Mountain Biking - Trek 8000 and Avid disk brakes (the newbie is baffled!)

I have a 2003 Trek 8000 that is "supposed" to be disk compatable but i'm a little unsure.... It appears that the mounting holes on the front and rear of the frame don't quite fit. I purchased the 185mm avid machanicals and the holes at the rear of the frame don't appear to line up correctly with the caliper hole mounts. The front appear to intrude from the fork too deeply into the front wheel. Did i miss the boat completely?!? Does this particular disk NOT fit my frame? Is there an adapter that i need? Your response is GREATLY appreaciated!

Is there an adapter that i need?


Yes .

you need special adapters depending on rotor size. can be a pain in the ass to get depending on how good your LBS is. that's the main reason i converted my 203mm setup back to a 160mm setup.

I thought Avid always included the adaptors?

I thought Avid always included the adaptors?

It would make sense that the 185's would have to include adapters.

BTW Jim, I likw those two pics of Fontana lake and the GSM on your webpage. But who is the ugly mug in the yellow jacket??? ;)

generally the 185mm disks are only used on manitou forks, which have a different mounting system (post mount). The 160mm brakes should have the correct adapters.

Having said that, my Armor hydros use a 180mm front disk and the 'ISO' mount, so there is always an exception.

Trek (and Gary Fisher) do something I don't really like. They offer a disc specific model, but the Non-Disc model does NOT have any disc tabs welded to the frame. The two holes at the drop-out are for a pannier rack. At least the 2002 models are like this. A co-worker bought a 2002 GF Tassajara and wants to upgrade to discs and cannot.

I cannot tell from Trek's website, but this appears to be the same for Treks.

So, if you want to upgrade to discs, you need a new frame. NICE!

What is confusing, is that the Trek 8000 has "disc ready" wheels.

Attached is the best picture I could find of a 2003 Trek 8000 and could NOT see any tabs welded to the frame.

Also, if you have a Rock Shock Fork, then you have an ISO (International Standard Organization) type disc tab on the fork. The Avid's use the post mount standard (like those on a Manitou fork) and will need an adapter to bolt to, regardless of rotor size. The rotor size WILL however, determine what type of adapter you need.

Attached is a picture of the Trek's seat stay. If you can find the disc tabs, point them out to me!

It would make sense that the 185's would have to include adapters.

BTW Jim, I likw those two pics of Fontana lake and the GSM on your webpage. But who is the ugly mug in the yellow jacket??? ;)


Ah, that's just some bum I met at the trails.




:o

I thought Avid always included the adaptors?

not if you buy them used =/

Trek (and Gary Fisher) do something I don't really like. They offer a disc specific model, but the Non-Disc model does NOT have any disc tabs welded to the frame. The two holes at the drop-out are for a pannier rack. At least the 2002 models are like this. A co-worker bought a 2002 GF Tassajara and wants to upgrade to discs and cannot.

I cannot tell from Trek's website, but this appears to be the same for Treks.

So, if you want to upgrade to discs, you need a new frame. NICE!

What is confusing, is that the Trek 8000 has "disc ready" wheels.

Attached is the best picture I could find of a 2003 Trek 8000 and could NOT see any tabs welded to the frame.

Also, if you have a Rock Shock Fork, then you have an ISO (International Standard Organization) type disc tab on the fork. The Avid's use the post mount standard (like those on a Manitou fork) and will need an adapter to bolt to, regardless of rotor size. The rotor size WILL however, determine what type of adapter you need.

Attached is a picture of the Trek's seat stay. If you can find the disc tabs, point them out to me!Avid Mechs (at least the 160's) come with the ISO mount.

Avid Mechs (at least the 160's) come with the ISO mount.

do you mena come with the ISO adapter? all avid mechs are the same... the difference in rotor size is compensated by using different adapters. my avid mechs were the 203mm version, but the guy i bought them from kept the front mounting adapter, so i am running 160mm rotors and the calipers bolt directly onto my manitou fork without any sort of adapter. they'd need adapters if i had gotten a SID with IS mounts. interestingly, in the rear, i have a 160mm rotor BUT i kept my 203mm adapter. surprisingly, all i did was invert the direction of the adapter(have the arrow point backwards rather than forward) and BAM i run 160mm rotors with no problem in the rear.

Trek (and Gary Fisher) do something I don't really like. They offer a disc specific model, but the Non-Disc model does NOT have any disc tabs welded to the frame. The two holes at the drop-out are for a pannier rack.


those two holes are not for a rack. they're for a frame adapter which your disc brake mounts to. i'll get a picture of my setup, check back later. the adapter can be had from any trek/fisher dealer, more than likely.

excuse the poor photo quality. my batteries didn't have enough juice left to use the flash.

http://www.hax.net/miscpics/discadapter.jpg

Trek (and Gary Fisher) do something I don't really like. They offer a disc specific model, but the Non-Disc model does NOT have any disc tabs welded to the frame. The two holes at the drop-out are for a pannier rack. At least the 2002 models are like this. A co-worker bought a 2002 GF Tassajara and wants to upgrade to discs and cannot.
i think fore’s right. i have an ’02 tassajara too but the disc version (the red/black one – if i’m not mistaken, your co-worker’s got the bronzy one). the disc brake mount on my bike is bolted to the frame using those two holes.

well, seeing as how i sell Fisher bikes for a living, i think i've got a pretty good idea. :)

im glad i saw this post.....i have had my avid mech 160mm for about 6 months now waiting for the wheels i just order from jensonusa and never checked my frame to see if the caliper would fit.i just assumed it would.does anyone where i can get an adapter to fit a 2001 trek 6700?

I don't think you need an adaptor with the 160 mm discs, just the 7 and 8 inch ones. I assume your frame has ISO mounts.

i thought like other people that the holes on the frame were for mounting the caliper with avids adapter to the frame but i just check and that is not the case.im waiting for a bike shop to open to see if i can get treks disc-o adapter.

just got off the phone with 2 bike shops they both have the adapter.....price could be anywhere from 15-30 dollars.......im glad its not a big deal to bolt on the caliper.......i cant wait to get my new wheels the rims are the new mavic tubeless that replaced the 3.1 and i got hope xc hups with black anadized spokes........they should look and ride real nice.

just got back from the bike shop with treks disc-o adapter for $20.....bolted right on and my disc are going to work great.i cant help thinking that this part comes with every trek bike that is capable of running disc brakes and if you dont get disc they dont give you the adapter.....there making money of a part i payed for when i bought the bike but didnt give me.....oh well my little rant.

Learn something new everyday!

I stand corrected!

Not the first time, not the last!

Glad you got it worked out!

L8R