Originally Posted by dscheidt

No, the early ("type F") BBDB used magnets to hold the pads in place against the piston and whatever the other side dohicky is called. The spring style works fine in the old calipers, in the event the magnets fall out, which they did. I don't know when the type N came out, but it wasn't around too long before they became BB7. The service guide for them, if you can find it (sram doesn't make it available anymore, they seem to want you to buy a new part), explains the other differences as well.