I can seriously admit my best braking experience comes from Universal centerpulls made at the end of the 60es, early 70es. I coupled them with Kool-Stop MTB salmon pads... they look queer but I love it in the end.


This summer I also enjoyed going faster than roadies on $3000 setups, with a centerpull on the rear... my centerpull ride is RIPing tho... and I can't wait to find a suitable frame to use my mafac gold (front) and universal (rear)

They're also just so easy to set up.

Why did they all stop making them ? weight ? ZEUS claimed 150g per caliper on their 2000 centerpull model. Real weight needs to be verified, but that puts them in the range of very light brakes. And a Dura-Ace model : a mere 135g w/o the pads but all the other hardware incl.....

I wish Campagnolo had tried to make a model too.

Feel free to post lesser known models.
I'd like to stumble upon a Zeus 2000 model someday !! they look the most bad ass after the universals and the ballilas IMHO
CLB course 2 also look interesting

I've got Weinmann 750 on the front of the Sports I'm building. I need another as the Weinmann 610 I was going to use on the rear is too short! I threw a crappy YSB one on the back.
I figure this was a nicer looking upgrade to the Sports.

Anyone have a spare 750 centerpull?

Here are the centerpull brakes off from my 70's Viscount Aerospace Pro. They work OK, not great.

I really like these Weinmann models with the steel carrier:



Neal

New Dia Compe Gran Compe CNC'd 610s. I've since replaced the stock hangers with those VO Grand Cru roller hangers. Super fancy!



Will the 610 work in the front? If so, just switch the mounting bolts. I've never seen a factory pair of 750s. It's usually a 610 in front and 750 in the rear or just two 610s.

I love my Gran Compes, their finish is beautiful.



Scott

I've never seen those before. Very cool!

I still have stashed away a couple sets of Dia Compe's a set of Weinmann 610's and a set of Mafac Racer with a couple incomplete calipers as spare parts.
But my favorite is a nearly complete set of Mafac 2000 in gold. My best friend threw them out and I saved them. I'm only missing the Mafac front cable hanger.

No, I got them off a raleigh Grand Prix and am putting them on a Raleigh Sports. The reach needs to be long front and rear to reach the rims. Love them thouhg, look good, light weight, and say Raleigh on them so that's a bonus.

Weinmann centerpull I made a booster for:



Matching lever modified to take a barrel adjuster:



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Run-of-the-mill MAFAC racer centerpulls:

Here's the front Universal caliper on my early bike-boom Ganna, steel rims and all.
STILL a wonderful brake.

(And just like all the Weinmann, Diacompe and Mafac center-pulls, they leave me to wonder, "WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?" when they came out with Side-pulls!)

Love these "enhancements". Does the booster boost performance?

J

Not that I noticed, and it has since been removed.
The barrel adjuster filled a real need.

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1974 Schwinn Paramount. EO Brakes;

Not mine but a nice pic of Mafac 63s.

I'm not a fan of Weinmanns, and I used them exclusively for many years. They adequate, but I just don't love them. I like Dia Compe centerpulls slightly less, because they felt spongier to me.

I do love Mafacs, though.

I hear Universals are about as good. I'd love to try them.

Sidepulls became fashionable probably because the most expensive brakes were sidepull, and everyone wanted brakes modeled after those. All things being equal, sidepulls give better modulation because their leverage is slightly lower. And they are less prone to flex since there is usually less arm to them. Sidepulls are also easier to set up. And once you set them up, you don't have to readjust the pad placement during the time it's wearing down. Sidepulls are the only design with this advantage. The biggest disadvantage to sidepulls is that not enough people know how to center them.

So to address the centering non-problem, dual pivot sidepulls became popular, but they don't have the same never-need-to-adjust-pads advantage that single pivot sidepulls have.

But with all of that said, it's possible to make a centerpull that's every bit as good as a sidepull. The Mafac is proof of it. I suppose I have to toss the Weinmann in, too. I can't say why I don't like them as much, and lots of people like them a lot, and they can't be wrong.

Fixed it for you.

I love Weinmanns especially the 750's. They have an obscene amount of reach.




I'm trying to learn to love Mafacs.

Mafac Racers are much harder to set up. They need good toe in or they screech like mad. Getting the pads to face the rims just right takes time. Then you may have to adjust the length of the yoke cable. Don't let it be too long, because that reduces leverage.

But the trouble is worth the reward.

Polished Paul Racers (on dedicated bosses) actuated by polished Paul Moon Units, over Honjo fluted fenders.

oh god, the paul racers really dominate but... at 130 USD a pop ?? who on earth, can afford them ?

these prices are revolting. it is almost scandalous to buy these sorry,.,...

1963 Olmo De Luxe with original Universal centerpull brakes (Koolstop pads)

CLB2 brakes to be installed on my Mondia... Note the angled brake arm pivots, and especially that the brake spring **IS** the straddle wire. An interesting design...

The earlier engraved Weinmann centerpull brakes are sexy beasts compared to the later Weinmann centerpulls.