Hydraulic brake swap

Dunston_checks_in

Hello everyone,
Apologies if this is super basic stuff but I have an old Kona Caldera MTB. It's done good service over the years, but the Hayes mechanical disc brakes it was fitted with have given up the ghost. I'm thinking this is a good opportunity to place them with hydraulics. Looking around, the Deore set looks about right for what I'm after, given budget, amount of time I spend MTBing etc. Before I go ahead, I have two quick questions which I hoped you all might be able to help me with:
1) Are the Deores the right choice? I basically want cheap as possible (this is an old bike after all, and most of my riding is on the road) without dropping off some catastrophic performance cliff. I.e. a proper upgrade but without breaking the bank.
2) Can I just replace the Hayes (levers and calipers) like for like with the Deores? Can I use the existing rotors?
3) How easy are they to fit and fettle? It all sounds very straightforward, but are there any poo traps to watch out for?
Cheers!

nicklouse

1 up to you.
2 yes but consider your gear shifters.
3 read the manual if you need to bleed them.

Dunston_checks_in

Thanks. Actually, here's a thought. will the hydro cables fit the cable eyelets on the frame? If not, is there some kind of fix for this?

The Rookie

Depends on the guides, if they are stops, no, if they are full rings you need to pass the hose through before attaching the end parts, if they are open you need the palstic sleeve to lock them in place, some have a double hook you push the hose into.......

jimothy78

No - the cable brakes will have presumably made use of cable stops on the frame which hydraulic hoses won't fit into.

You can buy these clips which screw into the cable stops and allow the hose to clip on next to them. Not the tidiest solution, but arguably better than just cable-tying the hoses directly to the frame, which is the simplest method.

nicklouse

jimothy78 wrote:

No - the cable brakes will have presumably made use of cable stops on the frame which hydraulic hoses won't fit into.

You can buy these clips which screw into the cable stops and allow the hose to clip on next to them. Not the tidiest solution, but arguably better than just cable-tying the hoses directly to the frame, which is the simplest method.

maybe maybe not it all depends on what the OP has. the frame might already run full length outers so then no change.

so who knows other than the OP.

jimothy78

Guessed from the OPs use of the phrase "cable eyelets", which suggested stops to me.
I might have assumed too much, admittedly.

The Rookie

Assuming its this Kona http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3248/288 ... 90.jpg?v=0 (from your sig then it has stops, these can be drilled out or bolt in guides use.

Dunston_checks_in

Thanks all. Yes the eyelets have stops. Sounds easiest and neatest to just drill them out.

jimothy78

Dunston_checks_in wrote:

Thanks all. Yes the eyelets have stops. Sounds easiest and neatest to just drill them out.

Bear in mind though, that if you drill out the stops with intention of threading the hoses through them that you'll then need disassemble the hoses from either the callipers or the levers, thread them through and then to refill and bleed the system once you've connected it all back together again.

Not what i'd want to have to do with my first pair of hydraulics - just sayin'.

The Rookie

You'll also usually need to cut the hose and fit a new olive as the olive won't usually go through.

Dunston_checks_in

No worries. I like a challenge.