corwin1968

I've finally reached the point where I'm ready to replace the 17 year-old cantilever brakes on my bike. I definately want V-brakes but I don't know how much difference brand and level makes. I've been looking at Deore calipers and levers but haven't looked higher than that or at other brands like SRAM or Tektro.

Any recommendations on a specific set? My primary motivator is easier adjustability but I also prefer the greater stopping power and smooth feel of V-brakes. I'm a large clydesdale (350 lbs) and my riding will be all in dry conditions, pavement and hard packed earth.

fietsbob

Paul is the only one that does not use the frame boss as the inside of the pivot axis.
They Make a stainless steel sleeve to go over the frame boss
and then put O rings in to keep the grease clean.
Return coil springs are counterbalanced with a wrench on the flats,
and an allen wrench holding the adjustment ... [and the brake on]
made in California..

My favorite rim brake is Hydraulic.
Magura HS33 fits on V bosses but as an anchor point, not a Pivot.

smooth progressive braking with plenty of power is a Given..
Made in Germany,

rhenning

Tektros are good bang for the buck and they make lots of different levels for different needs. They might even make the ones labeled SRAM as they make brakes for a lot of others also. I have Tektros on a bunch of bikes and am very happy with them. Roger

Yo Spiff

Avid is a frequently recommended make. (They are a division of SRAM) I was looking at the Avid-Single Digit 7 for a while, but ended up using some generic V-brakes I got from a $20 parts bike from Craigslist.

jimc101

Avid or Shimano (Deore is good) is good for low budget, Tektro for even cheaper, but have never been impressed by their pads.

Pauls are nice, as are all the parts made by them, but they do cost.

Whatever you look at, as you noted, you need new levers, as canti levers won't work with V's.

Magura's are a good choice, but much more expensive then Shimano or Avids

Altbark

Almost anything will be better than canti brakes. I'm using Deore V brakes married to Tektro RL520 brake levers on my Cannondale T1. I'm using Avid Single Digit 5's with Tektro MTB levers on my Kona Lava Dome. Both brake sets work well with a slight advantage going to the Avids. They work slightly better. They were a bit cheaper and came with both a 90 and something like a 120 degree noodle for both brakes. Al

well biked

Strictly speaking, there is only ONE brand of V-brake, and that's Shimano. "V-brake" is a registered trademark of Shimano. What you're asking, really, is for recommendations for the best brand(s) of linear pull brake.

veggie

Very debatable.

Anyways, if you don't want to change levers, mini-v brakes are a good option. Also, It doesn't really matter much what brand of brakes you go with if you replace the pads.

HillRider

I have Avid SD7's on my Cross Check and they were easy to set up and center and take the same design of slip-in pads as Shimano. I'm using them with Tektro RL520 levers and the power and modulation are very good.

mechBgon

Actually a lot of brakes these days have their own pivot now. Pretty much the entire Shimano lineup from Altus on up, ditto for Avid. On mine, I drill my own grease port through the aluminum arm, so I can re-inject them a couple times a year, particularly in the winter.

In Shimano's lineup, the new Deore 590s are probably the best value. They come with the brake shoes that take replaceable inserts: https://www.aebike.com/Shimano-Deore-...k_p_32729.html The brake shoe set alone would set you back about $15-$18.

Practical tip if/when you install these: loosen up the brake pads on the arms, then put a drop of oil inside the 5mm hex nut that fastens the brake pad, and a drop where the nut contacts the washer. If you assemble them dry, the pad wants to turn with the nut due to the dry metal-on-metal friction.

chriskmurray

Both Shimano and Avid make very comparable quality brakes at a pretty low cost.

At 350lbs you want as much stopping power as you can get, the Magura hydro rim brakes are the strongest rim brakes you can get. If you can spend the money you will not regret it, they are nicknames "rim crushers" for a reason.

commo_soulja

Avid SD-7s or Shimano XTs are the two I'd recommend. I have both on a couple bikes. I'd also say Avid Ultimates if you've got the cash. They're hella nice brakes. Either way, get a good set of compression-less housing. Avid make one with a red sheath which covers the cable between cable stops creating an semi-full housing run from lever to caliper. And replace the stock pads with some Kool Stop salmon colored pads.

Bike Gremlin

These work well enough in all conditions (winter, summer, hills, whatever). Just put some decent pads. Shimano Acera:
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/M...?ModelID=34700

These are a bit better. Shimano Deore.
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/M...?ModelID=39004

Deore are some 50% more expensive, but that's like 10 euros extra for better and more durable brakes. I bought Acera and have been happy for over 2 years and over 8000 kilometres.

Lasse

Don't forget to get good brake pads, they might have a greater impact than the difference between several decent brake models. E.g. Kool Stop salmon coloured ones get good reviews.