Minimum spoke count for Disc Brakes
04-11-05, 12:02 PM
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Minimum spoke count for Disc Brakes
Any rule of thumb? I have heard that you shouldnt run disc brakes on anything less than 36H. I would really like to build up some 32H wheels for a disc brake set up. Good Idea, bad Idea?
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04-11-05, 02:25 PM
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ive never heard you shouldnt use anything less than 36h. There are plenty of 32h wheels using disc brakes. I think its you shouldnt use under 32h. Which i agree with. Ive built 3 or 4 wheels with 32h that are disc specific and as far as i know, there have been no issues. Just use beefy spokes
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04-11-05, 03:20 PM
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Originally Posted by amahana1
Any rule of thumb? I have heard that you shouldnt run disc brakes on anything less than 36H. I would really like to build up some 32H wheels for a disc brake set up. Good Idea, bad Idea?
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04-11-05, 05:57 PM
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Thats kinda what I was thinking. I will go with 32H, with straight 14gauge spokes. Prob, DT.
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04-11-05, 06:06 PM
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I have always used DT competition for my disc wheels i have built. Nice spokes, reasonably priced. 20 pack for 11.49 @ nashbar. in most cases, butted is better
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04-11-05, 10:49 PM
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Originally Posted by amahana1
Any rule of thumb? I have heard that you shouldnt run disc brakes on anything less than 36H. I would really like to build up some 32H wheels for a disc brake set up. Good Idea, bad Idea?
04-12-05, 09:55 AM
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I've only heard that you should run 3x with disc brakes, have never heard anything on a minimum number of spokes.
04-12-05, 10:58 AM
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I have heard that too, I will be running 3x lacing for sure. The others have convinced me that its okay to run 32H. So that is what I will be doing. What about spoke type? Double butted, straight gauge any preference on what will make the strongest wheel?
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04-12-05, 11:31 AM
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Do I hear 28H for disc wheels? Going once....going twice....going...
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04-12-05, 11:33 AM
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Use butted spokes (like DT Competition). They spread the load on the wheel across more spokes and are therefore stronger than straight gauge. Consider triple butted if you are hard on wheels. DT Super Comps are made for disc brake wheels. 32 holes should not be an issue.
04-12-05, 12:34 PM
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I run 32hole 3cross straight guage stainless with discs and have no problems. The wheels are very stiff.
You could probably go lower as long as the wheels are well built. Given that the majority of torque from the rotor is through the hub I'd hazard a guess that any well built wheel with any lacing pattern could use disc brakes. Yes, there will still be torque at the tyre(the braking action) but it should be much less than if you were using rim brakes.
You could probably go lower as long as the wheels are well built. Given that the majority of torque from the rotor is through the hub I'd hazard a guess that any well built wheel with any lacing pattern could use disc brakes. Yes, there will still be torque at the tyre(the braking action) but it should be much less than if you were using rim brakes.
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04-12-05, 02:35 PM
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straight guage is fine. BUt in most cases, only butted spokes should be considered for a high quality wheel. Use 14/15 or you can probably get away with the wheelsmith 2.0/1.7/2.0. THey dont cost a huge deal more and are well worth it
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04-12-05, 02:46 PM
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I run straight 14 gauge spokes 3x on mine and I'm not what most people would call small.
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04-12-05, 02:53 PM
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straight guage is fine. Plenty strong, i just think butted are better in most instances. They dont transfer all of the force to the elbow, because they "give". ANd heck, they save weight for only a few $ more
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