Upgrading Brakes

[Corgi Kid]

Ok many of you may think me mad for starting a thread about updating brakes when my new bike (Trek 1.2) is barely a week old and I have no real riding feedback as to how good the standard brakes are.
My problem is how do I measure what size calipers I need. The standard dual pivot brakes on the bike have no markings or sizes stamped on them and look very roughly made (in my opinion). I have been looking at some Shimano Tiagra and Ultegra brakes on ebay that come in various lengths. Can one of you point me in the right direction on how to measure up.
Thanks in advance

 

[Herzog]

IIRC they are Sora on the 1.2? It will be a straight for the ultegra or tiagra calipers and you don't need to measure anything.

 

[tyred]

Why do you want to change them? If you just want to improve braking performance, the first place and probably cheapest place to start is to change the pads for something better. Shimano pads are shoot in my experience.

 

[accountantpete]

Brakes are measured as regards drop - in reality most road bikes use roughly the same (short) drop so you don't hear this mentioned very much.

Drop is measured from the centre of the bolt in the calipers to the centre of the wheel rim - yours should be just below 50mm.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Ok many of you may think me mad for starting a thread about updating brakes when my new bike (Trek 1.2) is barely a week old and I have no real riding feedback as to how good the standard brakes are.
My problem is how do I measure what size calipers I need. The standard dual pivot brakes on the bike have no markings or sizes stamped on them and look very roughly made (in my opinion). I have been looking at some Shimano Tiagra and Ultegra brakes on ebay that come in various lengths. Can one of you point me in the right direction on how to measure up.
Thanks in advance

From the god that was Sheldon Brown

Reach is the effective length of the arms of a caliper brake. This is measured from the centerline of the center bolt diagonally down to the middle of the brake shoe. Reach is commonly expressed as a range (allowing for the fact that the brake shoes are adjustable, typically 10-15 mm.)

 

[Davidc]

I don't think you're mad at all. I've changed the brakes on nearly all of my bikes because the original ones were poor.

Didn't need to on my first good bike (Holdsworth fitted good components), and on the two I have now changing the pads has been enough, though the original Tektro cantilever brakes on the tourer are still under threat.

IMO they're the most important component on the bike and if you're not happy do something to improve them.

 

[Corgi Kid]

IIRC they are Sora on the 1.2? It will be a straight for the ultegra or tiagra calipers and you don't need to measure anything.

I was under the impression that Sora were the choice for the brakes but on reading my spec sheet they just say dual pivot brake calipers, plus I would imagine Shimano would at least have a code stamped on and maybe a Sora logo to. My calipers are just plain black

 

[TheDoctor]

Ah, if they're unbranded ones then a swap may well be your best bet.
Sora are shiny alloy (or my ones are, at least) and do indeed have Sora printed on them.
I'd be astounded if they're not standard shallow drop, but a visit to the bike shop would be your best bet.

 

[accountantpete]

I have a newish pair of Shimano calipers in For Sale which haven't sold yet and can go cheap (£12 posted) - pm me if you are interested.

 

[John the Monkey]

Not wanting to do Pete out of a sale here, I'd second changing the pads and checking the setup before splashing out on new calipers, however reasonably priced.

I've got no name dual pivots on my SCR2 (probably Tektro) paired with Tiagra levers and they're fine - Kool Stop pads (Salmon) up front, dual compound in back. Fibrax "Xtreme" are also very good.

Squinting at the pic of the Trek 1.2 on Leisure Lakes, I note that it has mudguard eyelets, which *could* indicate a longer drop than m'learned friends have suggested so far. Worth measuring.

 

[fossyant]

Pads first. OEM issue / cheap pads are crap - they also eat rims.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Pads first. OEM issue / cheap pads are crap - they also eat rims.

If they eat rims why do they get skinnier (Lack of nutritional value in aluminium? )