Bicycle Mechanics - brake boosters

Are brake boosters any good, and how do they work? (V-brake)

They're OK not great. Basically what they do is brace the fork or frame to keep it from flexing due to the pressures exerted by the brake. There is some gain in having a stiffer interface, however, I never had a use for them

Just buy some higher end solid breaks.

Are you talking about the horseshoe shaped stiffeners that reduce fork flexing or are you talking about the little accessories that provide extra cable pull for using v-brakes with road levers? I have used the latter with good results.

As the brakes press against the rims, the chainstays or fork blades bow out under the pressure. Many modern sus forks and Al frames are stiff enough to resist this force, but lighter weight steel and Ti frames may benefit from extra bracing if you want to brake hard.
If your stays are flexy, then getting stiffer V brakes arms will not solve the problem.

Chuvak,

I'm running a Shimano Carbon brak booster on the rear of my bike with XTR Brakes and Levers. I've got to admit that at the time of the purchase, I was fairly new to cycling and was apt to but anything I thought would give me an advantage at all-and I got a good deal on them. The upgradr to XTR Brakes and levers made the biggest difference in braking power, and the brake booster's contribution to braking was less, but still noticeable in my opinion. There are cheaper models on the market than the Carbon booster I bought, so you would want to ask people who have used the other brands or check www.mtbr.com to see what people think of them. I've been happy with mine, though it was an expensive upgrade.

-Moab

I ride with Moab, or should I say I ride AHEAD of Moab, and I think they look goofy. The back I can see your not giving up any aesthetics, but the ones in the front are just unpleasing to the eye, it looks like a big bug shield. Save your money and go with discs.

-Middi-zon

P.S. If you disaree with me, look at my sig.

I ride with Moab, or should I say I ride AHEAD of Moab

Definitely something fundamentally wrong with this statement.




I think they look goofy. The back I can see your not giving up any aesthetics, but the ones in the front are just unpleasing to the eye, it looks like a big bug shield

Got a point, though my set of V's comes near to rivaling your Avids.



-Moab

Please correct me if I'm wrong; but I was told by an LBS that the brake booster is to reinforce the frame to prevent flexing under hard braking. But this booster came about AFTER AL frames became weaker with constant use, ie: flexing, and needed to be reinforced to prevent brake rub and to stiffen the frame to provide better braking action. Steel and Ti supposely do not have this problem and is strickly a AL problem. BUT I MAY BE WRONG AND I AM NOT MUCH INTO MTBing.

Thanks guys, you've been a real help!