Suntour Superbe long reach brakes?
03-10-21, 08:24 AM
#1
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Suntour Superbe long reach brakes?
Did they ever make a caliper with longer than 58mm reach? Doing a build for a guy that wants to keep the group all Superbe. He sourced all the parts, but the 48-58mm calipers come up a bit short on 27" wheels.
The frame is an early 70s Roberts. Pay no attention to the mismatched wheels.
The frame is an early 70s Roberts. Pay no attention to the mismatched wheels.
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03-10-21, 09:00 AM
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Saint Sheldon has a post somewhere about an adapter that lowers the brake so that it will work. I actually have it somewhere in my parts bins but haven't been able to find it since I put it in a "safe place" .
03-10-21, 09:03 AM
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That part was called a "drop bolt" and was used for just this purpose. Used to have them at Third Hands but I think they are long out of business.
03-10-21, 09:04 AM
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You might try using a file to make the slots longer
03-10-21, 09:14 AM
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I'm inclined to agree. If a proper Superbe solution can't be found, it may end up with center pulls.
03-10-21, 09:26 AM
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If those wheels are 700c wont 27s give you 8-10mm more in brake surface reach?
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03-10-21, 09:34 AM
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These gran compe centerpulls are quality brakes and reach to 61 mm
VeloBase.com - Component: Dia-Compe Gran Compe GC610
These are the 610s. The fanciest vintage centerpulls are likely the NGC 450 but they only reach to 55 and they're a PITA to find brake shoes for or at least they were the last time I checked.
VeloBase.com - Component: Dia-Compe New Gran Compe NGC450
VeloBase.com - Component: Dia-Compe Gran Compe GC610
These are the 610s. The fanciest vintage centerpulls are likely the NGC 450 but they only reach to 55 and they're a PITA to find brake shoes for or at least they were the last time I checked.
VeloBase.com - Component: Dia-Compe New Gran Compe NGC450
03-10-21, 09:39 AM
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If they are 27's I would not want to file and material off of the brakes to gain the reach so centers may be the way to go.
Best, Ben
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Last edited by xiaoman1; 03-10-21 at 09:49 AM.
03-10-21, 09:49 AM
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There looks like quite a bit of clearance there...question, and I am sure you have put 27's on to check but it sure looks like you have a lot of clearance there.
If they are 27's I would not want to file and material off of the brakes to gain the reach so centers may be the way to go.
Best, Ben
If they are 27's I would not want to file and material off of the brakes to gain the reach so centers may be the way to go.
Best, Ben
03-10-21, 10:03 AM
#12
framebuilder
I'm going to agree with Germany_chris and suggest filing the slot a bit longer. Of course I am a frame builder that knows how to file with the big variety of files on my pegboard. If done right, it won't hurt the brakes and the slot extension will be hidden under the brake blocks. There were very few decent side pull brakes that had a reach longer than 57mm.
Find a 6" American pattern round file that should be about the same diameter as the brake shoe slot. Put the file through both slots so it is always in the right position. You are probably not filing both slots at the same time but rather putting downward force on one slot while the other slot keeps the file in the right position. You might ever so slightly put a little side pressure to make sure the width is enough. If you work carefully it will turn out fine.
Find a 6" American pattern round file that should be about the same diameter as the brake shoe slot. Put the file through both slots so it is always in the right position. You are probably not filing both slots at the same time but rather putting downward force on one slot while the other slot keeps the file in the right position. You might ever so slightly put a little side pressure to make sure the width is enough. If you work carefully it will turn out fine.
03-10-21, 10:18 AM
#13
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Is there such a thing as a brake pad with an offset fastening bolt?
03-10-21, 10:19 AM
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03-10-21, 10:41 AM
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Here ya go: https://bdopcycling.com/product/bdop...ers-set-black/
I have not tried these but they look like they would give you the precious few extra millimeters you need to center the pads. They appear like they would be sufficiently rigid and keep their adjustment. While not “retro” or period correct for the SunTour Superbe calipers, in a way they could be considered an upgrade part since you now can slide in the Shimano cartridge pads of your choice. I like these pads a lot: https://www.ebay.com/itm/4-Pairs-8-P....m46890.l49292
I have not tried these but they look like they would give you the precious few extra millimeters you need to center the pads. They appear like they would be sufficiently rigid and keep their adjustment. While not “retro” or period correct for the SunTour Superbe calipers, in a way they could be considered an upgrade part since you now can slide in the Shimano cartridge pads of your choice. I like these pads a lot: https://www.ebay.com/itm/4-Pairs-8-P....m46890.l49292
03-10-21, 11:11 AM
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Might sound like a strange fix but you take the brakes spacer and grind it down to an angle. It will tilt the brake back just enough to get a hold of the rim. I had to do this on one of my vintage BMX's because there was a manufacturing defect and the brake bridge was too high and that's how the factory "fixed it" bitd.
03-10-21, 11:13 AM
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This is what I used when I too was dealing with your issue with some Gran Compes, https://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-Dia-Com...4AAOSwclNgGIuz
03-10-21, 11:26 AM
#20
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It looks like with the length listed for reach you already have the Superbe long reach brakes. SunTour brakes
Your brake options for the time period the frame is from are going to lean towards center-pulls, but reach will not be a problem. Center-pull brake reach
Your brake options for the time period the frame is from are going to lean towards center-pulls, but reach will not be a problem. Center-pull brake reach
Last edited by rogerm3d; 03-11-21 at 04:03 PM.
03-10-21, 01:08 PM
#21
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Here ya go: https://bdopcycling.com/product/bdop...ers-set-black/
I have not tried these but they look like they would give you the precious few extra millimeters you need to center the pads. They appear like they would be sufficiently rigid and keep their adjustment. While not “retro” or period correct for the SunTour Superbe calipers, in a way they could be considered an upgrade part since you now can slide in the Shimano cartridge pads of your choice. I like these pads a lot: https://www.ebay.com/itm/4-Pairs-8-P....m46890.l49292
I have not tried these but they look like they would give you the precious few extra millimeters you need to center the pads. They appear like they would be sufficiently rigid and keep their adjustment. While not “retro” or period correct for the SunTour Superbe calipers, in a way they could be considered an upgrade part since you now can slide in the Shimano cartridge pads of your choice. I like these pads a lot: https://www.ebay.com/itm/4-Pairs-8-P....m46890.l49292
. They do seem a bit spendy tho 
!
03-10-21, 01:52 PM
#22
Disraeli Gears
English bikes of the "early 70s" vintage tend to be fairly "long-legged". That bike probably originally wore Weinmann (or GB) centerpulls: 610 on the front and maybe a 750 on the rear. Dia-Compe made (possibly still makes) "deluxe" versions of these. The sidepull answer to your predicament is Tektro, if the esthetics are acceptable.
Last edited by Charles Wahl; 03-10-21 at 02:00 PM.
03-10-21, 02:03 PM
#23
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I have a genuine DC drop-bolt but it's attached to a genuine Sun Tour Superbe caliper, and I'm rather attached to both! But can confirm that with standard Superbe pads this 4700 (rear) goes to about 70mm reach to the center of the pad (at very bottom of the slot).
Not any help but many years back I thought "why the hell not?" and decided I could machine drop bolts myself with simple hand tools and bar stock. The drop bolt center piece did not seem that complex, I had taps, files, hacksaw and vise (and LocTite Red to fix the threading). Well, they "worked" and were better looking than Sheldon's example but still pretty much a kludge. Nowadays I'd skip the handicrafts and buy the real deals.
Not any help but many years back I thought "why the hell not?" and decided I could machine drop bolts myself with simple hand tools and bar stock. The drop bolt center piece did not seem that complex, I had taps, files, hacksaw and vise (and LocTite Red to fix the threading). Well, they "worked" and were better looking than Sheldon's example but still pretty much a kludge. Nowadays I'd skip the handicrafts and buy the real deals.
Last edited by unworthy1; 03-10-21 at 02:17 PM.
03-10-21, 02:52 PM
#24
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English bikes of the "early 70s" vintage tend to be fairly "long-legged". That bike probably originally wore Weinmann (or GB) centerpulls: 610 on the front and maybe a 750 on the rear. Dia-Compe made (possibly still makes) "deluxe" versions of these. The sidepull answer to your predicament is Tektro, if the esthetics are acceptable.
I'm kinda liking the drop pad holders from Bdop linked above, but I'll have to see what the owner of the bike thinks.
03-10-21, 04:17 PM
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$64.99 for a set of 4 with the blue BDop pads is slightly spendy but for great braking and being able to resolve this brake issue by getting an an extra 7mm of drop without resorting to drop bolts or filing the caliper arms...
Last edited by masi61; 03-11-21 at 06:18 AM.