BloomingCyclist

We purchased our Santana Niobium in January 2006 with linear pull brakes front and rear. The linear pull continue to be wonderful brakes. Having ridden the 3 State 3 Mtn ride in Chattanooga on singles and wanting to do it on our tandem in 2007, we installed a Winzip disk brake. I posted some photos about the install https://www.bikeforums.net/tandem-cycling/297339-winzip-disk-installation.html

After the 2007 3 State 3 Mtn ride and the severe pad wearing I switched to EBC gold pads (sintered metallic). After dealing with the groaning brake noise: bike in stand - spray water on rotor while one person is turning pedals and the other is applying brake pressure - this helped bed / clean the pads and the groan was gone and we're happy. (I've posted about the OEM pads and the EBC pads.)

So the brake worked and the EBC pads are long-wearing but there is a definite metallic rubbing sound when the brake is applied - rather like an automotive disk brake sounds when the pads are worn out. The Winzip served us well after that and I believe many Winzip users now use the EBC gold pads. I believe that Precision Tandems recommends and sells the EBC gold pads for both Winzip and Avid. I've kept the Avid pads but I have some EBC gold pads in reserve.

However, I have never felt like I could really get the Winzip caliper lined up as well as it should and / or the caliper itself wouldn't keep the pads parallel as it pulled them in to the rotor. Everyone who has the Avids has always talked about how easy the alignment is with the hemispherical washers. SO...after talking to a rider last year who had an Avid caliper with the 10 inch rotor, I decided to install an Avid caliper this winter. Mark, at Precision Tandems, confirmed that it would mount on my existing adaptor and that is the set up he uses himself on a Santana triple, so I ordered one. I just got it on yesterday and we went for a ride. The first braking was groaning and I thought, "OH NO - not the groan again!" We continued riding and braking, riding and braking with the brakes feeling good but as the bike would get down to the 5 mph mark the groan and vibration was there. My stoker was willing to spray some water on the rotor while we road along applying the brake and we were soon quiet with good braking.

Regarding the noise, another variable besides the 10 inch rotor, I had also decided I wanted to polish the rotor to make it shinier - purely cosmetic. I put about 10 hours in with tripoli buffing compound on a buffing wheel on a lathe to make significant progress. It's not a mirror but it's much shinier. Anyway, the polish very likely contaminated the braking surface even though I never purposefully buffed the braking track itself. I put the rotor in some boiling water followed by a lot of acetone to clean all traces of compound.

I now have a fairly shiny rotor and a better adjusted caliper.

Bloomington, IN
Santana Niobium

patrickza

I know I'm digging up an old thread here, but could you tell me where you got the 10 inch rotor from? I'm trying to find one for the back of my bike.

Thanks

Ritterview

How dare you dig up an old thread... noob!



Naw, just kidding. It looks like Precision Tandem has them. Just scroll down down on their circa 1997 style web site.

(I think the same rotor is identified as either Santana or BENGAL).

Santana 255mm 10" Rotor 344g $155.00
BENGAL DISC BRAKE ROTORS - 10" ROTOR
BENGAL DISC ROTOR 10"


If these are Bengal rotors, does Bengal list them? No, their largest is 8".


Interestingly, Santana lists brake parts, but not rotors.

Winzip / Santana tandem disc brake retrofit kit ..........call for pricing & specifications

Winzip / Santana tandem disc brake caliper ..........$ 199*
* replacement may require other parts (ie. mounting brackets, etc.)

CaptainHaddock

So to continue digging up the old thread, has anyone been able to attach a 10" rotor to a cannondale RT2? I'm sure I don't need that kind of stopping power, but "go big, or go home"?!

akexpress 

We have two RT2 tandems that our adult children ride and I don't think with two discs you need the ten inch rotors as you can alternate braking front to rear without worry of overheating the rim. Just be aware of the possibility of melting the adjusters on the Avid calipers (see Mt Ventoux thread here). We are going to Skinny tire festival in Moab this week and I am going to take the infrared heat sensor to see brake caliper temps although the courses don't have long extended steep descents. For cleaning rotors use commercial brake cleaner solvent to help with squeal and remove contamination.

CaptainHaddock

Yeah, I read that thread with amazement & horror. (as well as the thread on the roadbike review of his hydro-brake failure) I'm debating trying to convince my wife that the Santana mechanical brakes (forgot the brand name) are lighter and there for a good weight savings. I'm sure if she read that thread, I'd never be able to get her out on the tandem again...

specbill

.......be sure to take your camera with a big memory card and a large quantity of oxygen with you because the magnificence of that place will absolutely take your breath a way. That place is something very special and has plenty for us Roadies not just the MTB folks.

...sorry not trying to hi-jack the thread!

Bill J

akexpress 

Yes we love the Moab area. We have done many mtn bike trips there, including the White rim trail on mtn tandems last fall. We are doing the Maze on mtn tandems in April but this will be our first road tandem trip there. We have been going there for about 15 years.