Ideas for DIY rear brake mount
#1
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: May 2025
Posts: 14
Likes: 3
Bikes: FMX the F*ing Madness Experimental bik
Ideas for DIY rear brake mount
Hi i have a bike using drum brake at the back. So it doesn't have mount for rim brake caliper. Anybody here have a creative way to make one? Preferably not to involve welding. 😁
#2
Senior Member

Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 2,914
Likes: 1,783
From: Long Island, NY
Bikes: Trek 800 x 2, Schwinn Heavy Duti, Schwinn Traveler, Schwinn Le Tour Luxe, Schwinn Continental, Cannondale M400 and Lambert, Schwinn Super Sport
What happened to the drum brake that you are going to rim brakes. They are lighter, but.... If the bike came with drum brakes, it not likely to be a lightweight bike to start with. What bike or frame is it? Do you have pictures? Since you are new, you need ten posts to post pictured directly, however, you could put pictures in your personal photo gallery for other to see and they can even be moved to this thread by another member.
Anyway, what do you have at the seat tube bridge? What about at the chainstay bridge. These are two possible mounting places that could work for a rim brake where the pivot is above the rim. The thing about a brake mounting point is that it needs to be rock solid and bolt on solution will need to be robust. That is not to say that something bolt-on can't be done, but it can't slip or twist. It has to be mounted strongly to the frame.
Anyway, what do you have at the seat tube bridge? What about at the chainstay bridge. These are two possible mounting places that could work for a rim brake where the pivot is above the rim. The thing about a brake mounting point is that it needs to be rock solid and bolt on solution will need to be robust. That is not to say that something bolt-on can't be done, but it can't slip or twist. It has to be mounted strongly to the frame.
#3
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: May 2025
Posts: 14
Likes: 3
Bikes: FMX the F*ing Madness Experimental bik
What happened to the drum brake that you are going to rim brakes. They are lighter, but.... If the bike came with drum brakes, it not likely to be a lightweight bike to start with. What bike or frame is it? Do you have pictures? Since you are new, you need ten posts to post pictured directly, however, you could put pictures in your personal photo gallery for other to see and they can even be moved to this thread by another member.
Anyway, what do you have at the seat tube bridge? What about at the chainstay bridge. These are two possible mounting places that could work for a rim brake where the pivot is above the rim. The thing about a brake mounting point is that it needs to be rock solid and bolt on solution will need to be robust. That is not to say that something bolt-on can't be done, but it can't slip or twist. It has to be mounted strongly to the frame.
Anyway, what do you have at the seat tube bridge? What about at the chainstay bridge. These are two possible mounting places that could work for a rim brake where the pivot is above the rim. The thing about a brake mounting point is that it needs to be rock solid and bolt on solution will need to be robust. That is not to say that something bolt-on can't be done, but it can't slip or twist. It has to be mounted strongly to the frame.
What happened to the drum brake that you are going to rim brakes. They are lighter, but.... If the bike came with drum brakes, it not likely to be a lightweight bike to start with. What bike or frame is it? Do you have pictures? Since you are new, you need ten posts to post pictured directly, however, you could put pictures in your personal photo gallery for other to see and they can even be moved to this thread by another member.
Anyway, what do you have at the seat tube bridge? What about at the chainstay bridge. These are two possible mounting places that could work for a rim brake where the pivot is above the rim. The thing about a brake mounting point is that it needs to be rock solid and bolt on solution will need to be robust. That is not to say that something bolt-on can't be done, but it can't slip or twist. It has to be mounted strongly to the frame.
Anyway, what do you have at the seat tube bridge? What about at the chainstay bridge. These are two possible mounting places that could work for a rim brake where the pivot is above the rim. The thing about a brake mounting point is that it needs to be rock solid and bolt on solution will need to be robust. That is not to say that something bolt-on can't be done, but it can't slip or twist. It has to be mounted strongly to the frame.
I found that there's a thread to 6 hole adapter to mount disc rotor. And also a bolt on disc brake servo mount. Can i just use that?
#4
Newbie
Joined: May 2025
Posts: 57
Likes: 26
Are we talking front or rear? If front, you can almost certainly drill the fork crown to accept a normal caliper brake.
If rear, is there a bar above the wheel connecting the seat stays? If yes, you could drill it and install a caliper, if no you could maybe fabricate one that wouldn't be entirely unsafe. I'd get some 1/8" steel bar (at least), maybe 3/4" wide, use u-bolts to attach it to the seat stays (drill holes in the bar for the u-bolts), then drill and mount a caliper brake to that.
If rear, is there a bar above the wheel connecting the seat stays? If yes, you could drill it and install a caliper, if no you could maybe fabricate one that wouldn't be entirely unsafe. I'd get some 1/8" steel bar (at least), maybe 3/4" wide, use u-bolts to attach it to the seat stays (drill holes in the bar for the u-bolts), then drill and mount a caliper brake to that.
#5
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2026
Posts: 19
Likes: 8
Back in the 1980s I built up a Dawes Super Galaxy frame using parts that I had. The frame called for a long reach brake caliper in the rear, but I didn't have one. So I made an aluminum bracket to mount a non long reach caliper. I believe it was made from 6061 aluminum . I'll see if I still have the braket and if so take a photo of it
#6
Clark W. Griswold




Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 18,190
Likes: 6,598
From: ,location, location
Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), R+M Supercharger2 Rohloff, Habanero Ti 26
Back in the 1980s I built up a Dawes Super Galaxy frame using parts that I had. The frame called for a long reach brake caliper in the rear, but I didn't have one. So I made an aluminum bracket to mount a non long reach caliper. I believe it was made from 6061 aluminum . I'll see if I still have the braket and if so take a photo of it
#7
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,587
Likes: 391
From: Chicago Suburbs
Bikes: GT Transeo & a half dozen ebike conversions.
I saw Rj the Bike Guy's video with this unit that works with bikes that have posts for cantilever brakes. Seemed to be OK.

If you have tools and the itch to use them, I have used these adapters.

The left one is for gas motor kits and requires a lot of cutting and bracing to mount securely. The right side has the same issue because while the picture shows a perfect fit, that rarely happens, I also wanted mine to work with drop in axles, not thru hole, so that changes how the adapter will fit. Some creative shims and braces are need if it cannot rest against the frame.
s

If you have tools and the itch to use them, I have used these adapters.

The left one is for gas motor kits and requires a lot of cutting and bracing to mount securely. The right side has the same issue because while the picture shows a perfect fit, that rarely happens, I also wanted mine to work with drop in axles, not thru hole, so that changes how the adapter will fit. Some creative shims and braces are need if it cannot rest against the frame.
s




