bb7 weak
 

HI...

Campagnolo veloce flat bar levers combined with BB7 road disc calipers and disc brakes. For some reason they feel weak. I dont getthe power i was expecting. I had a set of mtb caliper just in case it was an issue with the cable travel and i have the same problem.

Some idea what can be wrong beside probably comming back to v brakes?

Thanks.

Probably a setup problem. Your pads may not be close enough to the rotor/misaligned AND you're not pulling enough cable.

maybe your brakes need some braking or bedding in. first, remove the wheels, clean the rotors with some good no residue cleaner (white lightning clean streak is the best IMO), install the wheels, pour clean water on the rotors and bed your brakes in. ride around and use your brakes as much as you can for 15 mins. they'll squeal like pigs, but once you're done, you should be set.
i'm assuming your brake levers are direct-pull brake compatible.

If you do indeed have the BB& ROAD calipers then it is important that your levers are not direct pull compatible... using direct-pull compatible brake levers will make you brakes feel wooden and severely cut down on stopping power. BB7 ROAD calipers were desinged to be used with road levers, or other short-pull levers like cantilever compatible style.

My BB7s took almost 3 weeks to get to work. I was almost thinking of sending them back, but they finally got broken in when I got stuck in a huge rainstorm while out on the trails. They got full of mud and water and then suddenly the next day they worked perfectly! I had tried EVERYTHING to get them to work. They have been perfect ever since.

my mistake, i didn't read the part where you had bb7 road calipers. poster is right, you must have short pull, or road brake compatible levers. but the bedding in process still stands.

This may be too late... but define "everything"

My standard op in my shop is to buff the rotors and pads with, get this, skateboard grip tape. Wash the rotors in Dawn. Remount everything and go ride out the brakes in my parking lot until they bed in.

or go down a few steep hills and ride your brakes.
to get the pads close without rubbing a lot of times you need to true the rotors. I find even new they tend to be out of round.

this might be interesting to y'all:
http://www.stoptech.com/tech_info/wp_bedintheory.shtml

I believe Veloce flat bar levers came in two versions. A road caliper version and a v-brake version. Make sure you match up your brakes with the correct lever version you have.

I scuffed the rotors with a scotchbrite pad and soap, then tried sandpaper followed by alcohol. Remounted the brakes, scuffed the pads, realigned caliper x100. None of that helped even slightly.

My brakes are perfect now though.

THanks for the replies...

Well so far i have both bb7 versions, road and Mtb... same problem with both versions. Looks like the campy veloce flat bars work with v brakes long pull maybe?

I havent done a single thing as many of you state, wash and sand the discs and pads. I'll try that i guess :)

Thanks again :)

BB7s are REALLY awesome once you get them to work right. It will be totally worth it once they get broken in. Don't give up!