88Tempo

Is there any reason to choose one model of Weinmann or Dia Compe or any other version of centerpull brakes or are they all about the same stopping wise?

Reason I'm asking is the local co-op has a big box of takeoffs and I was wondering if I should dig through it looking for some treasure.

Slightspeed

I have three types on different bikes, Weinmann, Universal 61 and Mafac Racers. I can't tell the difference in them. The Weinmanns stop the best, but probably because they have newish Koolstop pads. The Mavics have old hard Koolstop pads, and the Universals have few years old Shimano pads. In my opinion the pads make a bigger difference than the brand of caliper. I find the Mafacs a pain to adjust and set up, but they are the ones I'm least familiar with.

88Tempo

My Finest has Weinmanns (now I'm second guessing myself) anyhow it doesn't stop very well. I just put some new Dia Compe pads on it, but the weather here has been horrible and I haven't got to ride it yet.

Slightspeed

I started using the Koolstop dual compound, (black/salmon color) pads since we had a lot of rain, too (for sunny California). I did a 50 mile rain ride on my newer Roubaix, and really liked how they worked wet, so I put a set on my Super Course, for Eroica, and no rain. I still like how well they stop.

rustystrings61 

The MAFACs we all derided in 1975 are now Gallic cool; the Weinmanns we took for granted remain excellent stoppers make better with lines housing and good pads; I always heard Universals were a bit brittle, but bending ANY aluminum alloy brake arm for toe-in is probably a bad idea.

Dia Compe was a copy of the Weinmann, but I have a memory of someone writing that they were not as good - do they have the center bit that keeps the arms aligned and working symmetrically?

They all worked well with good pads and cables and housings....

88Tempo

Here it's usually dry, but the wind gusts can shove you around a bunch. I just saw Kool Stop made pads pads for Weinmann, next time I order some parts I'll try and remember to grab some.

rando_couche

One word for you: MAFAC. They're the only vintage CP that's worth the trouble in my experience. Set 'em up with modern cables and pads and you're good to go (or stop!)

Slightspeed

I've been riding Universal 61s on my Legnano for 55 years, since new. Never had any issues with them, except now I use modern Shimano pads with the concave washer to adjust angle of pad to rim. I have the same type holders on my Weinmanns too. The Funky Mafacs have the cantilever type mounting stud, as stock.

88Tempo

I'm not sure how old my brake pads were I probably should of replaced them when I first got the bike. As of right now it pretty much does only short no hill routes, between the gearing and only one water bottle holder.

SurferRosa

Best I ever had were Mafac Racers (with kool-stops) on a '79ish pkn10.

Those inspired some serious bombing down Seattle's hills.

bikemig 

Dia compes are a good choice for the OP's Fuji Finest as that it likely what it came stock with. I'd get a set of kool stop continentals and just ride the heck out of them:

https://www.jensonusa.com/Koolstop-C...caAmPXEALw_wcB

I like mafacs but they would not look right on a Fuji. It's your bike though.

88Tempo

Next time I'm at the co-op I'll dig through the bin and see if I can find a set or two. It'll be worth the few bucks it costs me to get a set of Mafac or Universal if they have any.

88Tempo

It probably does have the Dia Compes on it. My memory for what is on each bike needs refreshing from time to time.

I went and looked and it does have Dia Compes on it. I do have a set of Schwinn Approved Weinmanns sitting around though.

bikemig 

The weinmann or mafacs are not much of a trade up from the dia compe. I'd just focus on making sure they are well adjusted and then go with a quality brake shoe like the kool stop and good quality brake cables and housing. It will give you plenty of stopping power.

Slightspeed

I prefer to use the modern, slender, but slightly longer pad holder and pads. These have a washer that allows the pad to angle a little from parallel to the rim. Stops better, and reduces squeal with a little toe in.
These are Shimano pads and holders.

Similar Koolstop holders and dual compound pads.

These are Koolstop black pads on original type Mafac mounting studs, came with the bike, no idea how old they are. Sanding them a little helped squeal and improved stopping. These work great with Campy aero levers.

88Tempo

Slightspeed those modern pads seem like a good idea without being to noticeable to all but the purists. Which I probably don't qualify as.

BFisher

I know they have their fans, but I don't like Weinmann or Dia-Compe centerpulls at all. The arms are way too flexy for me. If you search you'll find that some riders add a booster, or solid link, between the two pivots to try and stiffen them up.

The only centerpulls I like are Mafacs. They are, by far, better than the others (for me). Serious stoppers.

Salamandrine 

Technically and FWIW, the Dia Compe is a license built version of the Weinmann center pulls, not a copy. I've heard the comments about the Dia Compes somehow being lesser for a long time, but frankly I could never tell the difference between the two versions of the same brake. They look the same to me. As far as I recall the Dia Compes have the centering pin too. It's been a long time since I wrenched in a shop, but I vaguely remember looking for missing pins once BITD when I first heard that rumor. Didn't seen any with no pins. Maybe some escaped the factory without them, or they fell out. My Gran Compe 610 reissues have the pin for sure.

I'm sure some forumites have old Dia Compes that could be checked...

Salamandrine 

Hmm, I've always found that MAFAC CP brakes had much more flexible caliper arms. I've tested this on the brakes I own. Pretty obvious difference.

I really like both the Weinmann and MAFAC design. They are just different: Ford vs GM. I've come to prefer Weinmann/Dia/Gran-Compe CP brakes myself. I used to like MAFAC better. I'd still give MAFAC the edge WRT stopping power, but I prefer the modulation of Gran Compe.

Stopping power is mostly a matter of the pads anyway.

88Tempo

Thanks for all the help. The next time I'm at the co-op I will at least have an idea of what I'm looking at and what I should look for.

zukahn1 

I have found both Mafac and Dia-compe work great with modern pads nicely setup. Dia-compes are easier to setup and work on and they work nicely with basic relatively cheap MTB style pads that allow for toe in adjustment. The Mafacs have the advantage of being nearly fully adjustable so the can be setup to work nicely with pretty much all brake levers I have even setup them up with modern brifters and got great results, but because you have to fairly accuretly adjust a half dozen things they can be difficult to setup without a real good understanding of brake mechanics and practice.

One big tip to make life a lot easier when running center pulls is to get some nice cable hangers with barrel adjusters and quick release mech's which makes setup and wheel removal alot easier.

BFisher

Agreed about the importance of good pads. Even good modern dual pivot sidepulls can perform poorly with lousy pads.

88Tempo

My Finest has modern brake levers with a quick release plus the flip up quick release on the stem hanger and you are right they will open wide if I use both at the same time.

randyjawa 

I have tried several different center pull brakes, including Weinmann, Universal, Shimano, DiaComp and Mafac. Mafac wins in my book. Not only do they stop well, but they are more user friendly to set up since the pads can be pivoted to allow for proper toe-in...

79pmooney

My Mafac joke for years was: $50 nearly NOS Mafac Racers are out there. You just have to remove and dispose of the attached Peugeot UO-8.

Very good brakes. Probably the only brake that had both the reach and stopping ability to stop the thousands of steel rimmed UO-8s in the rain. (Yes, stopping was a slow process but they did stop.)

Ben