Improving braking power

hubba hubba

Hi,

I have a Shimano Tiagra brakeset. I was wondering if upgrading to 105 or Ultegra calipers would increase breaking power significantly?

cheers

Nick

Gussio

Don't think so. Maybe a different choice of brake pad? Maybe a different wheel rim, but that seems an expensive option.

simbil1

SwissStop green pads are really nice - just upgraded to them and am very pleased.

gkerr4

probably not 'significantly' - but it would a little - I would say that with tiagra ones you should look at ultegra as a minimum upgrade and perhaps DA if affordable.

the pad change is a good idea - the swisstops are a good block - coolstop (the salmon) colored ones made a massive difference to my braking setup - they are excellent and eerily quite in use...

Nigel Bennett

Having decent brake cables makes a hell of a difference. I bought some new DA calipers and was very disappointed - Karen's 105's were much better. I'd fitted new brake cables when I put the DA ones on. Then I changed the brake cable inners (Jagwire stainless - utter crap) for some Shimano ones and the difference was amazing.

keebo

I changed the brakes on my Felt from the Tektro that came as standard to Ultegra and the improvement was very impressive

Monty Dog

Fit some cartridge brake pad holders (stiffer) and use soft, red, Koolstop pads.

dennisn

I have a set of Mavic ceramic coated rims and ceramic pads that really slow things down
really quick. Ceramic pads are only for use on ceramic rims and should never be used
on regular rims as they will tear the rim up. Conversly, regular pads will work on ceramic rims but will wear out really quickly. I have Dura Ace brakes - work great.

Dennis Noward

Toledo, Ohio

simbil1

I don't think that is the case Dennis - regular pads should not be used on ceramic rims as the pads get eaten by the ceramic layer and gums it up causing some very sketchy braking. Ceramic pads are fine on ceramic or Alu rims (this is even stated on the packet of the SwissStops I got recently).
I've been using ceramic pads on my MTB for about 6 years and the pads work really well on the ceramic rims and very well on Alu too. I once made the mistake of using regular pads on my ceramic rims and have a broken collar bone to show for it.
As I understand it, the ceramic layer is a very effective insulator so the heat build up is considerable (but does not penetrate much to the underlying rim). A regular block is both more abraded and melted by the ceramic. This causes a layer of break block material to spread over the layer of ceramic making a very unpredictable braking surface. Its also really hard to clean off once gummed up in this manner.
A ceramic brake pad is slightly harder and has a higher melting point so it can withstand the ceramic surface. On an Alu rim, it still works and does not wear out as quickly.
Of course they cost more.

Fab Foodie

hubba hubba wrote:

Hi,

I have a Shimano Tiagra brakeset. I was wondering if upgrading to 105 or Ultegra calipers would increase breaking power significantly?

cheers

Nick

As others have suggested, change the pads first. I swapped the original pads on my Ultegra brakes for Koolstop Salmon at the front and black at the back. The difference was staggering. More feel, more power, more confidence.
Up to that point the Ultegra brakes felt quite poor IMO.