Mechanical disc brakes

[3narf]

Hello

My son's bike has Clarks mechanical discs fitted. They're pretty poor, tbh; they're not strong enough to lock up, which could be seen as a safety feature, but we would like to upgrade them.

Is it worth trying new pads or are mechanical discs just inherently rubbish? I've never heard anyone say they've had much success with cable discs, although I don't see why they shouldn't be able to make a set that works efficiently.

Is it just the cable stretch that ultimately limits stopping power?

Thx

 

[ianrauk]

My guess is that they are not set up properly.
Disc brakes are certainly not inherently rubbish.
Properly set up disc brakes should stop you on a sixpence, in dry or wet. I have been running DB's ( BB7's) on my commute bike for 2 years now in all weathers and certainly won't go back to rim brakes.

 

[raleighnut]

Hello

My son's bike has Clarks mechanical discs fitted. They're pretty poor, tbh; they're not strong enough to lock up, which could be seen as a safety feature, but we would like to upgrade them.

Is it worth trying new pads or are mechanical discs just inherently rubbish? I've never heard anyone say they've had much success with cable discs, although I don't see why they shouldn't be able to make a set that works efficiently.

Is it just the cable stretch that ultimately limits stopping power?

Thx

I'd take the pads out and look at them they could be glazed or dirty but will always benefit from a scrub with a clean dry hand wirebrush while they're out. As for locking its more likely to be lever pivot flex than cable stretch that limits the power, unless you have all metal levers on.

 

[3narf]

Thanks! I'll have a look.

 

[Hacienda71]

My son has a Clarks mechanical disc on the front of his bike and I would concur it is pants. Have adjusted it so any more and it rubs and it still does not lock the front wheel. Would be interested to know if the more expensive ones are any better.

 

[I like Skol]

I fitted M615 Shimano hydraulic items to my sons MTB build. Not cheap at about £40 per end but they are suspiciously similar in appearance to my M785 XT versions (trickle down in action?) and stop you like hitting a brick wall. In fact he has now begun complaining about being scared of the poor brakes when he returns to riding on his road bike

 

[fossyant]

Should be fine. I'd get cleaning the rotors and buy new pads.

My lads Carrera Vengeance has Tektro and they are very good - over the bars good. My daughter has the Clarkes ones, and they are good too, not as good as the Tektro. Main issue with my daughters was the rear cable wasn't lubed properly from new, so the rear brake was stiff. Stripped the cable, re-assembled and it's fine.

 

[mattobrien]

Another user of Avid BB7's here, they are very good and I have had no issues with them. I have covered around 1,000 miles on them since January, so in a range of conditions.

I do use brake cleaner on them from time to time to make sure they stay contaminant free and prevent any squeal.

 

[NormanD]

Try HERE in case of new pads needed ... I use the BB5 Ceramic pro in my BB5's and wow the stopping power is great

Clean the pads face on some sandpaper wet n dry paper on a flat surface .. use a figure 8 motion to help keep the pad surface flat ... scour the discs with some rough emery paper to take off the polished surface .. should help improve the braking performance.

 

[Andrew Br]

Like ianrauk, I've done many, many miles on mechanical disc brakes (mainly Avid BB7s plus, recently, TRP Spyres) and I've had very few issues.
Sure they sometimes make noises but have you heard rim brakes on wet, muddy roads ?
All of my current bikes have discs and, all things being equal, all of my future bikes will have them as well.

Decent cable disc brakes, properly set up, work very well.

.

 

[ianrauk]

@Andrew Br
Did you get replacement TRP's after the recall? Am looking at upgrading my BB7's to TRP's.

 

[Andrew Br]

@Andrew Br
Did you get replacement TRP's after the recall? Am looking at upgrading my BB7's to TRP's.

Yes, my Spyres are post-recall.
The recall held up the build of my new bike (did I mention that I have a new bike . Perhaps that joke's getting a little stale now......).

My experience so far (about 560 miles) is that the Spyres aren't as good as the BB7s on my other bikes.
They don't seem to have the same stopping power.
I don't know how much this is down to my Campag shifters and their pull ratio.
More thoughts here:- https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=80962.0

Knowing what I know now, I'd have stuck with BB7s.
I regard this as a real shame because I think the way the Spyres operate are a real step forward.
Great idea, poor execution ?

Having said all of that, they're still way better than rim brakes.

.

 

[ianrauk]

Yes, my Spyres are post-recall.
The recall held up the build of my new bike (did I mention that I have a new bike . Perhaps that joke's getting a little stale now......).

My experience so far (about 560 miles) is that the Spyres aren't as good as the BB7s on my other bikes.
They don't seem to have the same stopping power.
I don't know how much this is down to my Campag shifters and their pull ratio.
More thoughts here:- https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=80962.0

Knowing what I know now, I'd have stuck with BB7s.
I regard this as a real shame because I think the way the Spyres operate are a real step forward.
Great idea, poor execution ?

Having said all of that, they're still way better than rim brakes.

.

Thanks for your input Andrew, food for thought.

 

[compo]

I have Shimano M416 mechanical disc brakes and they are excellent provided they are set up correctly, not difficult to do. They will stop the bike on a sixpence and offer reasonable feedback during braking.

 

[Nick Stone]

Disc brakes never really got on with mechanical disc brakes, constant cable adjustments, I think as mentioned look at the hydraulic versions, safer lasts longer give more confidence, can't wait to try at road bike with good disc brakes, my mountain bikes run avids of different types and love them. Big discs unbelievable stopping power imagine that on the road..... .