seymour1910

Hey guy's, I have a 2005 Cannondale Caad7 with a 9 speed 105/Ultegra group. It currently has Cannondale Theta brake calipers installed and I want to change them out for Shimano. I found a set of Ultegra 6600 calipers but before I buy them I want to make sure they will fit. I have only been cycling for a few months so I am not sure. If the Ultegra 6600 will not fit, what will? Thank you all in advance.

TiBikeGuy

All road bike calipers are compatible..should not be a problem fitting the 6600 brakes.

dsbrantjr

What do you hope to accomplish with this change?

FBinNY 

There are two key elements of fit.

The first is that the mounting bolt lengths must match your frame and fork. The current recessed mounting is pretty standard on the rear, but may require a different length nut for the fork. No big deal, just a heads up.

The more important detail is the reach. Reach is the vertical distance from the center of the mounting hole to the center of the rim's brake track. Not all forks and frames have the same reach, and things like swapping 27" and 700c changes brake reach. Brakes have slots for adjusting the brake shoe height so they fit a range of reaches, ie. 39-49mm. Make sure your new brakes' reach specs. match what's needed for your bike. Ideally you want to avoid the extremes of the range so you have a margin for error.

seymour1910

Thanks for the information guy's. I thought it wouldn't be a problem but I wanted to be sure before I spent the money.

This is simply a want, not a need at all. I am not having any braking problems or looking for the Shimano calipers to perform better. Just a want that I have to match the rest of the group.

Andrew R Stewart 

I happen to feel that the name brand (the big three) are better assembled/made then the vast number of house lable/off brand calipers. I find a lot more slop and poorly adjusting pivots with the off brands. You'd think for so simple a moving part there would be less difference but not to my eye and hands. Andy.

FBinNY 

You've been around long enough that there's nothing that can't be done worse.

BillyL

If you have any problem mounting the Ultegra to your frame, visit <https://www.discobrakes.com/?s=0&t=4&. They have a myriad of disc brake adapters, one of which will work for your situation.

seymour1910

Hey thanks a lot for the link Billy. I hope I won't need anything but it's still good knowing it's there.

zacster

I've used Tektro Quartz calipers with their R200 levers, and these are as good as you'll find for a fraction of the price. They make many of the "house label/off brand" brakes as well, not all as good as their top of the line stuff. I really like the feel of the levers in particular on the hands, they are a Campy hood copy.

TiBikeGuy

He doesn't need disc brake adaptors, since both the Cannondale Theta and the Ultegra 6600 are caliper brakes for road bikes.

Andrew R Stewart 

FB- Is there a tounge in cheek icon? Andy.

HillRider

+1 Tektro does indeed make good brakes, a bit under the quality of Shimano and Campy's upper level (105 and Centaur and up) models but very functional. Their biggest weakness is their OEM pads and a set of Kool Stop replacements makes a world of difference.

seymour1910

I agree, a few people I ride with had Tektro brakes and have no issues with them at all. As you said they upgraded the pads. As stated above I only want the Shimano calipers to match the rest of the group. I see you mentioned the Kool Stops. I have no experience with them I have only used Shimano pads so far. The last group ride I did there was an extensive discussion between two guy's. One of them swore by kool stop salmon pads but the other guy said you can't beat swissstop green pads. When I install my Ultegra calipers I may try one of the two, do you all have experience with both?

HillRider

Current Shimano OEM pads are pretty good and I'd wear them out first. I've used Kool Stop Salmon pads extensively on several bikes with both road and V-brakes and they have been very satisfactory. Durable with good stopping power, good modulation and good wet weather performance.

i have no experience with the Swiss Stop pads other than to hear good things about them but they are VERY pricey and I can't see them performing that much better.

seymour1910

This is what I thought when I saw the price. I think I will try the Kool stops, everyone that has tried them loves them.
I started this thread just wondering if the calipers will fit now I'm throwing out all new questions. I will need to replace cables/housings soon so I will put the calipers on at that time. Are the Jagwire cables really a lot superior to shimano cables?

HillRider

Not superior but some versions are as good. Be sure to get stainless cables and lined housing. Jagwire make a range of quality cables and housing so get the good ones. Shimano is all good.

seymour1910

Oh ok, that's good to know. My LBS doesn't carry the Jagwire cables but they do carry Shimano stainless cables so I will just go with those. Thanks a lot.

ksisler

Why not ride it a while and see if it is really needing something to be changed before screwing it up or wasting a lot of money chasing some imaginary improvement. I would normally recommend 2 years of serious nooby riding to build the experience enough to judge one way or the other. You may fine out that the OEM kinda got it right (I am not a C-Dale fan at all, but am willing to admit that the company is not stocked completely full of idiots)?

seymour1910

Valid points, but as I said before I am not doing it as a way of looking for brake improvement. I have no problem stopping the bike. I am doing it because I just WANT to match my group. If the calipers were really expensive I wouldn't do it but I got some brand new Ultegra 6600 calipers for a really cheap price.

FBinNY 

This is as good a reason as any, and you don't need to justify it.

Enjoy the bike. (whether it stops better or not).

ksisler

+10 on Andrew for this. There is definitely a big quality difference between #3 and those that follow on the list of OEMs, especially on brake levers and calipers.

seymour1910

Good to know that, I did get the calipers and as I posted more than once it was simply what I wanted. I like that my group matches now, jus personal preference. I have not installed them yet because I still need to get cables and housings as they need to be replaced as well.
And for brand new Ultegra calipers for $40, who would choose another brand?