Originally Posted by
NeilGunton
I have had BB7 on several bikes, and it has been a pain in the ass for me. Always seems to need adjusting, always rubbing (especially when they heat up on big steep downhills), always screeching (even with organic pads). Just got really tired of it. Since only one of the pads actually moves, you need to adjust the stationary pad to be so close to the rotor that any imperfection produces rubbing. So, one day I heard about the TRP HY/RD, which are mostly cable, but hydraulic just on the last bit. They got good reviews, so I decided to make the switch. The bike shop recommended compressionless housing for these brakes, so I went for it, and I don't think the housing added much to the total cost at all (can't remember exactly now). The brakes themselves seem very nice. There is no adjustment needed for the pads, they are self-centering, and they both move onto the rotor. Excellent modulation too, much better than the BB7. I honestly don't know why so many people seem to love the BB7, they are a piece of crap as far as I'm concerned, sorry.
Some people just don't know how to set up the BB7's and I suppose that in itself is a fault in the system. It took me a few tries to get it right but when I did get it right the brakes got so much better. They are now almost comparable to shimano Hydro brakes. However most people also have no idea how to set up hydro brakes either (the squeeze lever, tighten bolts approach is wrong, so very wrong).
When the BB7's are set up properly they have superb stopping power and only make this pleasing 'hurrrr' noise when braking. With metallic pads.
I won't say they are completely silent when wet, every brake, even rim brakes, make nasty sounds when wet, but luckily discs dry out really quickly.