Mountain Biking - How do these prices sound for rebuilding a wheel/installing a disc?

50 dollars--rebuild wheel around a disc compatable hub


25 dollars--install the Avid Mech






that sound reasonable?

Hmm, you can install the brake yourself, it is really easy. I think for like 80 bucks you can get a disc wheelset from Pricepoint.com or Jensonusa.com. It would be something like Deore Disc Hubs on Rhyno Lites or Mavic X223 rims which are all decent, but not great.

Sounds good for the build but I would install the disc myself.

In my own opinion, I would not dare use a disc brake hub and system with a V-brake rim. Best bet would be to get a pair of Disc wheels.

why is that danka?

V-brake rims are not designed for disc brakes. The rims can't handle the braking forces too well.

i would agree on just getting a new wheelset at that pricepoint. however, if you are coming from a nice bike and your current wheelset is higher end then it might just be better to keep what you have. then again, you could get a new set for a little bit more and have a spare rear wheel if you use your current. as B1105 said, there are wheelsets on jensonusa.com for $89 that are disc ready. there is also a deore/sun rhynolite xl set on pricepoint.com for $95. i also have no idea how old the bike is you wish to upgrade. as for installing the disc brake, that should not be a problem at all for you to do yourself.

you should do the brakes yourself.
you should also just buy new wheels.

but since everybody is telling you this already, and you still insist on getting the hub and relacing and having a shop install the brake, then do it. the prices sound reasonable.

There's nothing left for me to say :o



Buy a new wheel, and save some cash and install the discs yourself!

V-brake rims are not designed for disc brakes. The rims can't handle the braking forces too well.

Not trying to be difficult, but I have just started reading up on wheelbuilding and I am really wondering if there is really anything to conventional rims vs disc brake rims.
:confused:

Seems to me that it is more a function of the spokes (gauge, number, pattern, tension). In other words, how well the wheel is built.

The stuff about a stronger spoke bed sounds like a bit of marketing stretch for me. The lack of a braking surface for a lighter and possibly more aerodynamic wheel makes sense, but it seems that most high quality conventional rims should still be able to answer the call as long as the wheels are built well.

I would be interested to hear dissenting opinions on this.

- Jeff

I think if you're just a recreational rider, a rim brake laced to a disc hub should be fine. Now, if you're hardcore into freeriding, or hitting some ski slopes for some all day DH runs, I'd opt up and get a full-on disc specific rim.

L8R

The rims are built in a slightly different form. A V-brake rim can be used I was just stating an opinion. I think it is either Mavic or Sun Ringle that are making a Disc/V rim.

I think it is either Mavic or Sun Ringle that are making a Disc/V rim.

Does anybody know about these Disc/V rims? Seems like you would have to lose something (more weight, higher cost, etc) in order to gain this benefit.

I was considering building a wheel with an eye towards upgrading to discs on the front. If there is a good "combo" rim, I would be interested, but if the compromise is too great, I will probably go with one or the other.

- Jeff

The benifit to using a normal rim is you can use a rim brake on the wheel if you have to.

I can't see a disk specific rim is that much closer to the optimal rim shape compared to a box shaped rim brake rim that I would want to lose the ability to use rim brakes.

Rim brake rims have held up perfectly fine with the forces from the hub in the rear wheel, disk brake forces are going to be pretty similar.

A V-rim can be used for Disc brakes.

Disc Specific rims, through the consensus, are seen as stronger because of the triangular design.

A disc brake puts no awkward forces on a rim in terms of brake force. I don't know what put that idea in your head, but it is incorrect.

I run Sun Rhynolite XL rims with Hayes 8" Purple Hydro disc brakes on my Banshee Scream. I run 14g, straight gauge spokes. 32h per wheel. Marzocchi 20mm front hub, Hadley 108 click rear hub. I have been a mechanic for more than a few years, and I have NEVER seen any problems running disc's on a "V-rim".

I ride pretty hard, and I have zero problems (although I have a flat spot after 3 weeks on my rear rim...)

After scouting USENET, the concensus seems to be that well built wheels using conventional rims will work fine for disc brakes.

The other thing I was wondering now (*here goes*), is if there any downside to using disc hubs on a conventional rim for use with V-Brakes? From the outset, it just seems like more weight.

The upside is that I can build a wheel that I can use before AND after a disc brake upgrade.

Any opinions here?

- Jeff

It's a good idea, and some companies (Specialized and Gary Fisher) give you wheels with disc hubs already on the bike.

The only problem is with dish. The spokes on the disc side are shorter, and more vertical than the ones on the non-disc side.

Again, a good wheel and it will be fine. Remember, I am running "V-rims" and HUGE disc brakes.