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Centre-pull caliper to V-Brake Conversion

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Centre-pull caliper to V-Brake Conversion

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Old 10-20-18 | 11:22 AM
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Centre-pull caliper to V-Brake Conversion

I have an old bike with centre pull caliper brake and I am thinking of converting it to a V-brake. Do you think this is possible?
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Old 10-20-18 | 11:32 AM
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Edit: I misread the OP and thought they were talking about switching from "cantilevers", not "calipers". V-brakes require the studs that cantilever brakes use.

Yes, it's possible. V-brakes usually require a longer cable pull, in which case you'd need long pull brake levers. But short arm v-brakes use cable pull similar to cantis. The length of a v-brake arm is in its specs. Here are some:

https://www.gravelbike.com/v-brake-arm-lengths/

I think for 85-90mm or longer arms you'd want a long pull lever (just guesstimating - research this a bit). You can get long pull levers for drop bars or flat bars, but I don't think there are long pull brifters, so if you want brifters you'd need a short arm v-brake.

Last edited by tyrion; 10-20-18 at 11:58 AM.
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Old 10-20-18 | 11:41 AM
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Originally Posted by tyrion
Yes, it's possible. V-brakes usually require a longer cable pull, in which case you'd need long pull brake levers. But short arm v-brakes use cable pull similar to cantis. The length of a v-brake arm is in its specs. Here are some:

https://www.gravelbike.com/v-brake-arm-lengths/

I think for 85-90mm or longer arms you'd want a long pull lever (just guesstimating - research this a bit). You can get long pull levers for drop bars or flat bars, but I don't think there are long pull brifters, so if you want brifters you'd need a short arm v-brake.
If the OP is talking about cantilevers, then it’s possible. Is they are talking about actual center pull calipers without mounting studs on the stays and forks, then it’s not possible without frame mods
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Old 10-20-18 | 11:47 AM
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a + 1

Center pull, other than cantilever brakes ,
bolt onto the fork crown/rear stay bridge..
V brakes need 2 posts on the frame.. as do cantilever type..

But a workaround ,, from BMX, was a bolt on arched plate ,
with the V brake posts on the plate..





..

Last edited by fietsbob; 10-20-18 at 11:53 AM.
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Old 10-20-18 | 11:56 AM
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Originally Posted by Point


If the OP is talking about cantilevers, then it’s possible. Is they are talking about actual center pull calipers without mounting studs on the stays and forks, then it’s not possible without frame mods
Oh yeah, you're right. I misread "calipers" as "cantilevers". I edited my post above.

Last edited by tyrion; 10-20-18 at 12:00 PM.
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Old 10-20-18 | 12:00 PM
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If you don't have studs for v-brakes, another option might be modern dual-pivot side pulls. If you keep an eye on the online retailers and Amazon, decent pairs of Tektro brakes show up once in a while. You have to observe the dimensions and mounting styles to match your frame. I've done this on two bikes, and those brakes are just superb. They also seem to require less fussing than v-brakes to keep them centered and adjusted.
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Old 10-20-18 | 12:44 PM
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Originally Posted by Gresp15C
If you don't have studs for v-brakes, another option might be modern dual-pivot side pulls. If you keep an eye on the online retailers and Amazon, decent pairs of Tektro brakes show up once in a while. You have to observe the dimensions and mounting styles to match your frame. I've done this on two bikes, and those brakes are just superb. They also seem to require less fussing than v-brakes to keep them centered and adjusted.
Dual pivots rock. They stop as good as anything else in my book.
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