gcooldude

I have a Schwinn Graft Pro which has front disc but rear v-brake. Is it possible to convert the rear to disc?

mystolenbikes

Yes and no. If your bike has the caliper mount you can but then you have to buy a new hub or a whole new rim with a disc brake hub but if it didn't come with it no you can't.

gcooldude

Mine has the caliper mount but no hub with the rim.

liquefied

So you need a new hub or wheel in addition to the brake assembly (caliper, lever, disc).

gcooldude

Is it possible to put a hub onto an exsisting rim?

liquefied

Yes. That's why I said you need either a new hub or a new wheel.

gcooldude

Okay cause I'm asking because other forum I was on (cant think of the link to it) said I would need a new rim. How would you install the hub? Any links to where I can purchase the hub, disc brake/rotor?

LesterOfPuppets

It's generally cheapest and easiest to just get a wheelset.

Places you can get wheels include:
PricePoint
Cambria Bicycle Outfitters
Bicycle Wheel Warehouse
Universal Cycles
Wheel World
Performance
Nashbar
Chain Reaction Cycles
... the list could go on for some time.

Check out some local shops if you have some nearby.

Now, As for hub replacement, if you really wanna get in over your head, get a hub with the disc mount you want and the same number of spoke holes as your rim and has the spoke holes about the same distance from axle centerline as old hub (so that you can re-use same lengths of spokes).

[insert wheelbuilding link here]

liquefied

They probably meant wheel instead of rim. Newbies tend to mistake the two and assume a rim on a bike is the same as a rim on a car.

gcooldude

I emailed a local bike shop, going to find out some prices.

eja_ bottecchia

Exactly. To use disc brakes you's need a hub to which you can attach the rotor (the disc that the brakes grab on to in order to stop the bike). If the current wheelset does not have the attaching points for the rotors, then a new wheelset is necessary.

My question is, howeveer, why change from V-brakes to disc brakes?

Unless a rider does fast, downhill descents, where the disc's heat dissipating ability is superior, then there is no real good reason to change from V-brakes to disc brakes.

A good set of Shimano XTR V-brakes ought to work well for most situations AND they are lighter than most disc brake applications.

crazzywolfie

if you did not know the difference between hub and rim you are probably not going to have the knowledge to replace the hub. it is not a job for beginners. i remember when i first tried lacing and straightening a wheel and it never worked. it took a long time to understand everything you need to know. heck it still takes me about 3 hours to lace and straighten a wheel but i have only successfully laced and straightened 6 wheels. it would probably be cheaper to buy new wheels than it would be to replace the hubs.

i have disk brakes on the front of my one bike and v-brakes on the back and it works great for me. i would not waste the $200+ it could cost to upgrade the rear brake. it is just not worth it.

gcooldude

Mine are Pro-Max rear V-brakes. I called local bike shop and at minimum would be $130 not including taxes so your right I won't bother to upgrade for that price. I'll just put $40 into some fenders.