[Closed] road bike brakes upgrade question.

The pull ratio makes little or no noticeable difference, it's not like the difference between putting V-brakes with drop levers or anythign that drastic.

105 would be fine as a ballance of cost Vs power, and upgrade to swisstop pads.

Any road brakes will work, assuming the Tektro ones you've got are pretty normal looking road callipers?
Anything Shimano will fit, as they're all the same cable pull, only V brakes are different.

New pads will do the same job just as well, [url= http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/what-brake-pads-for-ultegra-6800-wheels ]this topic[/url] from last week covers what's available.

If you really want to change the calipers, Claris, Sora or Tiagra will all have the same pull ratio. If looking at 105 up, you would be best looking at the non-concealed cable generations like 5600 (105) & 6600 (Ultegra).

I'm surprised to hear that, I'd also heard that 5800, 6800 and 7800 used different cable pull ratios from previous stuff.

As an edit to my first post, those look like long drop callipers, in which case you need the long drop versions of the shimano non series brakes, usualy numbered R4XX, R5XX, R6XX, etc.

I'm surprised to hear that, I'd also heard that 5800, 6800 and 7800 used different cable pull ratios from previous stuff.

They do, but it's decimal points on the ratio, not huge changes. I'd say based on the few combinations I've tried, even if the pull ratio was going the wrong way that new brakes always feel better than old brakes, the stiffness of the calliper having more effect than small changes in pull ratio.

That's good to know as my plan for a disc brakes road bike has been blown out of the water by the news that the whole STI is considered disposable by shimano.

Need to find some brakes to keep this disc fan happy.

That's good to know as my plan for a disc brakes road bike has been blown out of the water by the news that the whole STI is considered disposable by shimano.

Need to find some brakes to keep this disc fan happy.

What's broke? If the STI's packed up then why not get the new R685 when they arrive?

I'm just thinking ahead. When the R685 lever hydraulics go wrong, rather than a £30 replacement lever like you do with XT, it's a whole new STI. Much more expensive. I did hope it was a cheaper modular part.

Definitely check the drop. I thought I could fling on a set of Tiagra callipers to the Mrs bike but the drop was too short so I sold them on here and fitted a set of R451 callipers from Ribble.

I have 105 on one bike and some Bianchi badged FSA cheapies on the other they've both had various cheap and expensive pads but now run exclusively on DHB basic lifeline pads. TBH I can't tell the difference in either set up or the different pads.

I'm just learning how to measure the drop so when I've got that sorted i will check ebay for some bargains, i hope. Mtb disc brakes are much simpler ! thanks guys .

I'm just learning how to measure the drop so when I've got that sorted i will check ebay for some bargains, i hope. Mtb disc brakes are much simpler ! thanks guys .

Bargains you say? If the brakes are 57mm drop you will struggle to find a cheaper set than these Shimano R451s.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111453607074?_trksid=p2060778.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

I paid £30 for the same brakeset and they are doing them for £12.50 shipped. Mine didn't come with serrated washers anyway so I don't know what the problem is. Am I missing something here?

That's good to know as my plan for a disc brakes road bike has been blown out of the water by the news that the whole STI is considered disposable by shimano.

You could always have gone for cable operated road disks such as Avid BB7 , TRP Spyres or TRP hy-rd which are a hydraulic caliper actuated by a cable so will work with non hydraulic STI levers .

Too late now I guess .

It's not too late, I've not bought them yet. I'm just not a fan of cable discs.

Well it's your choice but if you look at the reviews for any of the brakes I've listed they are mostly very positive and they will certainly work loads better than cheap , long arm Tektros..

Those look suspiciously like the tektros I had on my sora-equipped road bike. I found that performance was fine with good pads, but most brands caused unacceptable rim wear on the cheap rims that came with the bike, including ultegra pads.

In the end, I found the best pads to be BBB roadstop(even better in 'cartridge' form with the rigid alloy holder). Performance was very good; rim wear very good; pick-up of alloy particles very low; and price low enough that it was no pain to replace them when they eventually did start to screech/scrape.

More recently I have been converted to salmon koolstops for rim brakes on another bike but have never ridden them through winter.

I also ended up replacing the brakes with 4600 tiagra callipers when they seized for one-too-many-th time.

It's not too late, I've not bought them yet. I'm just not a fan of cable discs.

TRP HY-RD feel great with a well set up lever, I was very impressed when I tried a set, but they do look a bit bulky & I'm not 100% convinced how good the'll be at dissipating the heat on a long descent.
Another option is the Hope V twin, they're supposed to be good if a little bit clunky looking but I haven't tried those (I'm waiting for my new bike with the R685's)

My bike came with Mavic cpx22 rims which I think are bargain basement but acceptable so I'm hoping excessive rim wear won't be too much of a problem. Those R451 look ok but I'm amazed a set of ultegra brake callipers are so affordable on the bay so I might add a little bling to my new £250 ride 🙂

I hear the Hope V twin is good but someone on here compared them to the shimano and said the shimano were head and shoulders above. Just gutted that the shimano have such a finite life.

Consider new cables too. I went through several sets of brakes on my winter bike and they were all shit (little power, horrendous lever feel), replacing with decent SP41 outer (that wasn't compressing as much) totally revolutionised them. Not far short of my Dura Ace ones now.

Isn't sp41 gear housing?

i just bought my first road bike in 30 years

if you really are itching to upgrade, nice tyres and latex inner tubes for the summer

Isn't sp41 gear housing?

Good spot! SLR is the brake outer, my bad. Infinitely better than the shit OEM stuff Spesh specced.

I hear the Hope V twin is good but someone on here compared them to the shimano and said the shimano were head and shoulders above. Just gutted that the shimano have such a finite life.

Finite, but very long. My old 7800 shifters have lasted (need to go look at them, somethings broke, hoping it's the cable touch wood) 10 years of on and off regular use without a blip. I've burst a seal in a shimano hydro but that was trying to force an air bubble out by clamping the lever to the bar.

The 5700 105 brakes are really very good, especially when paired with some swiss stop greens.

But there's a fair number of XT hydraulic levers failing. Not the end of the world if you need to buy a new £30 lever after 2.5 years. Different story when it's a whole STI!

Finite, but very long. My old 7800 shifters have lasted (need to go look at them, somethings broke, hoping it's the cable touch wood) 10 years of on and off regular use without a blip. I've burst a seal in a shimano hydro but that was trying to force an air bubble out by clamping the lever to the bar.

If it's the LH one do shout - I've got an unused one as my RH one died some years ago!

It might have been me that made the statement about the Hope Vtwin not being as good as the Shimano's. Hopes - They're waaaaay better in my opinion that BB7's but don't have the modulation of the full hydros. As a stop gap they're well worth a punt, although I know a couple of lads with the TRP hydro/cable things who reckon they're ace. Caliper looks huge though!

If it's the LH one do shout - I've got an unused one as my RH one died some years ago!

Nope, it's the right, I'm hoping it's just the cables split or something, just stopped shifting and went floppy 🙁

Shimano R650 long drop calipers should be a replacement for your long drop tektros. The Shimanos are really Ultegra 6600 and can accommodate proper mudguards. I have them on the commuter road bike and they stop me just fine, even in the wet, with standard pads grabbing Mavic Open Pros. About £65. Mine replaced some Tektros that were rusting up and nowhere near as nicely made. Silver only.

Thanks mate.

they will certainly work loads better than cheap , long arm Tektros..

I have cheap long-drop Tektros on my winter bike and they give brilliant braking with Kool Stop Salmon pads. Just as good as the new Ultegra on my other bike.

I'd upgrade the pads to catridges with better pads before changing the calipers. You can always keep the pads for use later anyway if you're still not satisfied.