Advid mechanical disk brakes?

[sammy]

My Louise disk brake leaks, sucks air and today it puked on me as I bled her!:barf:

Im thinking about a Advid mechanical disk front brake but would like to know which rotor size to get and what would be the very best lever for this front brake, also what cable set up?

I'm crash happy, is this the right decision?


confused man sam

[netto]

its "avid"
for stock 185 and up is good
for mod 160 is good

[netto]

doesnt really matter what cable set up. as long as u run the shortest housing possible, and grease the cable. it will feel fine

take out the screw that adjusts spring tension in the caliper.

[Trialsaddict]

doesnt really matter what cable set up. as long as u run the shortest housing possible, and grease the cable. it will feel fine

take out the screw that adjusts spring tension in the caliper.
I'm curious, why take out the screw? Benefit?

[sammy]

Which avid lever?

[Lagerhead]

I have the Avid mech with the 8" rotor (208mm?). I ran it with an Avid lever and didn't like it. I switched to a Shimano XT lever and I like it a lot more.

Haven't you ridden my bike? Oh and don't worry about crashing, I know you've seen me ride (/crash) :ugh:

[Trialsaddict]

Which avid lever?
I use the Avid SD-7 levers, and they work really well for me.

[netto]

xtr or xt levers are pretty good bang for the buck
the reason u take the bolt out is because u pretty much want the lowest tension possible so the brake is easier to pull

[Trialsaddict]

I see. Makes sense, guess I just didn't notice any difference from the screw being slightly in.

:dunno:

[MegamoMidwest]

you also want the pads to retract well.

[netto]

well your screw would end up protruding so much anyways. might as well just take it off
the pads will retract fine

[felix]

Avid with 203mm rotor + XTR lever + Nokon housing + cheap cable = best brake ever

[tomacropod]

Avid 203mm with SD ultimate lever and flak jacket housing, full length, little bit of triflow. Ooh baby. Well I'm hoping anyway. I've never had to screw with the spring tension on d'avids.

- JOel

[icecreamsammy]

Im running the avid ultimate lever and 203mm rotor, nothing touches it. Feels different to say a hope trials (the only other disc i'd run) but once your used to the feel its excelent.

[sammy]

Ben,

I did ride your bike and it had a great front brake! But do not remember what parts you had.

crash man sam

[sammy]

On the website JENSON the 203 rotor and caliper is for rear, 185 size rotor is for front. I imagine there is no differance in front and back calipers is there? Do I need to be specific.


sam

[tomacropod]

rear IS mounts are closer to the dropouts than front IS mounts. Just order what you need, specify size and front/rear. They should have the 203mm front - unless they're out of stock - I bought one from them. It is the same adapter (all have the same caliper) as the 185mm rear.

edit: sorry I just checked the Jenson site, they don't appear to have the 203mm front listed at the moment. You should email them and ask them if they will stock it again soon.

edit edit: a 185mm front should be plenty of power though

- Joel

[sammy]

Thanks Joel!


brake man sam

[rideitlikeyoustoleit]

the most expensive leever you can find and same with cable and get a hydro disk

[Elan]

that makes no sense

[tomacropod]

he's a drunk Australian, never mind him.

- Joel

[lowside]

are there any advantages to a 185 instead of a 203?

[hydroboy]

Less $$$

Less Fagmunchie

[AndyT]

less weight, less rotor to hit on things.

[lowside]

are there two types of avid mech discs?

i see some have the external pad adjustment, while some don't

BB5 and BB7?

[TooSicKs]

I run 203mm rotor, 8" and it works well. I just bolted it on, turned the red things till it was right and broke it in on a big hill dragging it and heating it up.

I'm running the Avid FR5 levers, i like 'em, but i wonder if a better lever will make much of a difference, i have no complaints.

I've smashed my rotor on edges a few times, nothing happened, just got some concrete dust on it. I found i don't hit my rotor as much as i thought i would.

Got mine at pricepoint.com for $69. There are two different 203mm adapter pieces that avid makes, one is forged, the other is machined. The forged one is lower profile and lighter. The machined one is a chunky unit that looks pretty badass. I've been running the forged one since i first got the brake, the other one is a spare, but so far i haven't needed it.

[tomacropod]

hayes also makes compatible machined adapters - I've got one of them.

The difference between the BB5 and the BB7 is just the presence of the outboard red pad aduster - the inboard one is the same and everything else is the same. You just adjust outboard pad placement with the cable tension instead. If it's significantly cheaper then get it. I think you get a slightly dodgier rotor as well.

- Joel

[lowside]

http://www.thetrialsinshop.com/avidmech.jpg

i emailed ken and he said this is a BB5, this isn't correct is it? I'm pretty sure that's a BB7, but I figured he'd know... :dunno:

[bwagner]

that pic is definitely a BB7

[felix]

It is a BB7!

[lowside]

thats what I thought, but he definitively listed the item as a BB5, and then told me when I asked him more about it that it was a BB7!

Bizarre.

[ilneff]

Sam I think you would be happy with a 185 rotor, thats what I've got up front on my bike, you can ride my bike and see what you think.
I think you would probably hit a 8".... (sam's not kidding about his wrecking) :)

[lowside]

do you notice a big difference in clearance/weight with an 8"?

i imagine it stops a helluva lot better, that probably outweighs (no pun intended) the downsides right?

[davke]

Is the power of bb5 6" and bb7 6" different ?

[stinkybastard]

Aside from the bb5 not having any outer pad adjustment, the pad is significantly smaller than the bb7, ala hayes hmx2

[JK]

Hayes mechnical works amazing with an 8" rotor. I'm sure the BB5 would be great too. The outer pad adjustment on the BB7 is more of a worry than anything. If anyone has had it turned while riding you'll know what I mean.

I'm using v's on the front now. I don't like the feel of a disc brake for trials. Too much pad play/spoke flex.

[JT!]

I'v had my avid BB7 for a while now an i'm content with it, however it's my only disc brake i have ever tried, so i can't really comment on it's performance.

I have the 165mm, with an avid SD 7 leaver (I have one for sale if your interested?) and the brake holds me with no problems and has loads of modulation.

I have my screw on my avid screwed right in as i think it feels better like that, but now after i have read this i think i might fiddle with it and see whats better. But i have pleanty of power anyway.

I'v heard loads of people having bother with their hydraulic brakes. The avid is fully ajustable, so you can get it just how you like it. And there's no need to piss about with fluid.

[Peace]

my hope has never leaked, i stripped the mount thread on it, but just tapped it and she great again. Got me a 180mm hope trials brake in the mail.... mmm mm!! im excited.

Avids work great tho! i know pleny of peeps with em and they absolutely love em!

Peace

[Rudy]

I have an old avid disk on the front of my stock, it is a 6" and it works awsome. I have a newer bb7 on my cross country bike and it isn't anywhere near as powerful, both are run through avid levers. Upon closer examination I noticed that the pads are a different compound they don't appear to be the semimetalic compound on the new brakes and also the lever arm on the calaper is longer resulting in more stopping power. So if I was looking for another set of avids I would look for an older used set. Take this for what you will.

[slctrials.com]

8 inch rotor with avid ultimate lever....feels super good.

[tomacropod]

^^^ werd. Add flak jacket cabling. Can't be beat. Stock pads - last for ages.

- Joel

[Trialsaddict]

^^^ werd. Add flak jacket cabling. Can't be beat. Stock pads - last for ages.

- Joel
:werd: to that.

[the trials punk]

i ran a hope mini 160mm and it just fucked up on me from the first time i installed it and rode it never really worked well tried everything but now i gotta avid 160mm with ultimate lever and it shits all over my hope-less. I know hopes can be good but i got a lemon but my avid is sweet as heaps happy with mine

[TrashZen]

are there two types of avid mech discs?

i see some have the external pad adjustment, while some don't

BB5 and BB7?
Also, with there cable cantilever leaning outside the fork, aren't the avid more likely to be hit and break than all the maggies or hope or other hydraulic systems that are very compact and protected in one monobloc casing??
Did any one of you smashed them? how resistant are they?
('cause my maggie and fork are badly scratched, but that wouldn't affect performance)

[AgrAde]

i hit my avid pretty often. it hasn't broken yet. i find it's pretty hard to hit with your weight on it. every time i hit it, it's been because i've ditched the bike and it's fallen sideways.

fellow rider was teasing me about my avid. i had a good laugh at him because he was using some hayes hydro piece of shit that didn't lock, and that i havn't seen a trials rider with a disk that works better than my own :hsugh:

[TrashZen]

i hit my avid pretty often. it hasn't broken yet. i find it's pretty hard to hit with your weight on it. every time i hit it, it's been because i've ditched the bike and it's fallen sideways.

fellow rider was teasing me about my avid. i had a good laugh at him because he was using some hayes hydro piece of shit that didn't lock, and that i havn't seen a trials rider with a disk that works better than my own :hsugh:Definitely going for some avid BB7 as a replacement for a pissing louise...

[Trialsaddict]

I have an old avid disk on the front of my stock, it is a 6" and it works awsome. I have a newer bb7 on my cross country bike and it isn't anywhere near as powerful, both are run through avid levers. Upon closer examination I noticed that the pads are a different compound they don't appear to be the semimetalic compound on the new brakes and also the lever arm on the calaper is longer resulting in more stopping power. So if I was looking for another set of avids I would look for an older used set. Take this for what you will.
Rudy, I'm almost sure, that you might have a "road" version of the brake. The road one is made with a less grippy, or "organic" compound, and is made to work with the other style brake levers. That might be why it seems different.

I sell both, and know that is how the two models differ... Might be your issue. :dunno:

[tomacropod]

I think they also differ in the length of the actuation arm. I have both. Other than that it's hard to find a difference. I haven't noticed a difference in the pad compounds but there's a lot I don't notice.

- Joel

[TrashZen]

None of you has ever had a problem with the inside part (the inside adjustment screw) of the avid brake being in the way of the spokes (even with all the best adjustments)??
'cause I am stuck now, with brakes I can't fit unless maybe I change the front wheel or rebuild it with a different hub. The horizontal spacing between the disk holes on my hub (megamo), and the spoke holes is about 7mm on my hub. What is the clearance on yours???
What hubs do you have?

[felix]

The horizontal spacing between the disk holes on my hub (megamo), and the spoke holes is about 7mm on my hub. What is the clearance on yours???

The Megamo hub is the problem. I still have to see any caliper, except the very first Louise ones, that fits.
It's not according to IS2000.

[tomacropod]

same with the roox thelma XC front hub. The disc flange is too far from the left hand dropout, and the spoke flange is too close to the disc flange. Two seperate problems but both irritating.

- Joel