replacing hydraulic disc brakes with mechanical

[Howard]

You simply run a full length enclosed cable leaver to calliper. Hence why you want a compressionless outer. Then you use the same eyelets that the hydraulic hose ran through.

Ah cool...good to know

 

[screenman]

How much is a brake bleed kit? Is it not a bit like swapping a colour tv for a black and white one.

 

[GrasB]

Depends... You can buy a pair of 50ml oil syringes & appropriate hosing at a motor factors for £4 or £5, all you need is fluid & you can bleed away. I use a hand pump bleed kit & reverse bleed the system.

 

[screenman]

That is what I thought, it is just the OP was looking to save by not having to buy one.

 

[baggytrousers]

Perhaps I should clarify - I believe rightly or wrongly that a good set of mechanical discs will be easier to set up, less to go wrong and easier to maintain that say some bottom end hydros - I'm sure if you have some of the more expensive ones they're very good and can't be beaten by mechanicals on performance - my decision is not based solely on the cost of a bleed kit

 

[MacB]

I think you're assessment is right, Avid BB7s will be better all round than cheapo hydros, but I'd be tempted to run the hydros to see and keep the BB7s in reserve. Though that's because I've never tried hydros and would be curious. On the BB7 front this link was very helpful to me:-

http://www.twowheelblogs.com/avid-bb7-disc-brake-set-and-tuning

It seems a bit of a faff but, as I had no previous disc brake experience, it proved very educational for me. I even bought a dremel tool to get the cable ends absolutley square and used the Goodridge compressionless outer. It is stiff but I installed with crosstop lever as well and it all works very well. What you're looking to achieve is immediate caliper actuation when any lever is moved, and that's what this method delivers, no lag whatsoever. A search on my posts will show some of my setup problems and that came down to rotors not being true. It took me a while to work out whereas someone used to discs would probably have spotted it straight away.

 

[baggytrousers]

I think you're assessment is right, Avid BB7s will be better all round than cheapo hydros, but I'd be tempted to run the hydros to see and keep the BB7s in reserve. Though that's because I've never tried hydros and would be curious. On the BB7 front this link was very helpful to me:-

http://www.twowheelb...-set-and-tuning

It seems a bit of a faff but, as I had no previous disc brake experience, it proved very educational for me. I even bought a dremel tool to get the cable ends absolutley square and used the Goodridge compressionless outer. It is stiff but I installed with crosstop lever as well and it all works very well. What you're looking to achieve is immediate caliper actuation when any lever is moved, and that's what this method delivers, no lag whatsoever. A search on my posts will show some of my setup problems and that came down to rotors not being true. It took me a while to work out whereas someone used to discs would probably have spotted it straight away.

Thanks MacB that's been really useful. With your link and the other replies I've had I know it's now possible and is definately the right solution for me.