Need brake help - recessed vs nutted mount
11-01-21, 03:48 PM
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Need brake help - recessed vs nutted mount
OK, so I've got this Trek 640 build and I'm having some trouble sourcing decent brakes. I'd like something dual-pivot, and to fit with the 700c conversion I need a medium reach (~55mm or so). The trick is that the 640 isn't made for recessed brake mounts, and I'm hesitant to take a drill to it.
I can find some nutted brakes on eBay, but it's *really* hard to know what will fit with the widish (35mm) tires on there. In some cases, it's hard to tell if they'll fit at all. So I'm hesitant to blindly pull any triggers there.
So, do I get over it and start drilling, or can someone point me to some decent (and available) brakes that'll fit?
I can find some nutted brakes on eBay, but it's *really* hard to know what will fit with the widish (35mm) tires on there. In some cases, it's hard to tell if they'll fit at all. So I'm hesitant to blindly pull any triggers there.
So, do I get over it and start drilling, or can someone point me to some decent (and available) brakes that'll fit?
11-01-21, 03:56 PM
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The Tektro r539 is a nice dual pivot available with nutted mount with 47mm-57mm of reach. It is made in black and silver, but the silver is harder to find. When you're searching (ebay etc), make sure to look for "nutted" or "hex" mount, not recessed.
11-01-21, 03:58 PM
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Not sure if the Trek 640 had investment cast or pressed sheet metal fork crowns. I would think you would not want to drill out the bolt hole on a pressed sheet metal crown......
11-01-21, 04:27 PM
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if there are any nut mount 539s currently available I haven’t found them.
11-01-21, 04:27 PM
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11-01-21, 04:44 PM
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https://www.ebay.com/itm/16463259309...faf6%7Ciid%3A1
11-01-21, 05:15 PM
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Brought it up because Trek did have pressed steel fork crowns on some of their bikes back then. They gave them a bit of trouble as they tended to crack. More reason not to mess too much with them if you have them on your bike.....
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11-01-21, 05:22 PM
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I doubt you'll have to mess with the rear. Move the front (recessed) caliper to the rear. It should work fine nutted in that position. You might need to source a longer center bolt for the front. I'm not familiar with Tektro brakes. Maybe there's a suitable replacement center bolt out there.
11-01-21, 05:43 PM
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i have "drilled" out multiple times to allow me to use recessed brakes with original nut only
key points: you are only drilling the back hole on the fork, and you really just enlarging the existing hole a tiny bit. we are taking small amount of metal shavings, you could do it with file but it will be more even with the drill. no loss of structural integrity
unless the bike is some sort of super rare beast or unless you may want to go back at some point to period correct, drill baby drill
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/calipers.html
key points: you are only drilling the back hole on the fork, and you really just enlarging the existing hole a tiny bit. we are taking small amount of metal shavings, you could do it with file but it will be more even with the drill. no loss of structural integrity
unless the bike is some sort of super rare beast or unless you may want to go back at some point to period correct, drill baby drill
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/calipers.html
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11-01-21, 07:22 PM
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to use recessed brakes, run the front brake in the rear and the rear brake up front. the front brake in the rear will work as a standard nutted caliper. for the front, just install a nut up inside the fork crown. use an internal star washer on the backside of the caliper, though, so it stays put when tightening the nut. the tektro 539 will fit up to a 38mm tire.
these will work, too....though it's says only up to 32mm tire it will still fit a 35mm
Shimano BR-R451
https://www.ebay.com/itm/18448969066...3ABFBMpqTW45tf
these will work, too....though it's says only up to 32mm tire it will still fit a 35mm
Shimano BR-R451
https://www.ebay.com/itm/18448969066...3ABFBMpqTW45tf
11-07-21, 05:23 PM
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Lost my nerve for drilling when I found a nice set of nut mount 105s
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11-07-21, 05:53 PM
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11-07-21, 06:11 PM
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11-07-21, 06:13 PM
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I am curious if anyone has ever used a short threaded spacer inside the fork with it threaded onto the short rear brake thread, and then a standared screw into the other end of the spacer through the rear of the fork.... I suppose one could worry if the spacer unthreads.... but with some loctite on the spacer (probably just one end) things should stay put, and not require drilling. Just wondering....
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11-07-21, 07:13 PM
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I drilled out only the rear hole (on a Nervex fork crown with the steering tube hollow, so separate front and rear holes) to be able to use recessed allen nuts. But, I made a spacer with the appropriate inside and outside diameters, and a length from the back of the front hole to the back of the rear hole, to allow continued use of long-bolt, regular nut legacy brakes when I want to go back to them.
Good that you found some appropriate nut-jobs.
Good that you found some appropriate nut-jobs.
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