Disc Brake Upgrade Options

[EasyPeez]

Hi,

I'm hoping to upgrade the BB5 brakes on my CX this year as they're far too faffy for my liking, and don't give nearly as good feedback as the TRP Spyres on my road bike.

I'm happy with the Spyres overall - they are easy to adjust, neat and light, and the front one gives excellent braking and feedback. The back one has always been a bit spongy and I can't get it keen enough to lock up however I adjust the pads and barrel. Maybe a cable issue?

Anyway, my first thought was to just get Spyres for my CX. But then I thought, why not upgrade my roadie brakes and hand down the Spyres I already have to my CX?

With this in mind I have been looking at TRP Hy/RDs, but apart from them looking quite clunky and being harder to install, I'm also put off by the mixed reviews on other forums. Some seem to say they're great, others claim them no better than the Spyres and mention the long lever pull. I def don't want to have to be yanking my levers back to the bars - I much prefer a tight lever that gives instant response.

So now I'm wondering about going full hydraulic on the roadie and paying a pro to fit it out, but that's looking really expensive and, as I have a 10 speed set-up, I'm not sure if I'd need to upgrade more than just the calipers - it seems like levers and possibly more would be needed.

Are the Hy/Rds significantly better than the Spyres? Are there any better semi-hydraulic options out there? What kind of spend would I be looking at to get full hyros?

Any advice from users of cable and hydro disc brake users on my best options here would be much appreciated. Cheers, Andy

 

[fossyant]

I'm surprised it won't lock the rear wheel, summat's up. Have you thought about changing for a quality cable set before you change the brakes ?

 

[EasyPeez]

I'm surprised it won't lock the rear wheel, summat's up. Have you thought about changing for a quality cable set before you change the brakes ?

I'm not looking to change the Spyres per se - I'll be keeping them one way or another. It's just a case of working out whether to buy a second set for the CX (currently on crap BB5s) or whether to move the Spyres over and but something better on the roadie. Either way I think new cables for the Spyres is prob a good suggestion. What's with this Jagwire I'm reading about? Are they the way to go? Cheers.

 

[fossyant]

Jagwire's are supposed to be OK, but what about XT level Shimano Cable ?

 

[EasyPeez]

Jagwire's are supposed to be OK, but what about XT level Shimano Cable ?

I know nothing about brake cables and their relative merits so am open to advice as to which will be the best. Is that what you'd recommend to go with Spyres?

 

[Yellow Saddle]

You cannot upgrade from anything to cable disc brakes. It is always a downgrade, no matter what the starting point. Get decent rim brakes or hydraulic disc brakes.

 

[EasyPeez]

You cannot upgrade from anything to cable disc brakes. It is always a downgrade, no matter what the starting point. Get decent rim brakes or hydraulic disc brakes.

The Spyres have been better than any rim brakes I've used in the past. Although to be fair I have only previously ridden quite poor MTBs.

With my current 10-speed Tiagra set-up, what exactly would I need to buy for hydros please?

 

[outlash]

You cannot upgrade from anything to cable disc brakes. It is always a downgrade, no matter what the starting point. Get decent rim brakes or hydraulic disc brakes.

I think the OP is looking to upgrade from his basic cable disc calipers.

I think it's worth trying @fossyant 's suggestion of replacing the cables. I have Hayes CX expert calipers on my Day One and they work fine, they also have Jagwire compression-less outers which possibly helps. Changing the cables & outers made a noticeable (and better) difference when I changed them on my CX bike with it's Cantis.

 

[martint235]

My BB7 brakes work wonderfully on the commuter. Wouldn't swap them for rim brakes and can't see how hydraulics would make them better without bringing other issues with them.

 

[EasyPeez]

Jagwire compression-less outers

Yeah, that's what I'd been reading about elsewhere. I think new cables and compression-less outers are definately on my list to improve the Spyres. My main pondering now is whether to just do that with the roadie, and buy an extra set of the same calipers to replace the BB5s on the CX, or get new brakes for the road bike and pass the Spyres down to the CX .

I'd be glad to hear any opinions from people who ride Hy/Rds or have upgraded their Spyres in any way, be it via better cables/rotors/pads etc or by buying a different brake altogether.

can't see how hydraulics would make them better without bringing other issues with them

People who have experienced both generally say hydros are a massive improvement in terms of stopping power and feel, and they should need no adjustment. Not sure I can afford that kind of upgrade though or even if it's possible on a 10-speed.

 

[Venod]

These cables made a big difference to the discs on my Cannondale,which were rubish before upgrade.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/goodridge-brake-cable-kit/rp-prod22237

I have some BB7 on a MTB but they are MTB specific with levers to match, just as good as any hydraulic I have had, but I was not so impressed wth BB7 road calipers, they would have probably benifitted from a cable upgrade.

 

[outlash]

FWIW, I have hydraulics on my MTB and they're really nice, they have that 'modulation' that cable units don't really have. Shimano's 105 hydraulic units are 11 speed, SRAM might be your only answer, if at all for a full hydraulic system.

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

Do 10speed full hydro systems exist? Factor in that you'd probably need new wheels if you have to go 11spd.

SRAM rival hydro, is an amazing groupset though I've two bikes running it

 

[goody]

I've had TRP HY/RD's for about a year on my Cannondale CAADX (used for commuting and audaxing) the original promax render-r's were shocking, verging on dangerous. Tried different pads cleaning disc's bedding them in properly etc. etc. then changed the calipers to the HY/RD's they're ok nothing more, the front is noticably more powerfull with less lever travel than the rear and that must be down to the shorter cable so the quality of cabling does make a big difference even with these calipers. Mine is due for new cables the rear lever will come back to the bar without locking up (the bike is due for some serious mantainence though). If I was in the market for a new bike it would have to be fully hydraulic if I wanted disc, or conventional rim brakes.

 

[goody]

Read this if you're bored.
https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/crap-brakes.177350/