….here goes – Whats the difference between a front and rear caliper on a road bike? I have the opportunity to get a bargain Ultegra brake but I can only get rear brakes – will one fit on the front of my bike too? I have carbon forks on my Specialized Secteur (2010).

Cheers everyone!

Longer bolt that goes through bridge ?

the rear has a shorter mounting bolt, and some rear brakes are made mechanically less powerful than the front to prevent skidding

"to prevent skidding"

they take all the fun out of life…

the rear has a shorter mounting bolt,

Could I buy a new bolt to put it on the front?

and some rear brakes are made mechanically less powerful than the front to prevent skidding

That seems like a spectacularly dumb idea, but I can see it happening…

That seems like a spectacularly dumb idea, but I can see it happening…

No campag always did it (well since dual pivot brakes were invented), shimano brought it in on the current* DA.

Single pivot brakes weigh less (1 combined pivot & bolt Vs 2 and a lot more aluminium), so why not shed 50g from the calliper?

It's a bit like mountianbikes, very few people run the same rotors front and back, XC racers run 160/140, trail bikes 180/160, dh bikes 200/180.

*pun intended

"Could I buy a new bolt to put it on the front?"

i'm sure you could, but knowing how much Mr Shimano doesn't like people taking his components apart too much…..

"That seems like a spectacularly dumb idea, but I can see it happening… "

maybe i should rephrase it by saying some people found the new dual-pivot rear brakes too powerful so they made them less efficient again

I run 200mm on the back of my rig for max skiddage.

The allen key fitting type nut (that fits into the counterbore hole in the back of the forks) that screws onto the stud/mounting bolt, can be bought separately in different lengths. Some companies (Sram) supply 3 or 4 lengths of nut with their brakes. Your LBS should have a selection.

I run 200mm on the back of my rig for max skiddage.

U R awsum wikkid, nuf respek.