dazco

A friend just told me that if i wanted to add disc brakes to my stumpjumper FSR that i would need new rims/hubs. I told him my hubs are disc ready. There are bolt holes for disc brakes already on thses hubs, but when i told him that he said that doesn't matter, and that according to supergo there are no discs that will work with the stock rims/hubs for some other reason.

This makes no sense to me. If the hubs are already tapped for discs, the manufacturer must have done it for a reason. It seems like total lunacy that they would tap screw holes for a disc if there is no disc that will fit it !!!

So can someone explain this to me, and also recomend a cheap set of hydraulic discs if there is one that'll fit?

Thanks.....

BikerRyan

First we need to know what hubs you have on your bike. Are you sure that these are disc rotor holes? How are the wheels laced? Hope the front isn't radial. IF the hubs are disc ready and the wheels are at least a 3x lacing pattern then it could be that they are an older drilling standard, such as an old hope or formula. These discs do not conform to the 6 bolt pattern of today. Check it out and let us know more info on the situation for a better answer.

-Ryan

moabrider47

dazco,

Is this the same bike you bought real recently? If it is new, and the holes really are meant for discs to be attached, then they should be compatible with the discs you can find today. Double-check to make sure the holes are drilled for discs, and make sure that your front wheel is not radially laced. Radially laced wheel are a bad idea if you are going to be running disc brakes on that wheel. If it is radially laced than it will appear that none of the spokes cross each other on the way to the rim. If any of your wheels are laced radially, it will only be the front on a newer, quality MTB. You can also tell pretty easily if they are laced radially if the front spoking pattern looks way different than the pattern on the rear wheel when looking at the bike from the side.
If you're not the one who just bought the Stumpjumper than some more research into what last year's models were supposed to be spec'd with might help. A trip to the LBS would solve the problem quick too.
-Moab

Edit: I just checked the specialized site. All of the Stumpjumer FSR's are listed as having a Specialized disc hub on front and rear. As long as there isn't some restriction regarding which types of discs can fit Specialized brand hubs, I would say you're all set to pick up a set of discs.

I think that the magazines have generally not been too harsh on the hydraulic Shimano Deore discs. You definitely aren't getting a set of discs to match the Hope's or Haye's hydraulics, but they will work. You might also look into the Avid Mechanical disc brakes. Many say they rival some of the hydraulic systems in power. I have ridden them and love them. Visit www.mtbr.com for a lot of ratings about most any disc brake you might be looking at.

dazco

Thanks. Heres a pic which seems to verify that you're (Moab) right about it being ready for many discs. Maybe my friend's being a 2000 or 2001 model was different, and thats why they told him that. Thanks again, and i'll check the reviews as you said.

dirtbikedude

From the pic it looks as though you have disc ready hubs for a rotor with a six hole bolt pattern. You should be fine. the spokes seem to to be 3x.

Do both wheels look the same? If so there should be no prob.

dazco

Yep.....they're the same, and it is indeed 6 holes.

Raiyn

dazco I hate to tell you this (no I don't) your friend is a MORON!!!! Specialized deliberately spec'd disc hubs on their bikes this year to make life easier on us poor shmucks who want to upgrade to brakes and make our own choices. The only reason I changed out my wheelset was because I'm not a small person (6'4" 250#) and I'm not exactly gentle on components when I want to cut loose. As long as your not my size and / or beating the living snot out of the stockers you'll be fine

BTW Cheap + Hydraulics = bad news Try a set of Avid Mechs You'll be glad you did. I am. Here are some reviews 4.68 out of 5 with 284 reviews. 'nuff said!

dazco

Beat ya to it.......i checked the avids out already after moabrider47 mentioned them. The reviews sure are good, but i'm having a bit of a problem parting with $150-175 at the moment. I'll probably wait and see how i feel later on. I didn't dealize how much they were.

As for my friend, as i eluded to earlier, maybe thats why he was told that........because his bike is a year or 2 old and as you said they spec'd them this year. So it may have been true of his bike, and he didn't realize they have cahanged.

Jean Beetham Smith 

I put an Avid Mechanical Disc on the rear of my Rockhopper. I've been using them since November to commute on in all kinds of weather. I am very impressed with their reliability, and low maintenence. I have not had to adjust anything in 590 miles. They are worth the money. Check around, some shops will beat on-line prices, but they are worth the money.

dirtbikedude

For 15 to 50 bucks more, depending which price you pay, you can get a set of Hayes Hydros.

Raiyn

True but the Avids are 90% as good as the Hayes Hydros (which are EXCELLENT hydros btw) and are easier to work on / maintain for the novice rider, For some, the added cost (however slight) and added maintainance concerns (my girlfriend would KILL me if I leaked hydro fluid in the house ) just aren't worth it for a brake system that doesn't make a drastic difference ie: switching from V's to Disc. Just my 2 cents