Help with replacing my brakes

[Hell and High Water]

I have an older steel bike with Suntour Blaze brake calipers.


I recently upgraded from downtube shifters to Shimano STI Brake Lever
Shifters.


Now I'm thinking of upgrading my brakes.

They work OK, but they look a little ragged.


I see a TON of brakes out on the web, but I'm just not sure what to look
for. (One option is a set of Shimano 105 brakes for $39, but I have no
idea if those would work.)


Tires are 700 x 23 if that helps....


Thanks for any help or suggestions.



-Bob

[John Forrest Tomlinson]

On Fri, 17 Aug 2007 13:17:11 -0500, Hell and High Water
<tifosoREM@OVEcomcast.net> wrote:

>I have an older steel bike with Suntour Blaze brake calipers.
>
>
>I recently upgraded from downtube shifters to Shimano STI Brake Lever
>Shifters.
>
>
>Now I'm thinking of upgrading my brakes.
>
>They work OK, but they look a little ragged.
>
>
>I see a TON of brakes out on the web, but I'm just not sure what to look
>for. (One option is a set of Shimano 105 brakes for $39, but I have no
>idea if those would work.)


I'm not familiar with the brake calipers you currently have, but 105
of any vintage are great brakes.

But you might get a lot of improvement simply by replacing the cables,
housing and brake pads.

--
JT
****************************
Remove "remove" to reply
Visit http://www.jt10000.com
****************************

[Hank Wirtz]

On Aug 17, 11:17 am, Hell and High Water <tifoso...@OVEcomcast.net>
wrote:
> I have an older steel bike with Suntour Blaze brake calipers.
>
> I recently upgraded from downtube shifters to Shimano STI Brake Lever
> Shifters.
>
> Now I'm thinking of upgrading my brakes.
>
> They work OK, but they look a little ragged.
>
> I see a TON of brakes out on the web, but I'm just not sure what to look
> for. (One option is a set of Shimano 105 brakes for $39, but I have no
> idea if those would work.)
>
> Tires are 700 x 23 if that helps....
>
> Thanks for any help or suggestions.
>
> -Bob

Your current brakes are almost certainly short reach, which means you
can use nearly any currently made short-reach caliper, by far the most
common ones. $39 for a set of 105s is an excellent price. It's also
hard to go wrong with Tektros, like the RX40 or R530, which run about
$30 a set, and have nice hardware and cartridge pads.

[Paul Myron Hobson]

Hell and High Water wrote:
> I have an older steel bike with Suntour Blaze brake calipers.
>
> [snip]
>
> Now I'm thinking of upgrading my brakes.
>
> They work OK, but they look a little ragged.
>
> I see a TON of brakes out on the web, but I'm just not sure what to look
> for. (One option is a set of Shimano 105 brakes for $39, but I have no
> idea if those would work.)

Those 105s are mostly like short reach brakes. Read on...

> Tires are 700 x 23 if that helps....

Mostly likely, a set of Tektro 521AG calipers will do the trick.
They're long (standard) reach brakes, which means they have a reach up
to 57 mm. IME, they're reliable with a good, positive response. The
brake pads aren't bad either. Nothing fancy...just good. LBS had them
in stock for $55.

\\paul

[Art Harris]

Hell and High Water wrote:
> I see a TON of brakes out on the web, but I'm just not sure what to look
> for. (One option is a set of Shimano 105 brakes for $39, but I have no
> idea if those would work.)

$39 for a pair? New? The current 105 (model BR-5600) calipers
typically sell for about $55 EACH caliper (which strikes me as
outrageous). I've bought older model 105 calipers used on eBay (still
dual calipers) for cheap. Then I install Kool Stop Continental pads.

>
> Tires are 700 x 23 if that helps....
>
Perfect for those brakes.

Art Harris

[Qui si parla Campagnolo-www.vecchios.com]

On Aug 17, 12:17 pm, Hell and High Water <tifoso...@OVEcomcast.net>
wrote:
> I have an older steel bike with Suntour Blaze brake calipers.
>
> I recently upgraded from downtube shifters to Shimano STI Brake Lever
> Shifters.
>
> Now I'm thinking of upgrading my brakes.
>
> They work OK, but they look a little ragged.
>
> I see a TON of brakes out on the web, but I'm just not sure what to look
> for. (One option is a set of Shimano 105 brakes for $39, but I have no
> idea if those would work.)
>
> Tires are 700 x 23 if that helps....
>
> Thanks for any help or suggestions.
>
> -Bob

Measure the distance from the brake bolt(where it attaches to the
frame and fork) and the center of the rim...and compare with the
'reach' of more modern brakes. If w/i the same range, they will work
fine. If much larger on your bike, look at Tektro and shimano 'long
reach' nrakes..they will work.

[landotter]

On Aug 17, 1:30 pm, Hank Wirtz <h...@wirtznet.net> wrote:
> On Aug 17, 11:17 am, Hell and High Water <tifoso...@OVEcomcast.net>
> wrote:
>
>
>
> > I have an older steel bike with Suntour Blaze brake calipers.
>
> > I recently upgraded from downtube shifters to Shimano STI Brake Lever
> > Shifters.
>
> > Now I'm thinking of upgrading my brakes.
>
> > They work OK, but they look a little ragged.
>
> > I see a TON of brakes out on the web, but I'm just not sure what to look
> > for. (One option is a set of Shimano 105 brakes for $39, but I have no
> > idea if those would work.)
>
> > Tires are 700 x 23 if that helps....
>
> > Thanks for any help or suggestions.
>
> > -Bob
>
> Your current brakes are almost certainly short reach, which means you
> can use nearly any currently made short-reach caliper, by far the most
> common ones. $39 for a set of 105s is an excellent price. It's also
> hard to go wrong with Tektros, like the RX40 or R530, which run about
> $30 a set, and have nice hardware and cartridge pads.

Ja, those Tektros are fine. Got them on two bikes. But if I could get
105s for a tenner more, I'd go for it, as the Tektros hardware
corrodes a little after a year.

Nashbar's got black Mirage calipers right now for $45/set if that goes
with your color scheme.

[Hank Wirtz]

On Aug 17, 11:41 am, landotter <landot...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Aug 17, 1:30 pm, Hank Wirtz <h...@wirtznet.net> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Aug 17, 11:17 am, Hell and High Water <tifoso...@OVEcomcast.net>
> > wrote:
>
> > > I have an older steel bike with Suntour Blaze brake calipers.
>
> > > I recently upgraded from downtube shifters to Shimano STI Brake Lever
> > > Shifters.
>
> > > Now I'm thinking of upgrading my brakes.
>
> > > They work OK, but they look a little ragged.
>
> > > I see a TON of brakes out on the web, but I'm just not sure what to look
> > > for. (One option is a set of Shimano 105 brakes for $39, but I have no
> > > idea if those would work.)
>
> > > Tires are 700 x 23 if that helps....
>
> > > Thanks for any help or suggestions.
>
> > > -Bob
>
> > Your current brakes are almost certainly short reach, which means you
> > can use nearly any currently made short-reach caliper, by far the most
> > common ones. $39 for a set of 105s is an excellent price. It's also
> > hard to go wrong with Tektros, like the RX40 or R530, which run about
> > $30 a set, and have nice hardware and cartridge pads.
>
> Ja, those Tektros are fine. Got them on two bikes. But if I could get
> 105s for a tenner more, I'd go for it, as the Tektros hardware
> corrodes a little after a year.
>
> Nashbar's got black Mirage calipers right now for $45/set if that goes
> with your color scheme.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Those have no QRs...but with 23mm tires, that may be ok.

[Hell and High Water]

In article <fa4q27$buv$1@news-int.gatech.edu>, phobson@gatech.edu
says...
> Hell and High Water wrote:
> > I have an older steel bike with Suntour Blaze brake calipers.
> >
> > [snip]
> >
> > Now I'm thinking of upgrading my brakes.
> >
> > They work OK, but they look a little ragged.
> >
> > I see a TON of brakes out on the web, but I'm just not sure what to look
> > for. (One option is a set of Shimano 105 brakes for $39, but I have no
> > idea if those would work.)
>
> Those 105s are mostly like short reach brakes. Read on...


So my bike would take short reach?


>
> > Tires are 700 x 23 if that helps....
>
> Mostly likely, a set of Tektro 521AG calipers will do the trick.
> They're long (standard) reach brakes,


Would long reach fit my bike as well?


Thanks,

-Bob

[landotter]

On Aug 17, 1:48 pm, Hell and High Water <tifoso...@OVEcomcast.net>
wrote:
> In article <fa4q27$bu...@news-int.gatech.edu>, phob...@gatech.edu
> says...
>
> > Hell and High Water wrote:
> > > I have an older steel bike with Suntour Blaze brake calipers.
>
> > > [snip]
>
> > > Now I'm thinking of upgrading my brakes.
>
> > > They work OK, but they look a little ragged.
>
> > > I see a TON of brakes out on the web, but I'm just not sure what to look
> > > for. (One option is a set of Shimano 105 brakes for $39, but I have no
> > > idea if those would work.)
>
> > Those 105s are mostly like short reach brakes. Read on...
>
> So my bike would take short reach?
>
>
>
> > > Tires are 700 x 23 if that helps....
>
> > Mostly likely, a set of Tektro 521AG calipers will do the trick.
> > They're long (standard) reach brakes,
>
> Would long reach fit my bike as well?

measure the distance from the center of the brake bolt to the center
of your rim and you will find your answer. The Tektro 521 is a great
brake, by the way and will work if your measurement is 47-57 mm.

[Hell and High Water]

In article <1187379510.396588.295200@r29g2000hsg.googlegroups. com>,
n2ah@hotmail.com says...
> Hell and High Water wrote:
> > I see a TON of brakes out on the web, but I'm just not sure what to look
> > for. (One option is a set of Shimano 105 brakes for $39, but I have no
> > idea if those would work.)
>
> $39 for a pair? New? The current 105 (model BR-5600)


These are advertised as Shimano 105 (BR-5501)


What is the difference between these two?


Thanks,


-Bob

[Art Harris]

Hell and High Water wrote:
>
> > $39 for a pair? New? The current 105 (model BR-5600)
>
> These are advertised as Shimano 105 (BR-5501)
>
> What is the difference between these two?
>

About $70! Seriously, those are a slightly older model, but
functionally just as good. The newer pads might be better. But I
prefer the Kool Stops. Search for "Kool Stop Continental" on eBay. A
couple of people are selling them. The silver ones are ok (as are the
"salmon" colored ones if you can get them).

Art Harris

[Luke]

In article <MPG.212fb64dfa2846d5989b10@news.giganews.com>, Hell and
High Water <tifosoREM@OVEcomcast.net> wrote:

> In article <1187379510.396588.295200@r29g2000hsg.googlegroups. com>,
> n2ah@hotmail.com says...
> > Hell and High Water wrote:
> > > I see a TON of brakes out on the web, but I'm just not sure what to look
> > > for. (One option is a set of Shimano 105 brakes for $39, but I have no
> > > idea if those would work.)
> >
> > $39 for a pair? New? The current 105 (model BR-5600)
>
>
> These are advertised as Shimano 105 (BR-5501)
>
>
> What is the difference between these two?
>

HaHW this may be consideration: your frame and/or forks may not be
spec'ed for recessed brake mounting -- the type used by contemporary
calipers. Are your current calipers fastened with a hexagonal nuts or a
recessed Allen head nuts [ http://tinyurl.com/2mll5f ]. Depending on
the model of caliper you opt for drilling the brake bridge and fork
crown brake mounting holes may be in order.


Luke

[landotter]

On Aug 17, 2:57 pm, Art Harris <n...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Hell and High Water wrote:
>
>
>
> > > $39 for a pair? New? The current 105 (model BR-5600)
>
> > These are advertised as Shimano 105 (BR-5501)
>
> > What is the difference between these two?
>
> About $70! Seriously, those are a slightly older model, but
> functionally just as good. The newer pads might be better. But I
> prefer the Kool Stops. Search for "Kool Stop Continental" on eBay. A
> couple of people are selling them. The silver ones are ok.

They're my favorite pad and they last forever.I wish they came in
black, though. Silver is just fine. The salmon's a bit much when the
whole pad is that color.

[Tom \Johnny Sunset\ Sherman]

landotter ??? wrote:
> On Aug 17, 2:57 pm, Art Harris <n...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>> Hell and High Water wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>>> $39 for a pair? New? The current 105 (model BR-5600)
>>> These are advertised as Shimano 105 (BR-5501)
>>> What is the difference between these two?
>> About $70! Seriously, those are a slightly older model, but
>> functionally just as good. The newer pads might be better. But I
>> prefer the Kool Stops. Search for "Kool Stop Continental" on eBay. A
>> couple of people are selling them. The silver ones are ok.
>
> They're my favorite pad and they last forever.I wish they came in
> black, though. Silver is just fine. The salmon's a bit much when the
> whole pad is that color.

Are the different colored pads not different compounds?

See <http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/brakeshoes.html#koolstop>.

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
BEER IS FOOD

--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

[landotter]

On Aug 17, 9:43 pm, "Tom \"Johnny Sunset\" Sherman"
<sunsetss0...@invailid.com> wrote:
> landotter ??? wrote:
> > On Aug 17, 2:57 pm, Art Harris <n...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> >> Hell and High Water wrote:
>
> >>>> $39 for a pair? New? The current 105 (model BR-5600)
> >>> These are advertised as Shimano 105 (BR-5501)
> >>> What is the difference between these two?
> >> About $70! Seriously, those are a slightly older model, but
> >> functionally just as good. The newer pads might be better. But I
> >> prefer the Kool Stops. Search for "Kool Stop Continental" on eBay. A
> >> couple of people are selling them. The silver ones are ok.
>
> > They're my favorite pad and they last forever.I wish they came in
> > black, though. Silver is just fine. The salmon's a bit much when the
> > whole pad is that color.
>
> Are the different colored pads not different compounds?

yeah, and they all work just fine.