Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Mountain Biking
Reload this Page >

Under chain stay brake calipers. Called what?

Search
Notices
Mountain Biking Mountain biking is one of the fastest growing sports in the world. Check out this forum to discuss the latest tips, tricks, gear and equipment in the world of mountain biking.

Under chain stay brake calipers. Called what?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 10-06-23, 10:29 AM
  #1  
pstock
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 895

Bikes: (shortlist) Cyclops, Marinoni, Mariposa, Air Firday, Pocket Rocket Pro, NWT, SLX Fuso, Claude Pottie (France) x3, Masi Team 3v, Lemond Zurich, Bianchi OS

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 168 Post(s)
Liked 34 Times in 27 Posts
Under chain stay brake calipers. Called what?

I've never seen these brake calipers that sit under the chain stay as on this Specialized Hard Rock
i need to find another set dor a Bianchi MTB frame but i dont even know what they are called.

Or can i use standard center pull cantilever brakes?



pstock is offline  
Old 10-06-23, 10:37 AM
  #2  
RCMoeur 
Cantilever believer
 
RCMoeur's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2021
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 1,565
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 536 Post(s)
Liked 1,839 Times in 832 Posts
U-brakes.

AKA "mud-collectors".
__________________
Richard C. Moeur, PE - Phoenix AZ, USA
https://www.richardcmoeur.com/bikestuf.html
RCMoeur is offline  
Old 10-06-23, 10:55 AM
  #3  
Jeff Neese
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,490
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1083 Post(s)
Liked 687 Times in 441 Posts
You can still buy U-brakes on Amazon but I only see off-brand ones. (That doesn't mean they're bad though.) Another option is eBay.

Unfortunately cantilevers won't work because the spacing is different.
Jeff Neese is offline  
Likes For Jeff Neese:
Old 10-06-23, 09:32 PM
  #4  
Desert Ryder
Henderson, NV
 
Desert Ryder's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2022
Location: Henderson/Las Vegas NV
Posts: 533

Bikes: Trek Alpha 3700, GT STS DH, Raleigh Grand Prix, Fisher Montare, Fisher CR-7, Fisher Aquila, Diamondback Sorrento, The Bike Beat Revolution, KHS XC 504R

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 322 Post(s)
Liked 596 Times in 288 Posts
Chainstay Mounted U brakes. Found on earlier MTBs. Supossedly the chainstays flex less than the seatstays under braking. Debateable I guess since they all went to seatstay. You can mount roller cam U brakes also.
I had them on my Schwinn High Sierra and I never had any real issues with mud. My current Fisher Montare has a chainstay XT U brake that works well also.
If I ever come across a good deal on roller cam U brakes I may buy a set.
Desert Ryder is online now  
Old 10-08-23, 09:25 AM
  #5  
2old
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: socal
Posts: 4,266
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 883 Post(s)
Liked 824 Times in 623 Posts
They were on my circa 1986 Fat Chance and functioned well. No problem with mud in socal, so they were in their proper environment.
2old is offline  
Old 10-08-23, 12:43 PM
  #6  
Rick_D
Full Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2022
Location: California's capital
Posts: 467

Bikes: Litespeed Firenze, Spot Acme, Specialzed S Works Pro Race, Davidson Stiletto, Colnago Superissimo

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 133 Post(s)
Liked 300 Times in 172 Posts
Our Fishers came with the roller cam variety, one even had a nylon sheath for shedding debris. Hella stout and dependable brake.
Rick_D is offline  
Old 10-10-23, 12:06 PM
  #7  
Ironfish653
Dirty Heathen
 
Ironfish653's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: MC-778, 6250 fsw
Posts: 2,182

Bikes: 1997 Cannondale, 1976 Bridgestone, 1998 SoftRide, 1989 Klein, 1989 Black Lightning #0033

Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 889 Post(s)
Liked 906 Times in 534 Posts
The DiaCompe 990 is THE U-brake for MTBs; still in production since the late 80s; which is cool, if you ride old-school MTBs

U-Brakes are still common on freestyle BMX bikes ; Dan's Comp BMX has a pretty good selection, including kits with levers, cables and hardware
Ironfish653 is offline  
Old 10-15-23, 06:36 PM
  #8  
pstock
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 895

Bikes: (shortlist) Cyclops, Marinoni, Mariposa, Air Firday, Pocket Rocket Pro, NWT, SLX Fuso, Claude Pottie (France) x3, Masi Team 3v, Lemond Zurich, Bianchi OS

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 168 Post(s)
Liked 34 Times in 27 Posts
I reinstalled my U Brakes today (after a mega cleanup of the whole disgusting bike) guided by Sheldon Brown's U Brake page plus a variation - that you need to turn the spring nut back a half turn before cinching the whole mess together with the bolt - and they seem quite excellent.
pstock is offline  
Likes For pstock:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.