generic dual-pivots to 105 dual-pivots, you may notice differences in increased stiffness and looser spring tension.
getting new pads may help but the benefits may not be much if your original calipers are flexy or have too strong of a spring tension. that's why i'm looking to upgrade my cheap tektros with some used dura ace's from ebay and also getting new pads.
tfunk40803.9.09 - 1:27 pm
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after years and years of V-brakes, shimano 105s really scare the crap out of me.
la duderina03.9.09 - 1:28 pm
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brakes scare me period.
stopping scares me.
coasting to a stop ftw.
where are my brakeless SS at?
_iJunes03.9.09 - 1:29 pm
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I have Dual-Pivot No-Namers with cheap pads...
Ima buy some kool stops and see if I feel a difference.
el_spaniard03.9.09 - 1:41 pm
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kool stops with shoes gonna cost you at least ~$20 at a shop. a set of 105 calipers can be found for not much more than that off ebay.
tfunk40803.9.09 - 1:52 pm
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You can find 105-level brakes all day long for next to nothing at most bike co-ops. I use two on my fixed-gear beater, they work fine. They are the early 90s generation, last of the single pivots.
Since you ride fixed it's just an emergency brake, really, so dual vs. single is a non-issue. Single pivot front rim brakes of this level are going to be plenty powerful, enough for you to endo fer sure. Good pads +1, but again it prolly won't matter too much, just saves wear on your rim.
Most single pivots are lighter than dual, FWIW, if comparing similar levels.
cabhauler03.9.09 - 1:59 pm
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right thread...
Dual pivot calipers are definitely worth it, but going from a lower end one to a 105 won't be that noticeable (maybe a little, but probably not dramatic). Make sure the lever and caliper are both designed for the same amount of cable pull.
and Kool-stop pads are the only ones worth using at all. Shimano DA pads eat rims- stay far away from them. A pair of kool stop pads is about $10-12, and ideally your caliper should come with shoes that have pads that slide in and out.
bitingduck03.9.09 - 2:00 pm
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Deltas suck, but they look cool. Actually so do the classic Campy Record single pivots. They're gorgeous but just don't stop the bike that well. Even hardcore Campy-philes will admit they don't stop as well as my Shimano 105 SLRs that I got for free.
cabhauler03.9.09 - 2:23 pm
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"campy deltas are the worst brakes ever invented."
So the big thing with the deltas was that the leverage increased through the lever stroke. Apparently people didn't like this, because as brake pads wore down, and the pads have more distance to travel, the pads would be contacting the rim at a different place in the pull, and therefore have a different leverage.
This made the brakes have the wrong mechanical advantage, and made it easy to lock up? Is that right?
However, Zero G brakes use a cam in the pull that makes them have a dynamic mechanical advantage. It seems like this should have the same problems as the delta, but no one talks about that.
Am I wrong about something? I haven't ridden either of them.
zombiefiesta03.9.09 - 2:44 pm
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