Are better brakes more powerfull

[derrick]

I have some SRAM red brakes on my summer bike. On the other bike I had 105 brakes and the difference was extremely noticeable. The SRAM brakes are exceptional, so much so, I wouldn't want to have any more braking power. I have recently switched to carbon wheels with the SRAM brakes and they still perform excellently. I haven't tested this set up in the wet though, it's carbon, it may melt...

The SRAM red is one of the sets i have been looking at.

 

[Andrew_P]

The SRAM red is one of the sets i have been looking at.

If you do go for it cable length is really important as they have a float if the cable is too long or too short you will get brake rub, and centre and hold with the spanner while you tighten them up.
http://www.wiggle.com/sram-red-brake-caliper-set-aerolink/
This review nails it, Swissstop definitely plays apart though

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

The SRAM red is one of the sets i have been looking at.

I've been looking at SRAM red as well, but only 50% of the group set as SRAM recalled the brakes in November 2013 and I have been informed that I should expect replacements now the end of April, early May 2014 (6 months later) and I should expect the actual brakes I have paid for some point later... I'm less than happy about this and do not consider it to be acceptable.
There is a thread on this forum about my experiences, currently I detest they way the company is treating customers and have serious concerns regarding their quality control.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Isn't this a question you've already answered?

By definition if they are better they are more powerful. Or is better some other meaning?

Better = more expensive. Thought everyone knew that.

 

[Mr Celine]

I've noticed big differences by changing the blocks/pads. When I changed from Tektro stock brakes to 105 there wasn't really a markable difference, even using the same pads in both. They even look quite similar in appearance.

I upgraded the stock Tektro front brake to 105 and noticed a huge difference. The Tektros felt like they were made of rhubarb - they did stop eventually but gave no confidence.

 

[Roadrider48]

I upgraded the stock Tektro front brake to 105 and noticed a huge difference. The Tektros felt like they were made of rhubarb - they did stop eventually but gave no confidence.

That's cool. But the big difference for me was the pad quality. I had Koolstop salmons and now I'm using Cole pads. I've got 105 brakes front and back.

 

[HLaB]

I could be wrong but I think Callipers will be like most cycling things, cheap will perform poor (weakly) and mid range will perform good (stronger) but high end stuff will give no better performance (or at least not significantly better) just are a wee bit lighter.

FWIW When my kinesis was rebuilt the only brakes the lbs had in stock that fitted my new forks were cheap tektro and their performance was poor compared to my old Ulterga callipers (but I doubt the Ultegra braking wise is much different from 105 or dura ace). I've improved the tektro calliper by adding new pads but in my mind the Ultegra callipers were still better.

 

[derrick]

I would love to see data showing how two different callipers with the same leverage and force applied can be better than one another other than weight. Brake blocks with different compounds I get, I just do not get how two callipers applying the same force can have different braking performance. If the design is identical (groupset hierachy from the same manufacturer) just the materials used are different weights why would there be any difference in stopping power.
I strongly suspect that in a clinical environment there would be no difference.

Do you take into account the flexibility of different materials, if one is stiffer than another one is going to work better than the other with less pressure.

 

[L14M]

I think the power is mostly down to the pads imho. But i will say that the stiffer lighter ones probably are better. But the major difference is in the pads.

 

[gbb]

Do you take into account the flexibility of different materials, if one is stiffer than another one is going to work better than the other with less pressure.

I always assumed this was a major factor, more expensive calipers are probably have a better, stiffer material composition which translated inrto better braking...or less loss of force through flexing.
Pads will have a huge inpact too of course, but looking at above posts, Tektro calipers for instance, while they're ok they can't compete with better brands. It can't just be about the pads, cheap calipers, cheap materials.

And then, cables ?i'm sure some are better, some are worse, all impacting on braking force.

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

: I think the power is mostly down to the pads imho. But i will say that the stiffer lighter ones probably are better. But the major difference is in the pads.

What about the surface the pads rub against, this matters more than the pad itself imho

 

[Graham]

I would love to see data showing how two different callipers with the same leverage and force applied can be better than one another other than weight. Brake blocks with different compounds I get, I just do not get how two callipers applying the same force can have different braking performance. If the design is identical (groupset hierachy from the same manufacturer) just the materials used are different weights why would there be any difference in stopping power.
I strongly suspect that in a clinical environment there would be no difference.

How dare you bring science in to this! All this talk of fair testing and data is outrageous.

 

[L14M]

What about the surface the pads rub against, this matters more than the pad itself imho

Thats a good point - didn't think about that.

 

[Roadrider48]

What about the surface the pads rub against, this matters more than the pad itself imho

I've been using Cole pink pads for about a week now on Mavic alloy rims and they are really good in the wet IMHO.
Better more expensive brakes must be better, otherwise why buy them? But I have noticed a marked improvement with these pads, having used salmons aswell.

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

I've been using Cole pink pads for about a week now on Mavic alloy rims and they are really good in the wet IMHO.
Better more expensive brakes must be better, otherwise why buy them? But I have noticed a marked improvement with these pads, having used salmons aswell.

I have used some horrible expensive brakes and don't think cost automatically equals better. The thing I like about TRP personally is the adjustment seems to be finer than most which allows you to set them up exactly as you wish, I also think stiffness matters a great deal as cheaper calipers can flex slighty as the wheel trys to drag them in the direction of travel.
I'm pretty heavy on my brakes which my coach constantly bitches about. It's not uncommon for the back end of my bike to lift under braking, I am quite comfortable with this and like brakes which give me the confidence to ride this way. A number of brakes don't seem to like being ridden in this manner.