Questions on a Schwinn Passage
 

First off I would like to say that I'm new to this form, so if I have posted incorrectly sorry.
I have a Schwinn Passage S/N: SJ599015 that I purchased new in 1985 and have not ridden very much. My son is now riding it, so I'm trying to improve/up-grade it. The brakes that it came with by today’s standards were OK to good, but never great to excellent. (I currently ride a Giant NRS2 and it will stand on its nose if you want). The brake pads are original and I know they need replacing. Have read on this form that Kool Stops would be a good choice, but what about converting to a front disk? I know this conversion would mean new fork, clamp, disk caliper, and hub for around $300.00 cost of the project. I'm just wondering if new pads would do the trick, new longer lever rim brakes or if the disk conversion is where I should be headed. Keep in mind that I most likely will not be selling it and up grading, but I'm not sure how much riding he will be doing. (He is headed back to college and would like to ride there about 8 miles). I'm also looking at up-grading the shifter to the handle bars and possibly the rear from a 5 speed to?
Thank you for any help that anyone can provide.
DACriss

Would I have done better to post this in the Vintage/Classis section? I was thinking that it might be more of a tech question though?

Well, give it more than 4 minutes for a reply for a start.
Converting to discs would not be adviseable due to the cost involved. A nice set of dual pivot road brakes would be a very nice upgrade, and far cheaper. It also will not alter the charachter of the bike that much.
I'd go for something in the mid range of Shimano brakes like Tiagra or 105, or for the best value, Tektro R series.
Just be sure to measure the required reach, ( the distance from the pivot bolt to the middle of the braking surface on the rim) and get the brakes with the right reach.
Because modern dual pivot brakes mount with a recessed nut, you will have to drill out the rear mounting holes in both the fork and the rear brake bridge to 5/16". The fork is no problem, but you cannot fit a standard drill in behind the brake bridge. I use a pneumatic angle drill with a step bit for this.
Here is an example on one of my own bikes.
http://cid-c5aa741102f41823.skydrive...bike%20010.jpg
http://cid-c5aa741102f41823.skydrive...bike%20009.jpg

I'd go for something in the mid range of Shimano brakes like Tiagra or 105, or for th
 

I did some more searching both on this site and the internet using Yahoo and found this link.:)
http://www.bikeforums.net/archive/in.../t-222522.html
This link deals with the Dia-Compe cantilever brakes that are on my bike. Unfortunately changing the pads does not seem to be as easy as I had hoped.:( Mfg's have changed the standards (if there was any.) since then and it does not look like Kool Stops are available.:( I was hoping that I might be able to change the brakes away from the Dia-Compe 981's, but these early cantilever systems have different off-set mountings.:( The link did give me a couple of options though, that I'm looking into.
As far as altering the character of the bike, ya I would like it to stop. My son is 19 and 200 lbs; when I purchased the bike I was 26 and 175 lbs. I grew up with rear coasters only and believe me disks front and back are the best I have ever had; but now I have regressed.:rolleyes:
Anyone have any more ideas, other than the link above?
Thank you all who have looked and/or messaged back:)
DACriss