brake disappointment

[benb]

Last year I upgraded my MTB to XT V-brakes last year... I was very happy with them when I got them, great power, big upgrade in the wet/mud, etc..

Now this year maybe 1000-1500 miles later they are toast... the linkages are all corroded and so on, I have to clean them out + lube before every ride. And now the springs on the rear brake are toast and they won't open back up again after I apply the brakes. I had the same thing happen with my 105 brakes on my road bike, but that was after like 10k miles, and I just took them into the shop and they disassembled them and cleaned and rebuilt them, no problem. The XT brakes don't appear to be rebuildable. I ride my bike in the snow, through any weather, on the road in the winter to stay in shape, etc.. but I'm pretty good about cleaning it up after each ride.

I'm looking for a recommendation for some bulletproof standard V-brakes that would come close to the stopping power of the XT/XTR brakes... are the Avids the way to go?

Thanks,
Ben

[CouchingTiger]

Yea, V-brakes stink and the XT and XTR are probably the worst because of the "parallel push" linkage. They make shim kits if you get slop in the linkage but that's about it.

I've found that the springs play out after time and you are left w/ no adjustment. The temporary fix is simple, just bend the spring back out a ways. Unhook the spring from the stop at the upper end of the brake arm and rotate/bend the spring out away from the seat stay. You feel it when it stops pivoting and starts bending. You should only need to bend it out a little so that you "reset" the start point of the spring.

Do the same to the other side and then re-adjust the spring pre-load via the preload/adjuster screw at the pivot.

This should get you by for a little while and is an easy fix.

-Couch

[gungywump]

Last year I upgraded my MTB to XT V-brakes last year... I was very happy with them when I got them, great power, big upgrade in the wet/mud, etc..

Now this year maybe 1000-1500 miles later they are toast... the linkages are all corroded and so on, I have to clean them out + lube before every ride. And now the springs on the rear brake are toast and they won't open back up again after I apply the brakes. I had the same thing happen with my 105 brakes on my road bike, but that was after like 10k miles, and I just took them into the shop and they disassembled them and cleaned and rebuilt them, no problem. The XT brakes don't appear to be rebuildable. I ride my bike in the snow, through any weather, on the road in the winter to stay in shape, etc.. but I'm pretty good about cleaning it up after each ride.

I'm looking for a recommendation for some bulletproof standard V-brakes that would come close to the stopping power of the XT/XTR brakes... are the Avids the way to go?

Thanks,
Ben



BenB,

Avids are nice but check out the Paul Motolites.
I have them on my Kona Hei Hei and I love them. Great looks. Tons of adjustment. And Gobs of stopping power.

http://www.paulcomp.com/frmbk.html

[benb]

I have already tried bending back the spring arms and it doesn't seem to work anymore so I guess it's just time to start looking around for some new ones.

Thanks for pointing out the Paul Motolites.. never heard of them before.

Thanks,
Ben

[BlugrassBri]

fwiw, I have XTR v-brakes that are several years old and perform flawlessly(when the pads are worn done to a nub)...I ride alot in damp conditions and although they aren't up to par with disc brake stopping they get the job done...

[Phresh]

I have Avid V-brakes on my Jekyll and have no complaints regarding their performance or how they have held up over the two years I've had them.

[Tim]

The parallel push is the problem. It's overly complex for the job, and it wears out fast and then you either have to shim it (at your own expense) or put up with squealing. Get yourself some Avids (any of the SD line are good) and you'll be very happy.

Tim

[bike187]

i have a lowend set of avids on my old junker GT that work very well and some real nice avid magnesium that work fantastic

[Rip]

Disc are the way to go.

[johnnyt]

I am a member of the He-Man-Shitmano-haters club for men. Go with the Avids, they will serve you well.

JT

[benb]

I got a pair of the Avid Single digit Ti brakes on saturday. Other than cost :o they seem like they're going to be good.

I got em mounted up last night but haven't had time to fully adjust them yet. I should get it done tonight.

I was hoping to be able to do it saturday so I could go to the "fun ride" yesterday but oh well.

Ben

[camurphy2]

I have used avid 2.5`s on my sugar 4 for over 2 years now. It was the best improvment to my bike I have ever made. They never make noice unless I ride through mud and the pads last for a really long time.

[harosport]

I'm just glad I followed everyones advice here and just went straight to disk!!!!

[pugdog13]

I just got the Avid Ultimates. These stop my 200 pound ars always. My tires skid hard, both front and rear, and there is zero flex.