Brakes SRAM Apex with Shimano 105 Sti levers?

[wakou]

Hi guys, I have been very happy with my my self-build Specialized Roubaix, except for the brakes. The only ones I had in the fettling shed, were Shimano RSX (quite old I believe) I decided to upgrade with some Kool-stop cartridge pads, but unfortunately they will not fit....
So instead of spending more ££ on other pads, I am going to get new callipers, I started by looking for a pair of of Shimano 105 5700 in silver at a decent price, but as usual got distracted from my focus, and I came across these:
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/ro...m-apex-white-brakes-road/srambrar335000000000,
( I know that Ribble are out of stock, ATM but CRC have them @£42.00, ribble's description is better, due to CRC website glitch)

I would not usually have considered mixing/matching, but:
1) White and would look sexy on my bike
2) Cheap, the very best I could find for BR5700 105's was £30.00 EACH (also CRC)
3) The clincher; (lols, see wot I done there?) Was that these come pre-equipped with Swiss-stop cartridge pads... which are about £20 a pair with carts anyway... so = free brakeset? And I have a spare pair of Koolstops which would fit (? I hope!??) plus a spare pair of inserts....

Would they work OK with 105 STI levers?

 

[Herr-B]

I assume they'd work ok with your levers, but I'm just here to say I've got then on my Ribble and they worked wonderfully yesterday in the cold, damp, muddy country lanes. Thoroughly recommended.

 

[Hacienda71]

Sram Apex calipers should be fine with your levers. I have them on my bike and with Koolstops they are great.

 

[wakou]

TY guys, order placed

 

[Rob3rt]

For future reference for the OP or anyone who uses the search function (do people ever do that?) to ask this question again:

Shimano and SRAM levers and brakes are interchangeable, Campag however is not in some combinations. The Shimano and SRAM calipers have the cable release cam on the brake, for releasing the brakes to get the wheel out, Campag place this on the brake lever and not the caliper. Thus if you use a Shimano or SRAM lever with Campag brake you can't get the wheel out easily. On the other hand, a Campag lever with Shimano or SRAM caliper will offer LOTS of free cable due to having 2 quick releases.

 

[wakou]

For future reference for the OP or anyone who uses the search function (do people ever do that?) to ask this question again:

Shimano and SRAM levers and brakes are interchangeable, Campag however is not in some combinations. The Shimano and SRAM calipers have the cable release cam on the brake, for releasing the brakes to get the wheel out, Campag place this on the brake lever and not the caliper. Thus if you use a Shimano or SRAM lever with Campag brake you can't get the wheel out easily. On the other hand, a Campag lever with Shimano or SRAM caliper will offer LOTS of free cable due to having 2 quick releases.

Ty Rob, I did search and did see that thread. However it is not true. Try fitting Kool-stop Dura pads to to Shimano RSX brakes. They don't fit. The post is too wide to fit the slot, and the front pad interferes with the fork. Also, this is from CRC:

Shimano Ultegra Brake Calliper 6700

Features:

• Dual-pivot calliper brake with super SLR design for quick linear response, increased rigidity and improved braking power
• Must be used in conjunction with ST-7900 or ST-6700 STIs for correct leverage ratio

So; NOT all Shimano brakes are cross compatible even with all Shimano levers, nor are all Shimano road pads cross-compatible with all Shimano road callipers, this without even bringing SRAM in to the mix. And this is why I asked, Having spent £20.00 on a pair of pads which are of no use to me, I wished to avoid similar mistake with new callipers.

 

[Rob3rt]

I was referring only to lever and calipers cross compatibility, I did not comment on brake pads.

As for the compatibility thing re. some Shimano brake lever and caliper's, fair point, my comment was a generalisation based on the base design features of each brand, which on the whole, holds true (bar a few specific cases). I would wager though that the Ultegra or DA brakes your quote refer's to would work just fine with any modern Shimano STI but for that extra smidgeon of advantage they offer over lesser brakes you may only gain from using higher end STI's! I wouldnt advise trying what my gut tells me without extra research though, since if I am wrong it is with a safety critical bit of kit.

 

[Howard]

5700, 6700 and 7900 series leavers pull slightly more cable than previous incarnations - this may affect set up and braking performance with mismatched brake calipers. Suck it and see.

 

[Rob3rt]

Thanks for the clarification Howard. Pulling more cable is not really much concern. You will engage the brakes fully, but may loose a bit of "feel", but you could set the brakes up to tailor the feel and performance quite well. Pulling less cable could be more hazardous, but still in many circumstances still perfectly serviceable if set up carefully.