brake compatibility
 

Hi, I'm building a bike piece by piece, and am wondering how compatible brakes are. I mean, are brakes really that different? Can I use Campy brakes with Shimano levers and whatnot?

The release for opening the brake calipers to remove a tire is different between Campy and Shimano. Shimano has a lever on the caliper, Campy has the release on the lever. I think that in terms of pull, they would work together, but I would match if I could.

You mean other than the derision you are sure to incur from such intermixing?

The problem with using Campy brakes and Shimano levers is that Campy puts the brake quick release on the levers and Shimano puts it on the brakes. You're likely to have trouble changing wheels with the combination you described. I'd imagine the opposite (Campy levers and Shimano brakes) would work fine.

I guess really what I meant wasn't just campy either, do old brakes calipers work with new levers? Do most brands of calipers work with most levers?

The basic brake works on the same principal right?

Yes, all brakes and levers are interchangeable, with the exception of v-brakes (and v-brake levers) and most disc brakes and levers. Newer levers and brakes have slightly higher mechanical advantage than the old ones, but not enough to cause problems.

Cantilever levers/brakes don't mix well with v-brakes/levers