Guy,

Are you using straight bars or road bars? From the description of your problems, I thought you were using a bicycle with road bars.

BTW, Raiyn, there was no way from the original posts I could see what type of bicycle he was using, except maybe by comparing part numbers with old Shimano catalogues. The reference to LX drivetrain could as well apply to a touring bicycle, like mine, for example. So if the information about straight bars was posted somewhere, I didn't see it and apologize.

Still, keeping the original brakes and brake levers and installing better brake pads might solve the issue of Guy who wants "better brakes". Whether or not it turns out to be the cheaper solution depends on what had been invested so far.