Spec..Brakes..Please :)

tapeloop

Newb question.

I have a trek 4500 (2006 model) which doesn't have disk brakes, but does have the fittings for them.

I'm really getting back into my biking after far to many years of eating :oops: and due to my bulk I've never had huge confidence in my rear brakes, and after a few too hairy moments yesterday involving steep hills and no rear brakes (eeeekkk!), I'm willing to upgrade the rears to some nice hydraulics.

So, if I say I have £100 to spend, what would be the best value for money brakes to go for? And as I'm probably going to fit them myself, which would be the easiest? (I'm leaning towards shimano? but which model, there seems to be hundreds). I'm assuming that I also need to go for as large a rear disc as possible to help stop my 19st?

I have done a lot of reading into it but it would be great to get some real person advice!

Any hints or tips greatfully received.

Cheers

Anonymous

Doesn't matter how powerful your rear brakes are, they won't slow you down in an emergency.
Learn to control the front brake, it's the only one that can properly slow you down.

tapeloop

I fully understand where you are coming from, especially over the last few rides when I've had to rely on it almost totally. That's why my train of thought has been taking me to upgarade just my rear as my front does a sterling job but it does need some help from the back end! It's currently not getting any, and its practically impossible to stop on any sort of downhill slop quickly and efficiently.

cooldad

+ a few hundred sphincter puckering moments.
Front brake does 90% of the work. So maybe you don't need discs, just technique.

cooldad

So work out why the front works and the rear doesn't. Need adjusting, new pads? What?

nozzac

On-one have got this offer on: http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/BCAVEXIL5/a ... disc-brake

tapeloop

cooldad wrote:

So work out why the front works and the rear doesn't. Need adjusting, new pads? What?

Pads are ok, and brakes grip fine when in the bike stand but on the road / trail not so much and lets not even speak about in the wet, they just don't work.

I've always put this down to being lardy, and the rears struggling with my weight over the back tyre. However, with me going faster as my fitness level and weight improves, I'm not seeing any improvement in their stopping power, if anything they fade much. much quicker.

And yes I'm sure my technique could improve a billion percent, but we all begin somewhere.

leaflite

Deore m595? Very powerful and with decent modulation for their cost.

A front and rear set can be had here for £129
http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/Bike+Shop/MTB++Parts/Brakes/Disc+Brakes/Shimano+Disc+Brakes/Shimano+Deore+595+Disc+Brake+Set+-+Front++Rear_DEORE-DISC-BRAKE-SET.htm

Make sure you get the 6 bolt rotors and not the splined centrelock ones as the splined ones only fit some special wheels that I doubt you have.

If you put a 180mm or 203mm front rotor on, it should increase your ability to stop significantly. These can be had from superstarcomponents.com for about £11

tapeloop

Many thanks leaflite.

Deputy Dawg

I don't think your hubs will take discs so you'll almost certainly need new wheels too.