Help With V-Brakes please!!!

[dealba]

I am looking to purchase Shimano V-brakes, i currently have crappy stock canti-lever brakes on my MTB.

I have 2 questions:

1) Is Shimano a good brand? Any other brands/models anyone would recommend? (preferably in-expensive)

2) Do I need to purchase new brake levers, or can i use my old one's? If i need new one's any good brands anyone recommends? (Preferably in-expensive)

[nfmisso]

I like AVID and Tektro:
http://www.amazon.com/Tektro-839AL-LPull-Brak-Black/dp/B001CJZ0IU/
http://www.amazon.com/Avid-Single-Digit-Brake-Forged/dp/B002AGA12Y/

and Tektro Eclipse Levers
http://www.amazon.com/Tektro-Eclipse-Universal-Brake-Silver/dp/B000GDAUH4/

Yes, you need new levers.

[dealba]

(05-08-2011, 01:45 PM)nfmisso Wrote:  I like AVID and Tektro:
http://www.amazon.com/Tektro-839AL-LPull-Brak-Black/dp/B001CJZ0IU/
http://www.amazon.com/Avid-Single-Digit-Brake-Forged/dp/B002AGA12Y/

and Tektro Eclipse Levers
http://www.amazon.com/Tektro-Eclipse-Universal-Brake-Silver/dp/B000GDAUH4/

Yes, you need new levers.

Can i use the same cables or do i need those too?

[mrdunk]

i would definately go for tektro myself having used them for many years without fault.
you more than likely will need to change the cables but they are inexpensive so i wouldnt worry too much about the cost

[nfmisso]

New cables will add less than $5- to your cost....

I use Bell brand from Wal-mart, multipack. Make sure you remove the cable from the housing, and lubricate it along its whole length. You can use oil or grease for lubricating. Do not use WD40 or similar as it will gum up.

---

New cables will add less than $5- to your cost....

I use Bell brand from Wal-mart, multipack. Make sure you remove the cable from the housing, and lubricate it along its whole length. You can use oil or grease for lubricating. Do not use WD40 or similar as it will gum up.

[Bill]

Hey Nigel, dealba said he had "canti-lever" currently on the bike. Aren't the bosses different sized?

[nfmisso]

Hi Bill;

They are the same size, have spring holes in the right place relative to the boss, and in the correct position. Makes swapping easy .

If the cantis on the tandem to prove to be as good as V-brakes; it will get a set of Avid SD5 linear pulls too.

[Bill]

Thats why I put the question mark . Seems odd that I thought that. Somewhere there was a debate on the sizes. Very good information to know. +1 to my learned something new today lol.

Thanks.

[dealba]

(05-09-2011, 10:59 AM)nfmisso Wrote:  Hi Bill;

They are the same size, have spring holes in the right place relative to the boss, and in the correct position. Makes swapping easy .

If the cantis on the tandem to prove to be as good as V-brakes; it will get a set of Avid SD5 linear pulls too.

hi im totally NEWB in case you couldn't tell already XP

so what are bosses and i do not understand what your suggesting in the highlighted text.

thanks for all the help everybody!

[Bill]

(05-10-2011, 06:26 PM)dealba Wrote:  

(05-09-2011, 10:59 AM)nfmisso Wrote:  Hi Bill;

They are the same size, have spring holes in the right place relative to the boss, and in the correct position. Makes swapping easy .

If the cantis on the tandem to prove to be as good as V-brakes; it will get a set of Avid SD5 linear pulls too.

hi im totally NEWB in case you couldn't tell already XP

so what are bosses and i do not understand what your suggesting in the highlighted text.

thanks for all the help everybody!

Bosses are the posts that the swing arms of the brakes slide on to.

[nfmisso]

I cannot see the text color chosen for the highlight; but am guessing cantilever vs linear pull (aka V-brake) brakes.

Cantilever: http://media.rei.com/media/ll/49f607cb-71a9-44f2-9555-97146623967d.jpg

Linear Pull (aka V): http://orangecycleorlando.com/images/library/site/pict_linearplbrk_f.gif

Linear pull (V-brakes) are in expensive, reliable, easy to adjust and incredibly powerful.

If the cantis on the tandem do not prove to be as good as linear pull brakes; I will be replacing the cantis with these:
http://www.amazon.com/Avid-Single-Digit-Brake-Forged/dp/B002AGA12Y/