Disc Brakes? Mechanical or Hydro?

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e9999

e9999

Gotta get out there...
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I'm in the market for a new MTB, probably used, likely middle-of-the-lineup. Maybe something that could be had for somewhere between $500 and $1000 new today. Decent gears, decent hardware, at least front suspension.

I'm trying to decide on some general parameters. One question that comes to mind is that I'm really tempted to spring for disc brakes -primarily because of performance expectations- but...

- I don't know how much better they are in practice -in contrast to paper- than good linear pulls. IOW, are they worth the extra cost for "normal" trail riding (i.e. not going down vertical cliffs) given that I've been able to lock up my wheels pretty easily in the past with rim brakes?

- If so, are hydraulic disc brakes worth the extra cost over mechanical discs? And are there brands that are much better than others as far as parts availability, reliability, etc?

any thought much appreciated. TIA
 
I'm going to start off by saying even lousy disc brakes are better than lp by a long shot. If you're an occasional week end rider, just moseying along, mechanical discs are fine. You probably won't care about the extra weight of the linears and most likely won't ride enough to warrant changing out a streched brake cable.

If however, you want to go past once in a while riding and make it a serious hobby, imo, you really should go hydro. Good (read name brands) hydros instill confidence, and thus let you ride even faster than you normally would. Good hydros are like the power brakes in your car, plus they self adjust, wheras cable discs can't.

Finally, you want a nice controlled deacceleration. Locking up your wheels with the brakes is bad form, and certainly will lead to loss of control and traction.

I own Shimano XTs and would never part with them. I use the metallic pads as I weigh about 190 and travel fast and downhill. The organics would begin to show some fade near the tail end of a hill and wear out quicker. I can get most of a season on the metallics riding 6-7 hours weekly for 9 months of the year.
 
no, not really gonna be a serious hobby, don't have enough time for that. Maybe an hour or 2 during the weekend a couple of times a month if that. I just would like a bike that is a pleasure to ride rather than a chore.

I'm just never been fully happy with the performance of rim brakes. Many not very satisfying, although I could always stop the bike. So, I'm just thinking discs may be a better concept and execution. Do they feel very different then? much better and safer? I'll admit I have never been keen to go downhill at high speed given that my life would then depend on these 4 little hokey pieces of rubber... Somehow disc feels better.


added: saw an ad for an interesting possibility (GT Avalanche 2.0), but the guy says that the (mechanical disk) brakes are squeaking. What does that mean/imply as far as condition etc?
 
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trainrech said:
My geared MTB has cable, my single speed has hydro. From what you describe as your typical use the cable pull discs will be just fine. The hydro do cut down on finger fatigue when you are on the brakes a lot, but it sounds like you won't be.
Click to expand...

all right, so if i get this right, sounds like the hydro is not necessarily stopping better, just easier on your hands (and self-adjusting). It does sound like hydro is not a must-have for casual use. Good to know.
 
Just for info but, Sun and Ski has the Marin Hawk Hill MB on sale for 599. I have this bike and it is a great bike imho. I am selling my older model Hawk Hill with mech brakes but shipping to you would probably kill the deal...

GL
 
are there disc brake brands that one should stay away from because of hard to find parts such as the pads?
 
tag3 said:
Anything the bikeshop sells, should be able to get replacement parts.
Click to expand...

yes, presumably, but some more established brands may be better than other at maintaining stock for older equipment perhaps? Some may have parts sold online by third parties, some may not. This may be an issue if I buy a bike that's a few years old for instance with what was fancy hydro brakes at a time but maybe no longer sold.
 
E9999,

Cambria Bicycle Outfitter - We Outfit the world in bicycles, bicycle parts, frame, fork, wheel, build kit, shoes, accessories and more - these guys are close enough for you - you can even get there on your way to SurfNTurf. They always have sales. BB7's like tcb said above is one the better ones - which is getting really popular with the cyclocross crowd (until the big guys figure out a way to put hydraulic brakes on shifter/levers) - this is another topic ...

Right now, shops will start to unload 2011 bikes to make room for 2012 - so you might get a decent deal(s) out there. As for parts being able to replace - they usually have a few years life cycle, you should be fine with what is out there.
 
thanks, I'll check what they have



one issue I did notice while checking out a couple of bikes in a shop is that the hydro brakes do seem to have more "progressiveness" than the mechanical ones, e.g. more control for medium braking and not locking up the wheel. Is that significant in practice?
 
Not really.

One thing you'll find is that you'll lock up when pressure is off. For instance, you're going downhill with "light" pressure on the brakes when you go over a small hump. Your momentum pushes you upward, even though you don't jump. When you lighten up in this way, your wheel will tend to lock.
 
e9999 said:
thanks, I'll check what they have



one issue I did notice while checking out a couple of bikes in a shop is that the hydro brakes do seem to have more "progressiveness" than the mechanical ones, e.g. more control for medium braking and not locking up the wheel. Is that significant in practice?
Click to expand...

I'm going to disagree a bit with Mr. Toad here. "Not really", but with a caveat...that if you're going to really enjoy the hobby, go for hydro and try the metallic pads. You'll find, much more controlled, progressive braking through the tricky stuff--all done with one finger on the lever with a very light touch.

Once you know you're in control, you'll be able to push a bit more on the bike.

If you just want to toodle around, then don't worry, mechanical will do just fine.
 
If he'd asked about touch and lightness of action, I'd agree wholeheartedly with what you wrote. But he asked about progressiveness of braking force, and there's just not much difference. At least between xtr (985s), elixirs, and Bb7s (mech).
 
to clarify, what I meant to ask was whether hydros were significantly better at allowing the rider to modulate the brakes for intermediate braking, as in easy to dial 1/4, 1/2, etc of the full braking power. To avoid locking up the brakes inadvertedly. It did seem that -in the store- the mechanicals I tried were more all or nothing with a very short engagement distance for the levers. The hydros felt like there was more lever/pressure "distance" to work with.
 
You will inadvertently lock up every brake set you ride until you get used to them. And even Then, youll just do it less often.

You don't have to use nearly as much finger force with hydros, as ravewoofer said. They're much more comfortable over the long haul. Good hydros will have a nice progressive engagement, but so will good mechanicals. Bottom line is that you need to go out and ride different brakes and get the ones you like. Pretty simple really.
 
Hydro disc brakes are better. If you want "set it and forget it", one finger braking in ALL conditions get Hydraulic brakes. My preference is Shimano. If you want brakes that feel consistent down some sketchy **** in wet and muddy winter conditions as well as the middle of summer get hydros. Even the best cable discs CAN NOT hold a candle to the performance of an inexpensive hydraulic brake. I have set up hundreds of cable disc brakes on mountain bikes and unless your mechanic is willing to spend 25 minutes on each one, getting cable tension, cable routing, caliper adjustment and pad adjustment just absolutely perfect then they will not work for **** and turd out on you right away. I'd rather run V-brakes than cable discs.

As far as modulation goes, all the brands are different. My old Avid Jucy 7's have a pad contact adjustment on the lever and I can dial in the feel I'm looking for. Some newer brakes have that adjustment and a lever "free play" adjustment. My boss has brand new XT brakes on his ride and if I even look at them wrong they lock up. SUPER touchy. They feel like switches. I don't like that in the parking lot doing wheelies but when you actually get them on the trail they are magical. You are barely exerting any pressure at all from your finger and they just work perfect. Dancing through a rock garden with some pepper is totally different than the sidewalk in front of the shop. My .02
 
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