Brakes upgrade from mech to hydraulic

kinioo

OK,

I really fed up with my mechanical brakes on my old Spec Hardrock.

I wasn't going to change them as I want to keep the bike as a holiday bike / spare / pub bike etc, however as I still haven't found my new bike I am using the old one for local MTB rides twice a week.

During last trip to Epping forest both front & rear brakes gave up totally.

It has happened third time - usually it was rear brake but now both.

OK - want to replace them with a pair of entry level (nothing serious) hydraulic ones.

Question: what would be a good deal at the mo and also what would fit my bike ??

Is something like this OK and will it fit to my old bike (I think its something like 2008 hardrock):

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/clar ... prod120227

Cheers

cooldad

Assuming your bike is disc ready and has seprate shifters, yes.
You may need new adapters.

kinioo

Sorry, yes it has already disc brakes but mech and has separate shifters.

Yes, I may need new adapters (I think the brakes form my link have got adapters already haven't they ?)

Will take few photos (when back home) of my old bike / brake configuration so it might be easier for you to advise what brakes / adapters / rotors I may need.

Chris

Chunkers1980

New hydros (levers to callipers) should just bolt on using your existing gear (adaptors and rotors).

The Rookie

In this case yes unless he has a (pretty unlikely I admit) 140mm PM mount at the rear or a 180mm PM mount at the front.

kinioo

The Rookie wrote:

In this case yes unless he has a (pretty unlikely I admit) 140mm PM mount at the rear or a 180mm PM mount at the front.

Thanks Rookie - I will try to post some pictures so you can comment on it.

Now assuming the new hydros will fit would the ones from my link be OK or should I go for something else i.e. shimano / Avid etc ??

C.

swod1

A good choice would be buying some Shimano Deore m615 brakes as replacements these aren't expensive and are good stoppers.

I think they must be about 25 each from crc.

Giraffoto

+1 for Deore. Remove the old brakes but not the adapters which can usually be re-used

kinioo

swod1 wrote:

A good choice would be buying some Shimano Deore m615 brakes as replacements these aren't expensive and are good stoppers.

I think they must be about 25 each from crc.

They are currently @ £38 which means £76 quid for a set - bit too much bearing in mind my whole bike is worth probably £150 or less !?!

kajjal

You could just get one and try it. Having good brakes really changes the way you ride the bike as you can brake harder and later due to having more powerful brakes, with better feel you can trust. Anything below Deore is not really worth upgrading to. If you buy a new bike in the future you can always move your new brakes onto it.

kinioo

Guys here are some photos:

Front:







rear:

Chunkers1980

Yep, it's like I said.

kinioo

Chunkers1980 wrote:

Yep, it's like I said.

Cheers Chunkers !

John Wh

Give Clarks M2 a go. £40 for front and rear (including rotors). Got to say I'm impressed with mine as they were just temporary until I could get better. I don't think I'm going to bother for a while as these are great for the price.

kinioo

John Wh wrote:

Give Clarks M2 a go. £40 for front and rear (including rotors). Got to say I'm impressed with mine as they were just temporary until I could get better. I don't think I'm going to bother for a while as these are great for the price.

Ordered Shimano Deore M615 Disc Brake Set as the were @ 10% off in cleanout and also applied another 5% promo code so got them @ £60 front & rear with rotors !!

Chris

Chunkers1980

But are the new rotors the same size as yours? Otherwise to use the new you'll need new brackets.

kinioo

Chunkers1980 wrote:

But are the new rotors the same size as yours? Otherwise to use the new you'll need new brackets.

160 I think so should be OK if not will stick to the old ones.

We will see when it arrives !!!

John Wh

kinioo wrote:

John Wh wrote:

Give Clarks M2 a go. £40 for front and rear (including rotors). Got to say I'm impressed with mine as they were just temporary until I could get better. I don't think I'm going to bother for a while as these are great for the price.

Ordered Shimano Deore M615 Disc Brake Set as the were @ 10% off in cleanout and also applied another 5% promo code so got them @ £60 front & rear with rotors !!

Chris

Billy bargain Probably won't do much better than that!

kinioo

Brakes installed yesterday.

All good, but must say it's not so obvious what you should do when installing them...no instruction to follow.

I was installing hydaulic brakes on bicycle first time and it toak me about 20min, so all in all im happy.

Also they are apparently bled and ready to go but as they are not fully assembled - lever is disconnected from the brake hose - you have to do it, so I think to get 100% of them additional bleeding will be required as the levers feel a bit spongy. They do work but I think they should do better.

Will try them tonight.

Chris

Antm81

I've found with shimano that pumping the levers firm them up