BMX - U-Brakes Advice

For all you BMX experts, which I'm not, I need a chainstay mounted U-Brake for a vintage MTB project I'm working on. I'm tired of chasing vintage XT brakes that have all the finish worn off and still cost a fortune.

there are still new ones being made.. Taiwan and China..
check your LBS catalogs for their wholesalers..

I wound up with a Dia Compe 990 that works on a 2003 Haro Backtrail X1:

http://www.amazon.com/BRAKE-Caliper-Dia-Compe-U-BRAKE/dp/B00175W3ZM

there are still new ones being made.. Taiwan and China..
check your LBS catalogs for their wholesalers..

Actually, I was hoping somebody had some first hand experience with some of the new high end stuff like the Revenge brake. It has roller bearings instead of bushings. The brake is going on vintage Stumpjumper. So, I was looking for something nice.

http://i553.photobucket.com/albums/jj396/cs1sales/Revenger_U-Brake.jpg

Just me but on my Haro, that particular design pictured in your post, the hardware for the cable adjustment kept contacting & hitting the chain stay on the adjusting nut and bolt on the side of the bike that doesn't have the gear and chain. I even tried reversing the two chrome parts to see if that made a difference and the part still contacted and hit the chain stay of the frame. The LBS had to order the AD-990. This one looks similar and is priced more economically, it's the FS-990:

http://www.amazon.com/Dia-Compe-Freestyle-U-Brake-Black/dp/B000BMNR48/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1308934499&sr=1-1

I don't know the design of the u-brake that your bike had originally, but chances are that if it's like mine, the AD-990 or FS-990 design is used for a reason ?

Just me but on my Haro, that particular design pictured in your post, the hardware for the cable adjustment kept contacting & hitting the chain stay on the adjusting nut and bolt on the side of the bike that doesn't have the gear and chain. I even tried reversing the two chrome parts to see if that made a difference and the part still contacted and hit the chain stay of the frame. The LBS had to order the AD-990. This one looks similar and is priced more economically, it's the FS-990:

http://www.amazon.com/Dia-Compe-Freestyle-U-Brake-Black/dp/B000BMNR48/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1308934499&sr=1-1

I don't know the design of the u-brake that your bike had originally, but chances are that if it's like mine, the AD-990 or FS-990 design is used for a reason ?

Actually, it uses a SunTour roller-cam brake. I was thinking about doing an update on the bike using more modern parts.

In my case this was one time I'm glad I didn't go and buy a brake off ebay or where ever on-line. I probably would've wound up with the same incompatibility and stuck with the part or S&H it back and forth to get the right one if that was even an option ? The first u-brake they got for me was the wrong one and it was $ 30, the Dia Compe came to $ 40. Both brand new, but the LBS took the first part that didn't work and I paid the difference and wound up with the right u-brake and was happier for it. I prefer it to a Tektro, the on-line cost for brand new was the same with S&H for Dia Compe u-brake. The Tektro was a bit less, but not enough that over 10 years or whatever I intend to keep & use the bike, the extra cost comes to maybe $ 1/year, less than a dime per month. That's my advice for components, if the part is used over that kind of a lifespan and you're the one that's going to use it that long, pay the extra $ 10 for the component you want. Obviously for the identical component, nab the cheaper one, but enough of a design and quality of workmanship part, $ 10 more is negligible.

Actually, it uses a SunTour roller-cam brake. I was thinking about doing an update on the bike using more modern parts.

I've got an old Schwinn High Sierra frame & fork on the way, and I'm shopping for U-brakes also. I was wondering if you made a decision and how it worked out?

Campagnolo, Euclid made what was essentially a U brake, made by that company, in the 80's.
For higher spec Mountain bikes .. then they quit the segment entirely..
concentrating on the road racer and Velodrome riders.

I've got an old Schwinn High Sierra frame & fork on the way, and I'm shopping for U-brakes also. I was wondering if you made a decision and how it worked out?

I'm still looking. There are some really nice CNC'd U-Brakes out there. The prices are all over the place though. Like your High Sierra, my bike has a chainstay mounted U-Brake. From what I can tell some of the newer CNC'd brakes are too bulky to use on chainstays. There's too much interference with the tire and chain on a MTB.

Fortunately, mine has the seatstay mounted rear brake, so I suppose my options are less restricted. Thanks for the feedback!

Fortunately, mine has the seatstay mounted rear brake, so I suppose my options are less restricted. Thanks for the feedback!

I've also got an old GT frame with the seatsay mounts. I was saving that for later. Let me know if you find out anything.

Actually, it uses a SunTour roller-cam brake. I was thinking about doing an update on the bike using more modern parts.Well, as you're finding out, it's hard to find a more modern u-brake for the chain stay mounted brake. I'm pleased with the Dia Compe AD-990, plenty of stopping power for the bmx.