Mountain Biking - V'brake to Canti's

I'm thinking of buying a friend's older Trek 8000 (2001) model. Its been ages since I worked on a mountain bike. The bike has Avid Single Digit 3 V brakes on them.

I want to know if the bosses for the brakes are the usual place for Cantilevers cause I want to install my sweeet vintage Suntour XC Pro Pederson brakes on them.

Yes, I know I will need new brake levers and shifters (just so I can put my sweeeeeet Suntour XC Pro thumb shifters on them!) BTW, I see IRD website is selling ones that look just like them for $150!!! Yah, cool its 9 speed but I like to use them on friction mode.

They use the same brake mounts. Vs are just a another kind of cantis.

Self energizing brakes! I had a set of those...they died a long time ago. Do you have some nice Mathauser pads to go with 'em?

Mathauser? No I don't. I actually have the original Suntour pads. I may get some KoolStops though.

Mathauser were the sh*t at the time, just saw this on ebay http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180476914626&rvr_id=&crlp=1_263602_263622&UA=WVF%3F&GUID=6c540c641270a0e202607e50ff2c904c&itemid=180476914626&ff4=263602_263622. Yow! I gave away a set of the holders with pads to a friend of mine last year for his vintage rig...they were pricey when new but had no idea they could sell for anything like that guy wants. Koolstops should do the trick...

I remember those! That's crazy!!!!! I had Mathausers back in the 80's for my Campy brakes and moutain bikes. Sucks. Oh well, these days, I save everything! You never know. I should have kept all my Ringle stuff.

...they were pricey when new but had no idea they could sell for anything like what that guy wants. ...I think that is the key operative phrase there, eh?

I don't remember any brake pads made before the mid '90's or so being any good..

and btw.. you will also need cable stops to go to cantis.

I think that is the key operative phrase there, eh?

Well, was curious so looked in completed listings, similar used set went for $115 (and saw some NOS sets that went for $60 and $110, go figure).

From what I understand, the bosses are the same, but bikes made for cantilever brakes have cable stops built in where as bikes that use v brakes rely on a cable stop on the brake itself.

From what I understand, the bosses are the same, but bikes made for cantilever brakes have cable stops built in where as bikes that use v brakes rely on a cable stop on the brake itself.

True, but you can accommodate with add-on hangers. Brake lever pull is different, too.

Where can these add on hangers be found? I will probably replace my fork at some point and it would be great not to have to replace my brakes and brake levers as well. I have cantilever brakes and most current forks are set up for v only.

EDIT: I have a 1 1/8" threaded headset as well. I see them for threadless, but not threaded.

Where can these add on hangers be found? I will probably replace my fork at some point and it would be great not to have to replace my brakes and brake levers as well. I have cantilever brakes and most current forks are set up for v only.

Just google cantilever brake hangers.