bones1283

I have a cannondale jekyll that I picked up a few years ago. It's an allright bike. I've added several upgrades to fit my needs. The next thing that I want is some disk brakes. V brakes aren't really doing it for me anymore. They stop me just fine with one finger easily, but I'm sick of the embaressing and annoying squeeking sounds everytime my rims get a little wet or muddy. Can anyone recommend some disk brakes that work well, but won't be rediculously expensive. I'm guessing that cable disk brakes are probably junk? I love the brakes on my old gt team trials bike with adjustments on the levers. Thanks!!!

JonathanGennick 

I just want to point out that disk brakes can also embarrass you with their squealing (even howling). One of my bikes in particular is problematic in that way. I'm a big fan of disk brakes though.

Cyclist30907654

Nope, not all of them...just most of them. For a economical option, look at Avid BB7's, which are one of the few decent mechanical brakes.

Lebowski

my disc brakes are very loud. I've actually scared children with them on wet days. however they stop on a dime when everything is soaked. hydraulic disc brakes are pretty expensive. i have mechanical disc brakes on my bike. they work really nice and stop very well. if you want many of the benefits of disc brakes with out spending a lot i recommend mechanical disc brakes. they are a little less complex than hydraulic breaks and from my experience simple stuff is sometimes the best.

ProFail

First off DISC (C C C C C C C C) brakes actually squeal rediculously [sic....] loud in wet weather.

That aside, either hydro or mech discs are great. I have a pair of Juicy Carbon's on my trail bike and some cheap mech discs on my defunct DJ bike. Avid BB7's are pretty much the standard for anyone who wants a good mech disc. They run around $50/wheel.

Personally, I think hydros have a better feel to them and more power, but less modulation. Plus, a cut brake line will certainly end a ride with them. It all comes down to what you need and you budget.



That aside, 180mm disc front and 160mm rear. I used to run 180mm rear, but it was to much power. Way better modulation now.

kill.cactus

Disks are often just as loud under wet or muddy conditions.

Mechanical disks only get a bad rep because they are cheaper to make and sell and thus the suck***** disk brakes are mech. You can get nice mechanical disks.

I have Avid's BB5 on both front and rear. They are fine brakes and work much more effectively than Vs when wet or muddy (indeed the only times they're not stopping well I'm pretty much incapacitated by muck so whatever, eh?). I'd recommend them.

A note that you might not get till it is too late (yes it seems random but you'll thank me): When you're running disks DO NOT EVER, EVER, EVER touch with your skin or anything with any oils on it the disk rotors NOR the pads. Even a tiny bit will soak into the pad and make it loud, decrease its dry stopping power, and make it wear out like 10 times as fast. I had this with my rear brake and its pad was completely used up more than three months before the front pads were (and they were installed new at the same time, proving that the oil from my hands was enough to screw over the rear pads).


Edit: For trail riding I've found 160mm rotors front and back to be fine. If you're doing descents where you're going more than 20 miles an hour you'll be looking for something bigger (I've had some incidents...). Then again while you may have the stopping power at the pads a lot of the time you're screwed when the tires start sliding. At that point no matter how much more power you're braking with they'll exert the same stopping power with the skidding wheel

edit 2: People talk about snapping cables with mechanicals... yeah well rather have a cable snap than an expensive hydraulic tube spring a leak. What you can do is switch out the cable to the brake you want - say you snap the front cable then you can take it out and use the rear cable to power your front brake so you can get home safely. With hydros you're screwed unless you're carrying extra tubing and more hydraulic fluid.

DirtPedalerB

crazy talk. unless you have lube on your hands touching them occasionally isn't going to make them wear or stop less etc.

Oleanshoebox