Possible to upgrade brakes?
 

Hello All,

Obviously I am new here and fairly new to the Mountain Bike world. I just purchased a 2013 Trek 3500 today. I got a sweet deal on it, and it fits my needs being an entry level bike. My question is, it has wheel brakes on it and I was wondering if it would be possible to upgrade it to disc brakes, if possible how hard would it be and what all would i need to buy? I bought this bike based on the reviews form entry level riders and I can not afford an expensive bike, I only bought this one due to finding it for a really decent price, so telling me to "get a better bike" as i've read on several other post is not an option for me. Thanks everyone in advance your your time and help!

Unlike the 3500 Disc, the standard Trek 3500 does not have the mounting compatibility on the frame nor the stock fork for disc brakes, so it would be costly to change the front, and impossible to change the rear. If you want to upgrade the front brake to disc, then you would have to get not only the brake system (calipers, rotor, new/longer cable & housing), but also a disc-compatible front wheel and a disc-compatible fork. Add on labor costs for a mechanic to get it properly installed, and it could be pretty expensive.

Bit of wrong info there.

The Trek 3500 Disc frame has a bolt on IS disc brake mount, this bolt on mount will fit on the 3500 frame too.

Bolt on Post Mount: https://www.sellutionmtb.com/Product...ctCode=BA-GFTP

Bolt on IS Mount: https://www.sellutionmtb.com/Product...ctCode=BA-GFTU

Most disc brake calipers are now days are post mount, Trek uses the bolt on IS mount on it's bikes, with the bolt on IS mount an additional PM to IS adapter is needed to fit a post mount brake caliper, with the bolt on Post Mount you can directly attach a post mount brake caliper onto it.


Bolt on Post Mount with post mount brake caliper directly attached.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=443452


Bolt on IS mount with a PM to IS adapter to attach the post mount brake caliper.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=443451


* Upgrading this bike to front and rear disc brakes will most likely cost you more money then what the bike is worth.

2013 Trek 3500 - New and Used Bike Value

Not seeing any tabs for mounting disc brakes, could be, given that the trek site only has a drive side photo, but IS tabs should still be viable. 2013 3500 - Bike Archive - Trek Bicycle

For the OP, being realistic, if you wanted discs, you bought the wrong bike, upgrading if the frame has tabs would require new wheels in addition to the calipers/rotors.

For rim brakes, I was out this morning off road with a mid-90's bike which has rim brakes, stopped me fine when needed. Would want discs if riding with others who have them, or if in the rain a lot, but in the dry, rim brakes work almost as good as discs.

The frame doesn't have tabs, you would have to buy the 'tab' and bolt it on just like the 3500 disc has.

The previous post said it was "impossible to change the rear" which is wrong, it can easily be done.

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/1666/p1040415u.jpg

I stand corrected, in that case. I was unaware of the bolt-on mounting tabs.

Thanks everyone for the comments! I believe I will stick with the rim brakes. They main person I ride with has disc brakes, and he thinks a lot of them. Considering how I got a basically new bike valued at $440 for $150 I thought I would look into the possibility and cot of converting it. I think my next bike I will just make sure already has disc brakes! I dont plan to ride in the rain much anyway so these rim brakes should suit me well.

where would i order that tab?

Look in my first post in this thread, there's links to 2 versions of this mount.

* These 'tabs' are specific for Trek, Gary Fisher & Klein frames, they aren't made for other brands.

oh, oops! :innocent: