Sam Song Posted April 14, 2013 Report Share Posted April 14, 2013 Well, my Magura finally died yesterday. In my four years of riding, I don't think I was ever completely satisfied with Magura rim brakes to be honest. I always had to bleed, move the calipers in, it was just such a pain in the ass. So I decided to try the V Brake in the rear. It is to be used on a 2009 Zoo Piranha Long, and I'm just deciding on which parts to get. Lever: Avid Speed Dial SL Cable: Odyssey Linear Slic Race cable (loved this cable with bb7) Arms: Avid SD7? Adaptor: Heatsink? Onza? Not too sure what to get Booster: http://www.tartybikes.co.uk/images/custom/brakes/large_brandxbooster.jpg The only v booster on Tarty. Since I don't have any experience with V Brakes, I just have a few concerns: - How easy is it to set the v pads square to the rim? It's not like Maguras with Echo TR clamps which do that for you. - Do V arms matter at all? I can get used a used Shimano Deore V locally: http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/8517553/ or an SD7 arm from Ebay. - How much weight gain usually by going v brake? - V brakes have less bite and how much less is it? I've always used the mineral oil in Magura HS33s, so it's not like I'm coming from the superlight water bleed maguras. - I hated bleeding my Magura every 2-3 months, is there any maintenance work involved with V brakes? I know it's a lot of questions, but I have no experience with the v brakes whatsoever. Although I do love my bb7 brakes. I do see Mr. Stan Shaw using SD7 arms! http://www.trials-forum.co.uk/topic/148109-rockman-slate-2/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghostrider88 Posted April 14, 2013 Report Share Posted April 14, 2013 Shimano arms are better in general, setting them is easier than setting magura and they have a lot better hold. heatsink or neon adaptors, rest of those parts is ok. All you need to know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blake Posted April 14, 2013 Report Share Posted April 14, 2013 yeah people who use avid arms say they developed play. I ran deore arms on the front for the short time I was front V, I thought they were very good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Song Posted April 15, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 15, 2013 Okay which Shimano arms do you recommend? LX version? XT? Alivio? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghostrider88 Posted April 15, 2013 Report Share Posted April 15, 2013 You say you can get deore, so get it. Higher models are only a bit lighter not better in terms of braking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete_s Posted May 2, 2013 Report Share Posted May 2, 2013 Hey all, Didn't want to start up a new topic for something that might've been asked already, but I can't find anything by searching and this thread title fits the bill. I've got an Avid Ultimate V on the rear and I'm having trouble getting it stay set-up. I can align all the pads and get the brake pads to hit the rim at the same time but it doesn't last and eventually the left-hand arm starts to get stuck in position and I have to fiddle around the with bolts again. Has anyone had this before and how did you fix it? Is it feature of v-brakes that one side tends to lag and doesn't spring back? Cheers for your help. Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CurtisRider Posted May 2, 2013 Report Share Posted May 2, 2013 Have you tweaked the spring tension screws on each arm? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete_s Posted May 2, 2013 Report Share Posted May 2, 2013 Ye that's what I'm having to fiddle with to bring the left-hand arm back out from the rim. When it is set up it's really good but it's a pain in the arse having to adjust it every 20mins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CurtisRider Posted May 2, 2013 Report Share Posted May 2, 2013 Try lightly bending the spring instead, I had to do it on my ultimates Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghostrider88 Posted May 2, 2013 Report Share Posted May 2, 2013 It´s most likely caused by notchy bearings, if that´s the cause, no amount of fidling with springs will help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete_s Posted May 2, 2013 Report Share Posted May 2, 2013 Cheers both. I'll fiddle with the spring and buy a bearing kit and see how it goes. Ta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forteh Posted May 6, 2013 Report Share Posted May 6, 2013 If the bearings are notchy, chances are you can recover then very easily. Pop the bearings out, use a sharp knife/Stanley knife blade to prise up the outside of the rubber seals (not the inside because you will ruin the seal). Soak the bearings in petrol or degreaser till the bearings come free and smooth. Pack new grease into the race and refit the seals. The grease in the bearings eventually hardens and forms lumps on the bearing race that stops the balls from rotating freely, hence notchy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Song Posted May 31, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 31, 2013 Are Avid Ultimate Arms worth the cost? I could get Avid SD7 Arms or a Shimano DXR V Brake arms http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=38379 But Ultimate arms are the only ones with a sealed bearing, and I am willing to pay more if it is worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isitafox Posted May 31, 2013 Report Share Posted May 31, 2013 Yes those Shimano ones look more than upto the job, I'd buy those and use the money you've saved to get a linear slick cable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skoze Posted May 31, 2013 Report Share Posted May 31, 2013 SD7 arms are more than up to it, anything will do as long as it's got one-piece arms. Ultimates are the way to go, but i'd not get them new. They come up second hand quite a lot. Slick cable, correct pads for what you're after and a booster are key... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Song Posted June 1, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2013 If you had to choose between Shimano XT arms: http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Mr-Ride-Shimano-Deore-XT-BR-T780-M780-V-brake-set-Front-Rear-Black-/330924201195?pt=US_Brakes&hash=item4d0c9e94eb and Avid SD7 arms, which one would you go for and why? It seems peeps at observedtrials.net recommend Avids while this forum recommends Shimano arms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Song Posted June 1, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2013 http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=39004 or Shimano Deore M590? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CurtisRider Posted June 1, 2013 Report Share Posted June 1, 2013 Don't go for parrallel push, they aren't any better and always rattle and create loads of noise. I have XTs F+R on my Pashley and they aren't as nice as the SD7 on my 24. Personally after running several different brakes I would run only Deore, SD7 or Ultimates if I had a choice (Only using XTs currently as they were free haha) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
williams Posted June 1, 2013 Report Share Posted June 1, 2013 I don't actually think that arms matter that much.. I've been using some cheap quite standard tektro arms for a while now, and they work good for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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