BMX - Disc brakes on a BMX bike?

I have spent alot of money trying to make my bike the best it can possibly be. But lately i have been having some problems with my brakes. I was just wondering if anyone knows of a kit or a easy way to fit disc brakes on a BMX bike. My rear wheel has a simple flip flop hub set up so there's nothing too complicated back there. If anyone has any info about this i will be really thankful.

Kevin

I am not sure if there are any disc sets for bmx, though you may find a racing bike or two that offers that option.

For freestyle, there is no way in the world that disc brakes are appropriate because of how often people land on the side of their wheels and would trash the disc.

Now, that said, the better option is to simply make your brakes work and ask about what you need to do and provide details on the type of brake setup that you currently have.

The best brakes in the bmx world if you run a dry bike is to use chrome plated rims, with teflon lined cables and 990 or Evolver brakes and some decent brake pads. You will stop on a dime as long as you keep the cables well lubed.

Im sorry i neglected to metion i am strictly a dirt rider so disc brakes would not interfere with my riding. also this bike has become almost a show bike from all the work i put into it and i was really looking to add one last touch to make it completely unique

Kevin

they used to sell disc brake kits at dans comp a few years ago for like 100 bucks

I believe there is a kit on ebay right now, its one of the kits that Dans Comp used to sell. Talk about old school, I can assure you there is almost no benefit over a nice set of V-Brakes, and you will definately save trouble and money and you won't have brake posts justing out of your frame with nothing on them. Just throw some coin down on a Shimano XTR brakeset with some expensive cable and an XTR brake lever, those who know will know thats is about as bling bling as it can get!!!

i thought anything except bmx racing was freestyle?
thats right isnt it?

Or, figure out how to make a decent drum brake for BMX bikes and install that bad boy on your bike. Cut the brake posts off and file your frame smooth, have it custom powder coated, with perfect brakes, but no visible calipers.

There's some sleeper style going on with that.

Thanks for all the suggestions i know no matter what im goin to put something special on my bike i dont know yet whether it will be traditional or completely out there but ill be sure to tell u guys what i did and post some pics. keep the suggestions coming thanks

Kevin

Well, the filing and powdercoating is a good idea, but he still has to find the disc brakes!! hehe

what problems do you have?

im just looking to upgrade my brakes from linear pull V brakes and i was looking into disc brakes because i know there very powerful and reliable. I think there may be away to do it but its drastic and im not sure i want to try it on something that costs so much. It would involve boring out and threading the rotor to fit on the side of the F/F hub and then put a bolt on to keep it in place. then i would have to weld a bracket onto the frame to mount the caliper. Its alot of work just to have something completely unique. It would also be hard to find a place that would let me machine the rotor and use a welder. Its a dream im still looking into ill let u guys know how it comes out when and if i ever attempt it.

Kevin

I see the drum brakes for things like go-peds and scooters and such. Now that I think about it a few really old schwinns had them. (50's) It would be neat to convert one of those with a bunch of spare time (just for the heck of it) and lots of tools and junk metal to fit a 20 incher.

It really is not that hard to find a welder to rent by the way. Do you know how to weld?

I have heard about drum brakes but I'm not to familiar with them. I also think they would take alot of fabrication to fit on a BMX bike. My brother works on cars alot but he is very underfunded. He knows how to use all the tools I would need to make this work but as of now he only has access to them at his school 7 hours away which is also where he is now.

Kevin

yes im in the process of making somethin like that, a bike for an 8 to 9 foot rider, i have a gt bmx bike and im gonna extend the top and downtube 10 inches and have one heck of a gt cruiser, try pullin a bunnyhop on that beast, we have welders too and we know the correct heat, we just gotta get some hi ten or just normal steal tubing

I want to seem some pictures of that when you get that done. That bike would kick so much ass its not even funny.

Go for good metal. Trust me it is more than worth it. Cheap soft metal on a chopperbike will just bend when you sit down I have done it before.

lol ya we just got some old metal tubing about the same size as the gt frame metal, we'll cut the old top and downtube off, measure and cut the other bars to the right length and weld them to the seat tube and headtube, it wont be that hard, we got a welder and an acetaline torch, then we got spray paint to paint over the chrome of the whole bike since the new bars arnt gonna be chrome, too expensive, so ill have a black or red or whatever colored gt with very long head and downtube, srry if that was hard to understand^^ we also got a digital camera, so ill have pics up here hopefully, itll be a project and im not sure we can do it

Im a mountain biker but i have a bmx bike that a dirt jump sometimes and I always wanted to put disks on it but never looked into it. Now that you've made this post i think im gona try it.

If you actauly get something to work let me know.

http://www.bmxonline.com/bmx/bike_tests/article/0,15737,381216,00.html
a good description...I saw this thread lay useless with no one even bothering to search, so I searched, further searches on the products mentioned in that interview will find you all of the parts needed, now go!

Looks like it's all atomic and dia-comp stuff. It looks like the adapter is inbetween the locknut and the drop out am I wrong?

Hayes made a kit at one time too, but I havnt found one for sale to post on here. Yes, there are adapters that mount inside of the dropout and some that mount on the chain stays.

Thats really cool but I am suprised to see it on a racing bike because it would be kinda bulky and heavy right.

not heavy at all, actually it would have ZERO use on a freestyle bike as one grind would destroy a disc, furthermore I believe with a proper caliper it can be as light as an average V-Brake set up, however a set of Shimano XTRs with an XTR brake lever are as light as it gets!!!

Yea it would be useless for parkuse but I have seen one on a dirt jumper before.

I was looking for about 2 hours and i didnt find anything. Just goes to show you how much i suck at looking things up. Im goin to check out the dia tech site and the atomic site and see if i can get a kit together.

Kevin

Well i spent some time and i found a place where you can by the adapter but it is not cheap what so ever. I checked atomic's website and it doesnt seem like their making or selling these anymore so it may be hard to find a better price however im goin to keep looking.
http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/Extras/product_86815.shtml

... I did some more searching and i came across this site which probably has everything you would need but im not to sure what that is so if any one can figure it out i would love to know so i can try it out as soon as possible
http://store.airbomb.com/ba/asp/Cc.95/ab/items.htm

I also just sent a email to atomic asking where i could buy the adapter i will tell you what they say when i get the replie

Kevin

about the gt, itll look like a frame on one of those recumbent bikes http://www.geocities.com/aaronwhite30/bike/index.htm just in case u were still interested

hey good news for anyone who was seriously looking into disc brakes. Atomic hasnt made the adaptor in a while but they r currently manufacturing more and will be out soon. So anyone who wants to put something really original on there bike check out the like in the post above.

Kevin

I'm just trying to figure out why you'd want disk breaks on a bmx.. and where in PA do you live?

I just want something really cool and i dirt jump so it wont affect my riding. i just like different things i guess and im also really into cars so it appeals to me there too. And by the way i live in bucks county its right above philly.

i go camping there sometimes

this coming summer

yea im looking into fitting rear disk to my dirt jumper. It ainty too simple tho to get a mount made (to attach the caliper to frame) but i think i got sum idea of who i can use. I really could do with help on the best way of fitting disk to a standard ALEX rim, if any1 has.
john

you can run disc brakes on any bike as long as you have a Flip-flop hub becuase that is where the disc thing threads onto...Dans Comp used to sell a set for like $99 but i dotn think they do anymore...plus disc brakes are easier to break and once you fall and brake the disc thing then they dont work.....so if you want powerfull brakes get a nice set of 990's like Odyssey Evolvers or PRIMO or you could get soem v-brakes ...(if you get i v-brake plate)

thanks to both of you for the old thread....

1) This thread is ancient.
2) Disc brakes on BMX bikes are ********.

Beerman, I agree this thread is ancient, and I'm puzzled by disc brakes on BMX bike as well. I have a friend that races at the national level here, and he rides a Norco that came with a rear disc. Makes no sense to me, as a V brake seems a bit much for even a 24" wheel. I've got no modulation, but rarely use my brake on the track.

I was wondering if you could convert mountain bike disc brakes and shorten the brake cable to be installed onto a BMX. Please reply soon.

nick57057

It's not about cable length or converting anything. All you need is some mounts on your frames, and a disc brake hub.

I am not very knowledgable about BMX's but what would preparing the bike and buying an OK set of disc brakes cost and would you have to take it to a specialty bike shop, buy a new frame of could i do it myself with my existing frame?

nick57057

I was wondering if you could convert mountain bike disc brakes and shorten the brake cable to be installed onto a BMX. Please reply soon.

nick57057


you dont want disc brakes on a BMX bike becuase they can break or bend and then you have to buy new ones and they just werent meant for BMX's

you dont want disc brakes on a BMX bike becuase they can break or bend and then you have to buy new ones and they just werent meant for BMX's

It's highly unlikely that disc brakes will break or bend. More likely you will break them by abusing them such as grinding on them.

To answer this guys question, it is not feasible to put discs on a BMX for any reason. You would need to have mounting tabs welded to your frame and fork, and your rims would need to be re-laced to disc hubs. A standard V brake will offer more than enough stopping power for a 20" BMX wheel.

Thanks for the advise but i would still like just to put a set on the back of my BMX. I was just wondering what aframe mount was for it. Also what would the prices on a hub, set of OK disc brakes and anything else i needed approx. come to?

You could get an Avid mechanical disc brake for about $70. A hub and the necessary re-lacing will cost at least $70-100, depending on the hub, labor, and quality of spokes. If your frame is steel, you'll need to find a shop that can fabricate a mount and weld it on for you. If it's aluminum, you'll need to have a bolt-on bracket fabricated, as welding onto your frame will most likely ruin it.

the specialized hemi has disk brake mounts

some one NEEDS to lock this thread.

the specialized hemi has disk brake mounts
yet no one cares..... die thread die!

It's highly unlikely that disc brakes will break or bend. More likely you will break them by abusing them such as grinding on them.

To answer this guys question, it is not feasible to put discs on a BMX for any reason. You would need to have mounting tabs welded to your frame and fork, and your rims would need to be re-laced to disc hubs. A standard V brake will offer more than enough stopping power for a 20" BMX wheel.
i thought you only needed a flip-flop hub...not welds or plates on your frame...

as far as them being bent...ive seen both a BMXer bend his like 3 years ago and a mountain biker bend his...at the skatepark...

i thought you only needed a flip-flop hub...not welds or plates on your frame...

as far as them being bent...ive seen both a BMXer bend his like 3 years ago and a mountain biker bend his...at the skatepark...
you need tabs to mount the disc caliper on.... they look like this \/
as for them bending, they do bend, and if a bmxer rode them one grind that comes too far in, and your walking home. im not sure about needing a flip flop hub, you need a disc hub which looks like this.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/images/dmr%20revolver%20s%20s%20rear%20disc%20hub.jpg