Brake Caliper Upgrade ??????

Avoneer
Avoneer Posts: 525
edited February 2010 in Workshop
Hi All,

I've had a few issues with lack of brake feel, power and initial bite on my Giant Defy 4.

It has poverty spec Tektro R310 calipers and Kool Stop pads, but they're still poor.

I have ridden with v's for a long long time though and hate the lack of initial bite, both on the hoods and drops.

Is it worth picking up some better calipers and would there be a noticeable difference (like ebay 105's) or is this just the way calipers brakes are compared to v's.

Thanks,

Pat...
"Campagnolo has soul, Shimano has ruthless efficiency and SRAM has yet to acquire mystique. Differentiating between them is a matter of taste"

Comments

  • mrushton
    mrushton Posts: 5,182
    Have a look at the older Ultegra/Chorus brakes (new Shimano supposedly has a different cable pull) also Bontrager make a lovely caliper brake set. Also depends on whether you have standard or deep drop brakes
    M.Rushton
  • Wappygixer
    Wappygixer Posts: 1,396
    I'm impressed with my Campag Centaur skeleton brakes.
    So much more power than my Tektro 720 cantis even with the standard Campag pads.
    I did use coolstop pads on my cantis but have recently changed to Ashima which can be bought from wiggle.So far they are much better pads, its just wear rates I'm looking at now
  • Avoneer
    Avoneer Posts: 525
    Standard short drop.

    CRC have a rear Ultegra and 105 for less than £15.

    Might try one on the back and see what the diference is.

    Pat...
    "Campagnolo has soul, Shimano has ruthless efficiency and SRAM has yet to acquire mystique. Differentiating between them is a matter of taste"
  • Avoneer
    Avoneer Posts: 525
    2nd thoughts - might be better trying a front.

    How's about a Sora or won't there be much in it between them and Tektro ?

    Pat...
    "Campagnolo has soul, Shimano has ruthless efficiency and SRAM has yet to acquire mystique. Differentiating between them is a matter of taste"
  • seanoconn
    seanoconn Posts: 11,739
    I'm having exactly the same problem with my tektro calipers on my boardman tc, having had v-brakes on my previous bike. Changed the pads to koolstops but the tektro brakes just slow you rather than having any actual stopping power, especially on the hoods. Will be interested to find out how you get on, good luck.
    Pinno, מלך אידיוט וחרא מכונאי
  • Avoneer
    Avoneer Posts: 525
    Not sure what to do now after further reading.

    I suspect all the poverty end calipers will work similar - they are just clamping after all.

    Might have to try and find some agressive pads.

    It's like on my race car - same calipers, but race compound pads makes all the difference.

    Pat...
    "Campagnolo has soul, Shimano has ruthless efficiency and SRAM has yet to acquire mystique. Differentiating between them is a matter of taste"
  • Wappygixer
    Wappygixer Posts: 1,396
    Agessive pads = very fast worn out rims.
    Not all calipers work the same.Its all to do with cable pull and angles.
    Try some higher end Shimano's and you should see a benifit.Better than having new rims every year
  • Avoneer
    Avoneer Posts: 525
    Where does the higher end start though - 105's?

    Pat...
    "Campagnolo has soul, Shimano has ruthless efficiency and SRAM has yet to acquire mystique. Differentiating between them is a matter of taste"
  • antfly
    antfly Posts: 3,276
    Don`t get tiagra they are weak too, I have ultegra now and they are fine. Make sure the strongest brake is on the front if you have different ones.
    Smarter than the average bear.
  • soveda
    soveda Posts: 306
    antfly wrote:
    Don`t get tiagra they are weak too, I have ultegra now and they are fine. Make sure the strongest brake is on the front if you have different ones.

    My Tiagra calipers produce enought force to lock either wheel up whilst still feeling very easy to vary the braking force. Any more powerful and I'd get scared to apply the brakes (on the drops, could do with a bit more on the hoods mind)
  • antfly
    antfly Posts: 3,276
    Maybe you`re lighter than me, more power isn`t scary though it just gives you more control and you don`t have to squeeze as hard, it doesn`t throw you over the bars.I had real trouble stopping with tiagra brakes on steep hills and in the wet they were useless with tiagra wheels. I now have a dura ace brake on the front and going down hills is a lot more fun and it`s fine braking from the hoods which is most of the time.
    Smarter than the average bear.
  • soveda
    soveda Posts: 306
    I'm 86kg so not that light, I came from MTB with discs and was happy with the braking on road. I might ride less steep hills than you of course and I've never tried other road brakes so I can't really compare.

    FWIW I agree that powerful is often better, I found changing from cantilevers to parallel pull brakes and then discs on the MTB was comforting. It's power without modulation that is scary.
  • antfly
    antfly Posts: 3,276
    edited February 2010
    I come from mountain biking with discs too but I very rarely hit 40 mph on my mtb which I do on the road. I was happy with tiagras at first then I used ultegra ones and felt the difference . When you get onto the big hills you`ll see what I mean, you can`t make a fast, controlled descent without decent brakes.
    Smarter than the average bear.
  • chriskempton
    chriskempton Posts: 1,245
    Have you tried new cables?
  • Squillinossett
    Squillinossett Posts: 1,678
    I have put 105 btakes on my boardman, and they are much sharper than the stock ones on my Trek 1.5, both use Koolstop pads.
  • Avoneer
    Avoneer Posts: 525
    Cables are almost new and I'm pretty sure they're such a small percentage in the equation.

    Pat...
    "Campagnolo has soul, Shimano has ruthless efficiency and SRAM has yet to acquire mystique. Differentiating between them is a matter of taste"
  • Stellite
    Stellite Posts: 544
    http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-t ... 5000000000

    Pair of Ultegra Calipers for 55 quid, I would go for these

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