Classic & Vintage - Can a Campy rear brake be converted for use as a front brake?

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palladio
06-20-09, 10:06 PM
I've got a set of Campy Cobalto brakes but the front brake is missing the blue "gem" thingie. I want to use one set of calipers as a front brake of vintage fixed gear bike I've built up. Can I swap out the mounting hardware, or am I better off trying to take the gem off the rear brake and glue it to the front one? I'm a bit concerned that I might break the gem trying to remove it.

Also, what's a set of these brakes worth in decent condition with levers and the white hoods (given that one gem is missing)?

Grand Bois
06-20-09, 10:26 PM
To make the front brake a rear brake, you just swap the bolts. To move the gem from one to the other, you swap the nuts.
dbakl
06-20-09, 10:30 PM
I've heard a similar "jewel" is available at craft stores.

palladio
06-20-09, 10:31 PM
To make the front brake a rear brake, you just swap the bolts. To move the gem from one to the other, you swap the nuts.

Thanks, problem solved.