Brake Upgrade

h34e0f
h34e0f Posts: 370
edited July 2011 in MTB buying advice
Hi, looking to upgrade the brakes on my Core.

I currently have Shimano BR-M486 hydraulic discs with Shimano BL-M486 levers.

What would be a suitable upgrade with a budget of around £150? Am wiling to stretch if required.


Thanks
«1

Comments

  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    Avid Elixir 5, Shimano Deore M595 or Formula K18
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  • h34e0f
    h34e0f Posts: 370
    supersonic wrote:
    Avid Elixir 5, Shimano Deore M595 or Formula K18

    Thanks, totally forgot to even account for hubs though, will these fit my Shimano RM-65s?
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    Are they centrelock? You can keep your existing rotors for the majority of brakes anyway.

    To be honest, these brakes are only slight upgrades. I wouldn't bother changing ulness they are knackered.
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  • h34e0f
    h34e0f Posts: 370
    Sorry, no idea what centre lock means :oops:

    Well I was aiming for increased performance, so I need to raise my budget in this case? Could you recommend anything?

    And is the maximum rotor size determined by the frame/fork or the calliper arrangement?
  • Pudseyp
    Pudseyp Posts: 3,514
    Shimano SLX http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/Bike+Shop ... KE-SET.htm

    £150 the set inc rotors

    Merlin are also doing the Formula K18's for £140 the set
    Tomac Synper 140 Giant XTC Alliance 1
    If the world was flat, I wouldn't be riding !
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    What is wrong with what you have? Not powerful enough? Lack adjustability? No modulation?

    Look at your brake rotors - do they fit with 6 bolts or a circular spline?
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  • h34e0f
    h34e0f Posts: 370
    supersonic wrote:
    What is wrong with what you have? Not powerful enough? Lack adjustability? No modulation?

    Look at your brake rotors - do they fit with 6 bolts or a circular spline?

    6 bolts

    The brakes are great in normal use, but in the wet - poor. In the soaking wet - terrible! And I get heaps of heat fade on long downhill sections on trail
  • Pudseyp
    Pudseyp Posts: 3,514
    The SLX and Formula from Merlin ore 6 bolt..they have a good range of discounted bike stuff...sign up for their VIP club (cost's nowt) and will get you a further 10% off
    Tomac Synper 140 Giant XTC Alliance 1
    If the world was flat, I wouldn't be riding !
  • h34e0f
    h34e0f Posts: 370
    Pudseyp wrote:
    The SLX and Formula from Merlin ore 6 bolt..they have a good range of discounted bike stuff...sign up for their VIP club (cost's nowt) and will get you a further 10% off

    Awesome, thanks. Will take a look
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    I'd just buy some new pads and possibly larger rotors.
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  • h34e0f
    h34e0f Posts: 370
    Okay well my pads may need replacing sonish anyway, especially as it's summer...

    What is needed to fit larger rotors?
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    New adaptors for your frame and forks. So if you have an IS for mount, and PM caliper, then you need a 160 to 180mm adaptor from PM caliper to IS fork if you upgrade to 180mm. CRC explains the options clearly.

    http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=17390

    You calipers are Post Mount. Identify what is on you fork.

    TECH_Disk_tab_type.jpg

    Your frame is probably IS mount too. Again look for the right adaptor for the rotor size you want to buy.
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,665
    h34e0f wrote:
    The brakes are great in normal use, but in the wet - poor. In the soaking wet - terrible! And I get heaps of heat fade on long downhill sections on trail
    All brakes will suffer massively in the wet.
    As for the fade problem, how does the lever feel when it happens? If it goes spongy, pulling back further towards the bar, then they need bleeding.
  • h34e0f
    h34e0f Posts: 370
    yeehaamcgee wrote:
    h34e0f wrote:
    The brakes are great in normal use, but in the wet - poor. In the soaking wet - terrible! And I get heaps of heat fade on long downhill sections on trail
    All brakes will suffer massively in the wet.
    As for the fade problem, how does the lever feel when it happens? If it goes spongy, pulling back further towards the bar, then they need bleeding.
    They were freshly bled before the last time it happened. Feels normal, there's just a lot less braking force as they heat up
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,665
    Freshly bled is one thing, bled WELL is another.
    What does the lever do when they fade?
  • Stiff_Orange
    Stiff_Orange Posts: 218
    These would be an upgrade to what you have just a shade over you budgets £180.

    http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/BCSHXTGRP/s ... brake-pair
  • h34e0f
    h34e0f Posts: 370
    yeehaamcgee wrote:
    Freshly bled is one thing, bled WELL is another.
    What does the lever do when they fade?

    Can't say it feels much different t be honest. Will have to wait until it happens again and pay a little more attention to it.
  • anditsinthere
    anditsinthere Posts: 210
    Sorry to hijack the thread h34e0f i am looking to upgrade from my crappy Tekro ones on my Vulcan i am undecided about the Elixir 5's and the Formula K18's.
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,673
    formula.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • anditsinthere
    anditsinthere Posts: 210
    nicklouse wrote:
    formula.

    Can i ask the reasons behind your choice Nick?
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,673
    lets see what do I have on 4 of my bikes?

    the Oro rewrote the book and the One took it further.

    Formula designed the Juicy range but not the Elixirs

    Yes I have some Avids on some bikes and other brakes as well but.........
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • anditsinthere
    anditsinthere Posts: 210
    the 18's or 24's do you recommend??
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,673
    I have 3 sets of 24s the original and the last.

    the original K18 can be upgraded to the k24 (original) with the addition of the adjuster. (not really needed it just makes set up a bit faster.).
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • anditsinthere
    anditsinthere Posts: 210
    would they be better with 185 or 203mm rotors? Or is 160 sufficient?

    looking towards the 18's at the mo.
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    How much do you weigh?
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

    VOODOO CANZO

    Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,673
    anditsinthere wrote:
    would they be better with 185 or 203mm rotors? Or is 160 sufficient?

    looking towards the 18's at the mo.

    the XC fully has 2x 160
    the SS XC has 180/160
    the FR lit/Am has 203

    and I am over 200Lbs.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • anditsinthere
    anditsinthere Posts: 210
    supersonic wrote:
    How much do you weigh?

    13st
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,665
    Elixirs
  • anditsinthere
    anditsinthere Posts: 210
    Oh no!!!!!!!! Sonic where are you please help a man in serious need of a decision here fella
    :x
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,665
    Well, to be honest, I'd plump for Shimano brakes anyway.

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