Do I need longer calipers?............

[smokeysmoo]

Ok, the frame for my winter build arrived back from paint yesterday afternoon, and I started the build last night. I've fitted the headset, forks, bars, stem, shifters, bb/chainset, and mechs, happy days.

Then when I came to fit the brakes I had to drill the forks and the rear bridge to accomodate the bolt/sleeve of rmodern brakes, (no big deal, oh yes the brakes are Campag Veloce), now it seesm that the calipers are a touch too short! I've adjusted the blocks as low as they go, but one side still looks like it will catch the tyre, (I'll take a pic later if it helps).

I suspect I need 57mm drop calipers, such as THESE from Ribble, or THESE from High on Bikes. I know this may seem obvious but I don't want to get the wrong ones, and my concern is these may be too long as the Campag ones don't seem to be out by very much, (could I get away with filing them out a bit?).

How do you measure the drop on calipers? It's not something I've ever had to consider, the last resto/re-build I did I overhauled the original calipers so it wasn't a problem.

Ok I'm aware I'm probably waffling now, but it is 6 am and my brain isn't fully engaged

Last thing, does anyone know anywhere around Manchester that I could get long reach calipers, (if indeed that's what I need), and off the shelf on a Sunday?

[EDIT] PS: they must be black calipers too

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

This describes how to measure brake reach, as well as how to mount new calipers on old frame/forks.

I have a pair of Ambrosio Momentum in black/carbon. Nice brakes.

 

[smokeysmoo]

This describes how to measure brake reach, as well as how to mount new calipers on old frame/forks.

I have a pair of Ambrosio Momentum in black/carbon. Nice brakes.

Cheers Record. According the man Sheldon it looks like I need 55mm reach. Those Ambros look very nice, but I think the carbon will be a bit too 'bling' for my build.
I'm leaning towards THESE, largly because I can go and pick them up, (all be it not until tomorrow )

 

[Vapin' Joe]

If the calipers are only a touch too short as you say, just file the slots a little and that should allow the brake blocks to drop enough to clear the tyre.

 

[smokeysmoo]

If the calipers are only a touch too short as you say, just file the slots a little and that should allow the brake blocks to drop enough to clear the tyre.

That's the other temptation, and I might do it as I really want to get it built.

Another thing, am I going mad? Do modern brakes route the cable the opposite way to how they used to 'back in the day'?

By following the internal routing the cable is on the wrong side, I'm clearly not imaging things Does this mean I can only use 'vintage' calipers unless I want my cables to be on the pi$$?

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

If the calipers are only a touch too short as you say, just file the slots a little and that should allow the brake blocks to drop enough to clear the tyre.

It might not be how you want it to look, but I have found that sometimes placing the brakes in front of the bridge rather than behind gives you a couple more mm of reach.

 

[andrew_s]

If the calipers are only a touch too short as you say, just file the slots a little and that should allow the brake blocks to drop enough to clear the tyre.

Take care.
Blocks that only just clear the tyre can hit the tyre when they are half worn and the caliper closes up a bit more.
You can add a thin spacer between the block and the caliper arm when the block starts to rise up, but there's a fair chance you won't remember until after the tyre has been damaged.

 

[smokeysmoo]

Take care.
Blocks that only just clear the tyre can hit the tyre when they are half worn and the caliper closes up a bit more.
You can add a thin spacer between the block and the caliper arm when the block starts to rise up, but there's a fair chance you won't remember until after the tyre has been damaged.

Cheers Andrew, it's sorted now with a pair of 57mm long reach Shimano calipers