Post your brake setup. What is and isn't working?
09-12-09, 03:50 PM
#1
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Post your brake setup. What is and isn't working?
I decided to start this thread as a reference for people having braking issues. I had problems with shudder/chatter on two bikes with a variety of setups. I've finally (i hope) resolved the problem and my brakes work perfectly at all tire pressures.
my setup:
06 Jake the Snake.
open pros
tektro cr520s
kool stop salmon inserts
*LOTS of toe-in*
the last bit is key. with the stock pads i couldn't run less than 85 psi without chatter. replacing them with the kool stops didn't change much until i toed-in the pads. now braking is smooth, progressive, and powerful. i've got the pad toes almost touching the rims and the heels almost touching the fork.
the best part about this setup is that it's cheap. i almost bought an alpha q fork before i came to my senses and just started adjusting stuff. i think the brakes are under $50 and the fork is the stock kona-branded with an aluminum steerer. nothing on the bike is special or hard to source.
my setup:
06 Jake the Snake.
open pros
tektro cr520s
kool stop salmon inserts
*LOTS of toe-in*
the last bit is key. with the stock pads i couldn't run less than 85 psi without chatter. replacing them with the kool stops didn't change much until i toed-in the pads. now braking is smooth, progressive, and powerful. i've got the pad toes almost touching the rims and the heels almost touching the fork.
the best part about this setup is that it's cheap. i almost bought an alpha q fork before i came to my senses and just started adjusting stuff. i think the brakes are under $50 and the fork is the stock kona-branded with an aluminum steerer. nothing on the bike is special or hard to source.
09-12-09, 04:56 PM
#2
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how much do you think is accounted for by the Kool Stops? I'm running tektros with the stock pads, and I'm not impressed.
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“Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm." (Churchill)
"I am a courageous cyclist." (SpongeDad)
09-12-09, 06:29 PM
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the stock pads suck. the compound seems way too hard, like they were designed with longevity as a much greater priority than performance. they're also noisy, and i would guess they'll chew up rims fast. i'd rather replace brake pads than rims.
i was just discussing this with a friend at a lbs and he thinks the best solution is the kool stop pads that replace the holders as well. the ones i have just slot into the original holders.
i was just discussing this with a friend at a lbs and he thinks the best solution is the kool stop pads that replace the holders as well. the ones i have just slot into the original holders.
09-27-09, 11:49 AM
#4
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My bike came with 105 brifters and Mini-V's. First I changed the rear set to old XT cantis (the solid "triangular" ones)with a booster because there was no wheel clearance and the steel spring setup on the Tektro brake was coming apart. Now I have put on some old widestyle DX canti's on the front because the MiniV's froze and had the same spring issue. With Koolstop pads this is a very cheap and quite good brake setup. The Mini-V's are not built to take the punishment of CX-riding IMO.
