Disc brake sizes

[Peteaud]

My bike, Cannondale Synapse 105 disc, has 160mm front discs and 140mm rear.

If i want to upgrade the callipers, do i have to match those sizes, or will any road based mechanical callipers work.

I presume it is the location of the frame / forks that dictates the rotor size, not the calliper unit.

So BB7 for example, even though say 160mm would fit?

 

[Paul99]

My bike, Cannondale Synapse 105 disc, has 160mm front discs and 140mm rear.

If i want to upgrade the callipers, do i have to match those sizes, or will any road based mechanical callipers work.

I presume it is the location of the frame / forks that dictates the rotor size, not the calliper unit.

So BB7 for example, even though say 160mm would fit?

I believe it is the mount that dictates rotor size not the caliper.

For example I upgraded mine to TRP HYRD and the different size options were (taken from http://www.trpbrakes.com/category.php?productid=1198&catid=206):
-140 versions include our L2 (140R/160F) IS to PM adapter
-160 versions include both L2 and L3 (160R/180F) IS to PM adapters

 

[byegad]

It is the mount that dictates the size.

 

[Peteaud]

I believe it is the mount that dictates rotor size not the caliper.

For example I upgraded mine to TRP HYRD and the different size options were (taken from http://www.trpbrakes.com/category.php?productid=1198&catid=206):
-140 versions include our L2 (140R/160F) IS to PM adapter
-160 versions include both L2 and L3 (160R/180F) IS to PM adapters

Thats the ones ive been looking at. what do you think of them?

What bike have you got them on.

 

[Paul99]

Thats the ones ive been looking at. what do you think of them?

What bike have you got them on.

I've got them on my Focus Mares ax 4.0 which is used for commuting duties. They replaced the truly awful Tektro Lyra's that came with the bike and to be honest it's not fair to compare the two! I have full hydros on my 29'er (Deore) and they are not as good as full hydros but you shouldn't expect them to be.

I think they are very good, no rubbing whatsoever, good stopping power and a doddle to set up. I'm not sure if it was my dodgy breaking in or not but the stock pads are a tad noisy. I'm contemplating some ceramic pads to replace them (disco brakes ceramic pro's or red).

A few more views can be found here:
http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/trp-hy-rd-mechanical-hydraulic-brake-callipers.139919/#post-3072729

 

[MacB]

It can also be the bike, for example some forks(especially roadie ones) limit the front disc rotor to a maximum of 160mm. On the rear I would just check what rotor clearance you have, I think the limitation there is space rather than braking stresses. But as for the calipers and the rotors themselves then the above is correct, you just need the adaptor to match the rotor size, the rotor and caliper don't care.