Rim Brakes to Disk Brakes

[Alan Farroll]

Hi,

I have a hard tail 29 er (It is actually a specialized crosstrail sport hybrid but its a hybrid that really leans towards a mountain bike) - it has rim brakes. What if I wanted to change to disk brakes? Is it possible? Is it difficult? How much would it cost? I think there are mounting holes on front and back hubs but not sure.

Thanks

Regards

A Farroll

 

[Chris Norton]

If you have mounts for the disc brakes on the frame and fork then it's probably new wheels and the brakeset. If you don't have the mounts then it's new bike.

 

[Alan Farroll]

If you have mounts for the disc brakes on the frame and fork then it's probably new wheels and the brakeset. If you don't have the mounts then it's new bike.

I think I have mounts on the frame and front fork but how can I be sure exactly? What am I looking for? Why do I need new wheels?

Thank you

 

[MikeW-71]

You are looking for a pair of posts in the rear non-drive side chainstay and the same at the bottom of the forks on the left side. The disc calipers will mount to them. I'll hazard a guess that most rim-braked Hybrids will not have them, or will only have them on the fork.

You'll need new wheels because your current hubs will not have disc mounting points.

 

[KneesUp]

You can have disc mounts fitted if you want them but don't have them - for example http://www.cyclesinmotion.co.uk/shop-custom-bike-builds/

Obviously the easiest way to get them on the front is to swap the forks - a new bike is a bit drastic!

 

[Cameronmu917772]

some one want to give me a penny here lol
if its a new bike you need i have a kona for sale at 850
200ml travel on the front with a hope t6 hydro brake 203ml rotor. 8" travel on the back the 26x2.50 wheels aren't great on the road tho lol

 

[Alan Farroll]

There are, what look like, mounting lugs with holes on the non-chain side of both the fork and rear frame of bike. I take it this a good thing in regards to my question?

So what would I need? How much would it cost? Thing is apart from the rim brakes it really is a good bike. I have replaced the hybrid tires with cycle cross tires to be more mountain bike than hybrid. I can't afford to buy a new mountain bike at present either.

A Farroll

 

[Cameronmu917772]

There are, what look like, mounting lugs with holes on the non-chain side of both the fork and rear frame of bike. I take it this a good thing in regards to my question?

So what would I need? How much would it cost? Thing is apart from the rim brakes it really is a good bike. I have replaced the hybrid tires with cycle cross tires to be more mountain bike than hybrid. I can't afford to buy a new mountain bike at present either.

A Farroll

your wheels will need replaced because there won't be any ware to attach your disks to on the hub. secondly you will need to find a set of brakes you want. then check your shifters. on older and avarge priced bikes the shifter housing and brake leaver are one unit. so you may need to get new shifters as well. so you would be best to replace the gear cables while your there.
what year is the bike? or can you upload a spec sheet?

 

[Alan Farroll]

your wheels will need replaced because there won't be any ware to attach your disks to on the hub. secondly you will need to find a set of brakes you want. then check your shifters. on older and avarge priced bikes the shifter housing and brake leaver are one unit. so you may need to get new shifters as well. so you would be best to replace the gear cables while your there.
what year is the bike? or can you upload a spec sheet?

Thanks again so far. Here is a specification I found online.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/crosstrail-sport-2010-hybrid-bike-ec019786#features

I changed the tyres for these - 40c size
http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Schwalbe-Smart-Sam-700c-Tyre_51690.htm

Regards

Alan

 

[HovR]

If your bike is exactly the same as the one in the picture you linked to, then the frame and fork are disc compatible. To double check compare your bike to these pictures:

You'll need a mounting point on the fork, which will either be a post mount like this, or an IS mount like this. Both will work. You will also need a mount for the rear on your frame. It will be an IS mount and look something like this, although it may be positioned inside the rear triangle.

As for wheels, they will need to be disc compatible also. They need to have the six mounting holes to fit the actual disc to the hub. These can be seen here. If your bike does not have these, you will need to either get new hubs laced on to your existing rims, or purchase a new disc compatible wheelset.

When it comes to picking the actual brakes, you have two real options: hydraulic or cable actuated. Cable will be cheaper, but will require more adjustment. I'd advise against going for cheap cable disc brakes, as they tend to be pretty naff. Avid BB7's are a good choice. BB5's will be slightly cheaper, but most people recommend spending the extra cash and going for the model up.

If your bike currently has an all-in-one shifter and brake lever setup (i.e. they are one complete unit on the bar with a single clamp, as seen here) then going for cable discs will most likely be cheaper, as you can use the existing shifter brake lever setup, and hence not have to replace your shifters.

The other option is hydraulic discs. These require less maintenance, and tend to provide more stopping power and better modulation. If your bike currently has all-in-one shifter and brake levers, then you'll have to replace your shifters in order to use the hydraulic brake levers, adding extra cost on to the already more expensive hydraulic disc brakes.

If you don't have the mounts for the disc or calipers, then it'll probably end up costing a fair bit in order to replace the fork/hubs to make them disc compatible (could reach the £150 mark easily). If that's the case you'll have to decide whether it's worth spending that amount of money on the bike to you. If not, then it may be time to start saving for a dedicated mountain bike!

If your frame doesn't have the mounts, but the fork does, you could always put discs on the front end only.

 

[HovR]

You can have disc mounts fitted if you want them but don't have them - for example http://www.cyclesinmotion.co.uk/shop-custom-bike-builds/

Obviously the easiest way to get them on the front is to swap the forks - a new bike is a bit drastic!

The link you posted is unfortunately for steel bikes only. I'm not aware of anyone who will fit disc mounts to an aluminium frame like the Crosstrail. I'm sure you could get it done, but it would probably cost more than a new disc compatible frame.

 

[Alan Farroll]

thank you so much everyone for your feedback. I am going to source the components I need and price the task. It is sounding quite expensive though. It might not be cost effective considering you can get a 27.5 inch Carerra for under £300 at the moment with disk brakes.

Thanks again everyone. It is appreciated.

Alan

 

[Custom24]

Why do you want disc brakes? What's wrong with your rim brakes specifically?

 

[Cameronmu917772]

thank you so much everyone for your feedback. I am going to source the components I need and price the task. It is sounding quite expensive though. It might not be cost effective considering you can get a 27.5 inch Carerra for under £300 at the moment with disk brakes.

Thanks again everyone. It is appreciated.

Alan

you can get a set of cheap rims on ebay 40 quid say. remember though they won't be winning you any comps lol you can normally source some new hydro callipers and leavers cheap enough as well. some folk get a new bike and up grade there shimanos and such so really your prob talking under 100 pounds. thing is if your V's are set properly you will normally find that there is no point in upgrading unless your traveling at speed or riding in wet boggy terrain.

 

[Acesand8s]

The stopping power for hydrolic disks being better is not true, its about the same, if anything less. The maintenance that you do need you wont be able to do at home or without fluid, it is by far cheaper to do cable disks, and is especially better on a bike that is not MTB as the advantages of hydrolic dwindle away. If you have plenty extra money ($200+ now and 20-50$ [USD] per year) than fine, but otherwise BB7s are much easier to deal with on your own.

If your bike is exactly the same as the one in the picture you linked to, then the frame and fork are disc compatible. To double check compare your bike to these pictures:

You'll need a mounting point on the fork, which will either be a post mount like this, or an IS mount like this. Both will work. You will also need a mount for the rear on your frame. It will be an IS mount and look something like this, although it may be positioned inside the rear triangle.

As for wheels, they will need to be disc compatible also. They need to have the six mounting holes to fit the actual disc to the hub. These can be seen here. If your bike does not have these, you will need to either get new hubs laced on to your existing rims, or purchase a new disc compatible wheelset.

When it comes to picking the actual brakes, you have two real options: hydraulic or cable actuated. Cable will be cheaper, but will require more adjustment. I'd advise against going for cheap cable disc brakes, as they tend to be pretty naff. Avid BB7's are a good choice. BB5's will be slightly cheaper, but most people recommend spending the extra cash and going for the model up.

If your bike currently has an all-in-one shifter and brake lever setup (i.e. they are one complete unit on the bar with a single clamp, as seen here) then going for cable discs will most likely be cheaper, as you can use the existing shifter brake lever setup, and hence not have to replace your shifters.

The other option is hydraulic discs. These require less maintenance, and tend to provide more stopping power and better modulation. If your bike currently has all-in-one shifter and brake levers, then you'll have to replace your shifters in order to use the hydraulic brake levers, adding extra cost on to the already more expensive hydraulic disc brakes.

If you don't have the mounts for the disc or calipers, then it'll probably end up costing a fair bit in order to replace the fork/hubs to make them disc compatible (could reach the £150 mark easily). If that's the case you'll have to decide whether it's worth spending that amount of money on the bike to you. If not, then it may be time to start saving for a dedicated mountain bike!

If your frame doesn't have the mounts, but the fork does, you could always put discs on the front end only.