DrGonzo

mechs it is for me for now considering i'll be buying a new bike in 9 months or so.

Jim311

Yeah, many hydro brakes have problems with squealing, not sure why. I met some Canadian dudes on a trail once that were running Hayes brakes and they were howling like mad. I run Avid mechanicals myself simply because they're powerful, modulate well, and are easy as all hell to install and maintain. I recommend them highly... but I don't recommend using Shimano XTR levers with them... I just didn't like the feel or the lack of modulation.

urbanking

Careful using your own levers. Lever quility will determine disk qulaity. Overall, avids are a deal, they are lighter than the hydros, more rugged, easier maintenance, and they may not seem like a good price, but when u add in hydro fluid + headaches, its worth it. Besides avids have been known to out perform hayes hydros in both short term and long term

a2psyklnut

If your brakes are squealing, with either mechanicals or hydros, one of two things are happening. 1. You've contaminated the pads or 2. You've set them up wrong!

Good hydros, have better modulation and a better feel.

Mechanicals feel...umm....well..... more mechanical they're rougher.

I still think I'd rather have the Hayes for $100 than the Avids for $70. But that's just me!

L8R

Jim311

Yeah, I wish I had better modulation, that's the only thing I dislike. I had XTR v-brakes that were amazing in terms of modulation and being extremely smooth. I miss the modulation, but the discs have so much better power. Might try hydraulics some day... I've heard good things about the XT disc setup as well, and it's only like 100 bucks.

a2psyklnut

Cheapest I've seen XT's are like $140 for lever, hose (stainless braided), caliper, and rotor.

L8R

Mad Dog JR

I like my hayes, but i contamitaned AND chiped the rear pads so my rears are not as smooth as the fronts that have not been tampered with. but this is my first set of discs.

urbanking

If we're talking true bang for buck, hayes would win. DIRT cheap (160 cnd) for both. They are great, have new technology, all hayes parts are the same mech and hydraulic, so parts are easy to find. They are reliable and quiet. You could also do the avid front disk rear V, becouse rear disk isnt necessary at all, infavt V's lock easier. So those are more options. Have your made any decisions yet?

Buzzbomb

About those Shimano's...
Don't you now have to use their hub? I think the rotor is splined now, and designed to only work with their hub...

a2psyklnut

ONly the new ones. There are two types of rotors, splined and ISO.

L8R

JasBike

Will i need to get new wheels? spokes.. hubs.. whatever?






annnyway...

i think i'm going to go with the Avid Mechs.


i already have Avid levers on my bike so i'll just keep those.



heres my gameplan for the whole schpeel:



go to my LBS, see if they retail them. ask how much the total cost for having them put on will be (purchase of brakes+labor)

if its considerably cheaper for me to buy them from PricePoint, and bring them into the shop to have installed, i will do that. otherwise i'll just leave the bike there and have them install them.

i'll ride with a Front-Disc Rear-V combo for a while, and see how it is. mabey i'll experiment with an adapter for the rear if i want to see how that feels. i'll most likely just stick with the Front discs because i generally only use my rear brake for fixing my line on a course....




and another random question: why is the front brake on the left hand? i'd much prefer it on the right...

Jim311

Be prepared to be treated poorly if you buy something online and bring it to a bike shop for installation. I don't even like dealing with the attitude the LBS gives me when I don't buy stuff from them. I saw a Giro E2 helmet in there for 160 bucks... absolutely outrageous. I saw the very same helmet on Pricepoint for 80 bucks. I'd be out of my mind to buy from a LBS if the prices are like that. They quoted me 300 bucks for the Avid discs alone, much less the wheels and other parts. They're the reason I started learning to be my own mechanic. Got tired of paying jacked up prices and getting attitude all the time from them.

JasBike

will i need a new front wheel?

Kev

If your current wheel does not support discs yes you will.

I've bought things on-line etc, my LBS never given me any problems or attitude to install it. I admit about only thing I've had them do is install forks and my Campy 10sp chain once. I got the exact same good service when I bought it there vs buying elsewhere. If I got any attitude from them I would never go back

JasBike

how can i tell if my wheel is compatable?

PeterG1185

if the hub has an extension and six little holes on the left side it's compatible. I'd be willing to bet your wheels arent disc compatible

nismo400

if you add the weight of levers avids are heavier that even the heaviest of hydro's. unless you get the avid ultimates, but paying that much for levers is borderline insanity. you could get awesome hydro's for the same price as that combo.

Jim311

Avids are heavy.. that's my one gripe.

nismo400

the avids are goin to be about $140 from your lbs. If i were you i would hunt for some shimano deore 525s on the net i think you can find them for 140 for front and rear, they work great and replacement parts are cheap. they have maintainence free since i've had them and they were cheap.

headn4thehills

if you need to change hubs and all, you may want to consider a package deal on new wheels and disks. wheelworld.com has a deal for $299. you get mavic 223 rims with shimano deore disc hubs and the avid mechanical disc brakes. just an option to look at.