Giant Defy 3 and 105 5700 calipers?

lotus49
lotus49 Posts: 763
edited October 2012 in Workshop
I am waiting for my new Defy 3 to be delivered (supposed to be four weeks but I am starting to fret about whether it will appear on time - we'll see) and I have a question about the brakes.

Most of the reviews say that the brakes are the main weak point and it looks well within my mechanical abilities to replace the calipers. From what I have read, the Sora brakes aren't a lot better so I am thinking of replacing the stock calipers with 105 5700 calipers.

Will I have any issues with compatibility, particularly the shifters?

I also considered the Ultegra 6700s. No doubt they are better and I could get a second hand pair for about £60 but I have read that they need to be paired with the Ultegra shifters. Is this true?

If not, will there be much difference between the 105s and the Ultegras?

Any advice will be gratefully received.

Comments

  • declan1
    declan1 Posts: 2,470
    The only reason you should pair them with their respective shifters is they will have better feel/power. I've got a Sora front caliper and a 600 Ultegra rear caliper on my bike and they both work perfectly well (with Exage Motion levers), with plenty of power and feel.

    When you do get new calipers, make sure you tighten up the cable as much as you can to prevent it slipping out of the caliper when you brake hard.

    Road - Dolan Preffisio
    MTB - On-One Inbred

    I have no idea what's going on here.
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    My guess is you'll be fine with whatever calipers Giant put on the thing. Use them till they start to get sticky / temperamental or the brake blocks wear out. Then give them a good clean and lube and replace the blocks and maybe the inner cables. Given that we're heading for the muckier part of the year you'd be better off spending the money on gloves, socks, buffs etc.
  • lotus49
    lotus49 Posts: 763
    Thanks for the replies. I shall see what the stock brakes are like before I splash out on any new ones but it useful to know that I can just replace the calipers if the reviews turn out to be right.

    It is frustrating that my bike will arrive just as the worst weather hits, although after the summer we have had, perhaps it will get drier, it cannot get any wetter.
  • thescouselander
    thescouselander Posts: 549
    The callipers are fine (and I doubt you'd notice any difference if you changed them) - just replace the blocks if you dont like the feel.

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