Bicycle Mechanics - Using Avid BB7 rear disc brakes in the front

So this is a double post, I also asked in the cyclocross forum. I'm thinking about using Avid BB7 for road shifters for my commuter. I only need it for the front, and it's either out of stock, or $40 more than the rear. I read somewhere that the actual brake is the same, the only difference is the mounting brackets.

Anyone know if it's true?

Thanks

The only difference is the adapter. The actual caliper assembly is the same for front and rear. You do need to get the road version of the BB7s, not the MTB version. Pricepoint.com usually has the adapters available.

The only difference is the adapter. The actual caliper assembly is the same for front and rear. You do need to get the road version of the BB7s, not the MTB version. Pricepoint.com usually has the adapters available.

thank you. exactly the answer i was looking for. Rear assembly plus front adapter is still a lot cheaper than front assembly.

Nope, my front and rear road specific BB7s calipers are NOT identical.

Nope, my front and rear road specific BB7s calipers are NOT identical.

How odd. I have built numerous bikes with these over the last few years and have used them interchangeably. Could you tell us what is different about them other than the adapters ? I just went and looked at mine again, and they are identical.

Both sets on my MTB BB7s are identical too.

The caliper is slightly smaller on the front, and the pad adjusting knobs are different. I don't have the bike in front of me to get any more specific, but they are certainly different. The front caliper also comes packed with an inline cable adjuster the is not included with the rear.

The caliper is slightly smaller on the front, and the pad adjusting knobs are different. I don't have the bike in front of me to get any more specific, but they are certainly different. The front caliper also comes packed with an inline cable adjuster the is not included with the rear.


Huh ?! I have three bikes with road BB7s, and the front and rear calipers are all identical. Both the rear and front all came with inline adjusters. The calipers are all the same size and so are the adjustment knobs. There are no markings identifying the calipers as "front" or "rear". The only difference was the IS to post mount adapter bracket. The MTB version does not come with inline adjusters if I remember correctly - are you using one of these in the rear ? Also, BB7s have changed slightly in appearance depending on which year they were manufactured.

There are no markings identifying the calipers as "front" or "rear".
The boxes are specific. Not sure of any markings on the parts


The MTB version does not come with inline adjusters if I remember correctly - are you using one of these in the rear ? Also, BB7s have changed slightly in appearance depending on which year they were manufactured.

Nope, not the MTB version. It's a different color entirely. I suppose it's possible that I got a mismatched set - 1 built in a different year than the other.

The differences in these pictures correspond to the differences in my brakes:

The one on the left is an older model. Look at the differences in the dials.

My apologies for misinforming the OP.

The one on the left is an older model. Look at the differences in the dials.

That is correct.