Replacement for Dia-Compe G Brakes?

[vintagedirtrider]

I just got an old 1982 Fuji "Team Fuji" that is in decent shape, and fits me
really well. My plan is to turn it into a single speed (not fixie). My
biggest concern is replacing the Dia-Compe G brakes. The shoes are hard and
definitely need replaced, but more importantly, I'm sure that there were
better brakesets that I could put on it. Everything is available on ebay,
but I just don't know what will work, and what dimensions to look for. Any
help would be greatly appreciated.

[A Muzi]

vintagedirtrider wrote:
> I just got an old 1982 Fuji "Team Fuji" that is in decent shape, and fits me
> really well. My plan is to turn it into a single speed (not fixie). My
> biggest concern is replacing the Dia-Compe G brakes. The shoes are hard and
> definitely need replaced, but more importantly, I'm sure that there were
> better brakesets that I could put on it. Everything is available on ebay,
> but I just don't know what will work, and what dimensions to look for. Any
> help would be greatly appreciated.

Nothing wrong with those calipers that a pair of Kool Stop pads and new
teflon-lined cables won't cure.
--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

[Donald Gillies]

"vintagedirtrider" <vintagedirtrider@verizon.net> writes:

>My biggest concern is replacing the Dia-Compe G brakes. The shoes
>are hard and definitely need replaced, but more importantly, I'm sure
>that there were better brakesets that I could put on it.

Believe it or not, these new economy pads/holders by Jagwire are 'Da
bomb'. They stop so awesomely well that I have put them onto my
Campagnolo Super Record calipers, and prefer the bike that's got the
Jagwire $0.50 pads (www.biketoolsetc.com, $1.50 at
www.performancebike.com) vs. the $5.00 campagnolo NOS supple pads
.... You can spend $20 for Koolstop pads / holders which wont work any
better in dry conditions :

http://www.jagwireusa.com/en/basicsseries.html

Don't settle for any other brand. And yes, I have put these on my Dia
Compe G calipers, and my Dia Compe Royal Gran Compe calipers, etc.
And yes, I have compared them to koolstop and jagwire pads on weinmann
610 centerpulls.

- Don Gillies
San Diego, CA

[Donald Gillies]

"vintagedirtrider" <vintagedirtrider@verizon.net> writes:

>My biggest concern is replacing the Dia-Compe G brakes. The shoes
>are hard and definitely need replaced ...

One more advantage of Jagwire bulk-pads (sold in cards of 100, the OEM
price is probably something like $0.30 per pad/holder) :

In 10 minutes, with a pair of pliars, you can also get the pads out of
the Jagwire holders, and put them into your Dia Compe G holders.
Depending upon the age of your Dia Compe G holders (earlier ones),
they may accept replacement pads. Holders accepting replacement pads
will have lips on 3 sides, but not on the leading edge of the brakes.

My Dia Compe G holders came with large bolt-on wheel guides (rubber
dipped) that _really work_. If your brakes have wheel guides that
really work ( <> shaped ), you may want to keep these as modern brakes
solve the problem by grinding away 50% of the pad material, to prevent
your tire from bumping out the pad. As a result, modern pads wear out
almost 50% faster. The wheel guide molded into modern (i.e. koolstop,
campagnolo) aluminum holders are tiny and just for show, imho.

If you replace the entire pad/holder, be sure to move over the
reusable wheel guides from your old Dia Compe G pads/holders (if yours
came with them ....) to the new jagwire pads/holders ~ another
advantage of the jagwire pads/holders.

- Don Gillies
San Diego, CA

[landotter]

On Sep 26, 5:24 pm, A Muzi <a...@yellowjersey.org> wrote:
> vintagedirtrider wrote:
> > I just got an old 1982 Fuji "Team Fuji" that is in decent shape, and fits me
> > really well. My plan is to turn it into a single speed (not fixie). My
> > biggest concern is replacing the Dia-Compe G brakes. The shoes are hard and
> > definitely need replaced, but more importantly, I'm sure that there were
> > better brakesets that I could put on it. Everything is available on ebay,
> > but I just don't know what will work, and what dimensions to look for. Any
> > help would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Nothing wrong with those calipers that a pair of Kool Stop pads and new
> teflon-lined cables won't cure.

To the OP:

Andrew and I agreed a few months ago as to how surprisingly nice even
"crude" old Raleigh calipers can feel with proper consumables. I was
just thinking about that thread as I came to a stop a few minutes ago
on my way back from the store--the perfectly dialed in linear pull
brakes stopped like the dickens, but with little modulation, unlike
the steel Raleigh calipers, which may have needed a good squeeze, but
had much better feel.

Kool Stop continental pads and fresh cables/housings, and you'll be
flabbergasted at the difference. Service the brakes and lube as
needed.

[landotter]

On Sep 27, 1:08 pm, gill...@cs.ubc.ca (Donald Gillies) wrote:
> "vintagedirtrider" <vintagedirtri...@verizon.net> writes:
> >My biggest concern is replacing the Dia-Compe G brakes. The shoes
> >are hard and definitely need replaced, but more importantly, I'm sure
> >that there were better brakesets that I could put on it.
>
> Believe it or not, these new economy pads/holders by Jagwire are 'Da
> bomb'. They stop so awesomely well that I have put them onto my
> Campagnolo Super Record calipers, and prefer the bike that's got the
> Jagwire $0.50 pads (www.biketoolsetc.com, $1.50 atwww.performancebike.com) vs. the $5.00 campagnolo NOS supple pads
> ... You can spend $20 for Koolstop pads / holders which wont work any
> better in dry conditions :

Or spend $10 on some salmon Kool-Stops:

http://tinyurl.com/2oatjd

They last for ages.