Trek4500Ultra

I currently own a Trek 4500 ultra, i noticed it has the mountings for disk brakes, could someone send a link to a site with disk brakes that will work on here, my budget is around 100.00can, thx

ISeeDeadHuffies

Anything I.S. mount. Check out the Avid Mechanical discs. What about your hubs, are they disc ready?

Trek4500Ultra

https://cgi.ebay.com/TREK-4500-ALPHA-...QQcmdZViewItem


i donno if this helps but this is exactly like my bike, i donno how to tell if the rims will support them, im assuming so

ISeeDeadHuffies

Its the hubs you are worried about. From these photos I think you would need a new wheelset. Do your hubs have one flange larger than the other w/6 threaded holes in it?

kmo7882

https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...20ATB%20Brakes

$79.99 US Nashbar Brand. Although looking at the pictures, if your bike is just like the one in the photo, then you are probably also going to need to invest in a new wheelset.

It has been my experience that a mechanical disk brake at this level will not have the stopping power that a set of V-brakes have, and you'll just be getting the "cool look factor".

Phantoj

Everybody likes the Avid BB7, and there are lots on ebay:

https://cgi.ebay.com/AVID-MECHANICAL-...QQcmdZViewItem

You will need new hubs.

Trek4500Ultra

I am an extreme noob at this so could someone plz send a link to some hubs on ebay that will support these Avid BB7's

Retro Grouch 

I don't think that you're going to be able to do it for $100.00can. In fact, I don't think twice that will get the job done. Sorry.

supcom

You would need a set of disk brake calipers and rotors, a disk-compatible front and rear hub, new spokes of the correct length for your current rims or just two new disk-compatible wheels. You'll also need new brake cables and housings since the ones you have are not going to be long enough to reach the disk calipers.

All in all, it's not a very cost-effective upgrade.

freeranger

Disc breaks are going to exceed your spending limit. But, you can greatly improve your braking power by investing in a set of better v-brakes. Here is a link to a decent Avid v-brake that won't break the bank.
I have Avid v's on my bike and they can throw you over the bar with one finger! These aren't the very top of the line, but should be quite an improvement over your stock brakes:
https://secure11.nexternal.com/share...products%2Easp

freeranger

Sorry, the link didn't quite go where it was supposed to, and the site isn't allowing me to edit the post, guess something isn't working quite right. But the Avid Single Digit 5 is the one I was trying to link. Not the most expensive, but should still give much better performance than your stock brakes.

Trek4500Ultra

my rear v-brakes are not stock its the front brakes that are not the best, i guess i will look into getting new v-brakes

BikeWise1

What maintenance do you regularly do to your brakes? For a MTB, you need to regularly open up the brakes, take some emery cloth to the pads to deglaze them, and some 0000 grade steel wool with alcohol to the rims. You may find doing this and/or fresh pads will get you stopping better.

BTW, do not attempt to use a non-disc-specific rim in a disc brake wheel!

Trek4500Ultra

where do i get 0000 grade steel wool and a emery cloth?

shider

Why is this a problem? (In fact, it is very common practice from several manufacturers.) The other way around is a BIG problem; disk specific rims can NOT be used with rim brakes.

BikeWise1

Local hardware store, Lowes, Home Depot, etc....

BikeWise1

Some rims are intended for dual purposes....no problem there. But lightweight rims that have their weight in the braking surfaces may lack sufficient strength in the spoke bed. I have seen a Mavic 317 built into a disc wheel (against my advice) literally tear apart from a rider braking and turning at the same time.

Remember that disc brakes stress wheels very differently than rim brakes. Only the tire sidewall sees significant brake torque in a rim brake, but in disc wheels the braking force has to be transmitted through the spoked structure in order to function.

gpelpel

From the picture of your rear wheel hub you definetely need new wheels. I also recommend the Avid mechanical brakes; BB5 or BB7. You can find the brakes barely used on ebay for about your budget but used wheels will cost you about as much as well.

Michel Gagnon

What kind of riding do you do? If you ride in mud (i.e. real off-road biking), disc brakes have a definite advantage. If you ride on dry pavement, disc brakes have absolutely no advantage over rim brakes. And if you ride on wet pavement, disc brakes have some advantage over rim brakes, but good pads may bring the wet performance of rim brakes close to that of disc brakes.

So if you ride on roads, you could probably improve your brakes by replacing the stock pads with Kool Stop Salmon pads.

Trek4500Ultra

90% of my riding is through mud, and i go out everyday, its just the front brakes that are crap, i have done research on disk brakes but i donno about getting new hubs, and rims + the brakes themselves $$$

Michel Gagnon

Since you have mounts for disc brakes, it means the fork is strong enough for them. One option would be to only change the front wheel and get a front disc brake. I have once bought a second-hand, standard, non-disc front wheel for 20 $.