Bicycle Mechanics - disc brakes down to V brakes- possible?

Is it posible to downgrade from disc brakes to V brakes, hydraulics to something like Avids? Depends on the bike? Generally difficult? I am hoping I can do this but am not sure about the specs on everything I have here...need to find out more about the wheel rim set-up, etc. Advice? Opions of wisdom from those in the know?

Ride On!

Switching from discs to v-brakes is easy. Of course it depends on if your wheels are v brake compatible....(the rim would have a braking surface)...alot of disc wheels are disc only....which means there is no braking surface, thus you would need to get new wheels. And your frame also has to have the brake posts or threads to put the posts if there arent any in already. When you have a wheel with a braking surface and brake posts for v-brakes, then you can put v-brakes on your bike.

Yup - agree with the previous post.

It is *technically* very easy but may not be *financially* easy.

At best, you have braking surfaces on your rims and canti brake bosses on your frame so it's a straight swap.

At worst, you will need new rims and to find a local custom builder to braze or weld on canti bosses (and possibly remove disc brake mounting points) followed by a frame and forks respray.

Either way, you will need new levers and cables :) - HTH.

Dare I ask why you'd want to go from disc to v? Weight is the only real disadvantage that I can think of, and using a disc-specific rim compensates for much of the brakes extra weight.

I think the advantages of disc's over V's is probably often overstated (particularly with rear wheel braking) but I'm surprised you want to go to V's from discs.

Richard

Just out of interest, does anyone remember 'Magura' hydraulic brakes ? Jeez, those things were unreal, I've seen them split the braking surfaces of top quality rims that would probably have done another 1000+ miles on old fashioned canti's. Weren't much good when they sprang a leak in the middle of a cross country ride tho... :lol: .

Yep- Performance Bike still sells em, and many trials riders still use em since riding trials with v-brakes is suicide and discs tend to shear disc tabs clean off of the frame ;)