brake upgrade?

huwsspeedster
huwsspeedster Posts: 24
edited December 2009 in MTB buying advice
I have a 2009 rockhopper pro with 160mm discs, i read somewhere that 185front and 160 rear is optimal for cross country riding? was happy to keep the brakes as they came but last time out i had a bit of a scare on a steep rocky wet decent! A bit out of my comfort zone and the brakes were slowing me but not as quickly as i would have liked!!! Is it worth fitting a larger front disc? and how large should I go? Brakes are Avid Juicy fours,from what i can see bolt on disc and caliper mounts are available in 185mm and 203mm. I am no lightweight, coming in at about 16.5 stone!
Would the 203mm disc be overkill? Difference in cost is about £5

Comments

  • rhann
    rhann Posts: 383
    depends on what your fork can take.
  • mrfmilo
    mrfmilo Posts: 2,250
    I'd say 185mm is enough. I swapped from 160mm (which was OK but not very good when wet?) to 185mm and now I have more than enough power. But then I'm 9 stone...
    Marin
  • junglist_matty
    junglist_matty Posts: 1,731
    Depends on the brakes that you are using, I have got XT hydraulics on the Dawg, running 160mm front and back, they are very powerfull brakes so I don't really need anything bigger than 160 on the front,
  • mrfmilo
    mrfmilo Posts: 2,250
    junglist_matty wrote:
    Depends on the brakes that you are using, I have got XT hydraulics on the Dawg, running 160mm front and back, they are very powerfull brakes so I don't really need anything bigger than 160 on the front,

    He's got Avid Juicy 4 (RSL's?)
    Marin
  • Northwind
    Northwind Posts: 14,675
    Makes me wonder if it's all working as well as it should be- 160mm + Juicys should stop you pretty fast, at least at first, the big disadvantage of wee discs is that they have to work hard to stop you, so they can overheat.

    180-5 is fine for me, for cowardly lift-assisted downhills, most UK riding doesn't really get the constant braking that really bakes brakes.
    Uncompromising extremist
  • huwsspeedster
    huwsspeedster Posts: 24
    The fork is a Rochshocks Reba which will take a 203mm disk! if the avereage weight rider is usin a 185 front then a heavyweight rider probably could do with a little extra stopping power?
  • ride_whenever
    ride_whenever Posts: 13,279
    Have you tried new pads, the stock avids are a bit poo.
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  • huwsspeedster
    huwsspeedster Posts: 24
    Not yet! what are the best pads? need them to work both hot and cold?
  • mrfmilo
    mrfmilo Posts: 2,250
    Superstar Sintered are supposed to be good - and cheap.

    http://www.superstarcomponents.com/DiscpadsProduct.html
    Marin
  • nwmlarge
    nwmlarge Posts: 778
    i would recommend new pads and the 185 discs
    i have 203's and i get quite a bit of deflection which is really annoying when you can hear it rubbing!
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  • captainfly
    captainfly Posts: 1,001
    Decent pads and a bleed would probably go quite a way to improve front braking.
    Bigger disk general give more control before locking, Usually it just takes an adaptor and new rotor to upgrade, if the fork will take it then it will impove feel and control.
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  • huwsspeedster
    huwsspeedster Posts: 24
    Anybody actually using the superstar components? Are they any good?
  • moggy82
    moggy82 Posts: 726
    huwsspeedster wrote:
    Anybody actually using the superstar components? Are they any good?

    Yep i use them, used to use imperial, MTB direct ,but found the standard superstar pads to be very good. Worth looking on discobrakes too as they offer a few options at a good price. i use 185/160 on my xc bike J5's no probs 14 stone-ish!
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  • diy
    diy Posts: 6,473
    + 1 for superstars, they wear a little quicker and could do with having the fitting pins angled like avids, but at 1/4 of the price - who gives a ***
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  • huwsspeedster
    huwsspeedster Posts: 24
    Which pads are you using? is it the organics? or the sintered?
  • Northwind
    Northwind Posts: 14,675
    Sintered here.
    Uncompromising extremist

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