disc brake caliper numbers

In message <[email hidden]>, Richard Goodman
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

Can somebody explain to me what it is about disc brakes and caliper numbers? I first thought all
that was important was the caliper mounting type - Manitou or International. But now I find that
calipers have numbers and there are different sizes of rotors that may or may not go with a
corresponding caliper number. Is there a direct link between the caliper number and rotor size or
can different numbers take different rotor sizes? If so how do you know what you need? I'm
confused. I'm think of upgrading to a disc compatible fork, but don't have a particular one in mind
yet, in the meantime I might get a good price on a disc brake. All I was concerned about was that
the brake should be of the International mount type. Now do I have to wait to get the fork first so
I know what caliper number it needs? It's even hard to get information about caliper numbers and
rotor sizes that go with forks from retailers anyway.

The rotor normally comes with the disc brake itself, unless you are going for the largest XT or Hope
rotor, in which case you need either an adapter or a new calliper.

To be honest it's not as complicated as it looks, just go to your LBS, ask for the type of brake
you want, select a rotor size if there is a choice and order it. Remember to check the rotor
diameter is compatible with your fork, for example using a rotor bigger than a 165mm on a Pace Pro
Class 2 2002 will void the warranty as the force is too great. Then again anything over a 165 is
overkill for XC anyway 🙂

If your LBS cannot talk you through disc options, I'd go somewhere else.
🙂
Fork manuals are available on the web from the manufacturers' sites. However go in between 9 and 5
on a weekday, this will allow the staff to phone up the manufacturers and check compatibility
instantly!

--
Thomas Letherby Remove NOSPAM to reply.

"Thomas Letherby" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

The rotor normally comes with the disc brake itself, unless you are going for the largest XT or
Hope rotor, in which case you need either an adapter or a new calliper.

Yes, on looking more into it I noticed that it seems to be only Hope that have different caliper
numbers, which do seem to relate to different rotor sizes. There doesn't seem to be so much choice
with other makes.

Quoted message said:

To be honest it's not as complicated as it looks, just go to your LBS, ask for the type of brake
you want, select a rotor size if there is a choice and order it. Remember to check the rotor
diameter is compatible with your fork, for example using a rotor bigger than a 165mm on a Pace Pro
Class 2 2002 will void the warranty as the force is too great. Then again anything over a 165 is
overkill for XC anyway 🙂

I was thinking of buying the brake before the fork, as I might get a good price on one - the rest of
the upgrade project isn't such a rush. What seems annoying is that any brake of a given mounting
type still won't necessarily go with any fork, so perhaps I will have to decide on the fork first.
It seems it's possible with Hope to buy a caliper half and another rotor, if you do need a different
sized rotor/caliper to one you've already got, but the price isn't that good that it'd be worth
getting the brake and then changing those bits if it turns out to be the wrong size for the fork
that I might decide I want.

Quoted message said:

Fork manuals are available on the web from the manufacturers' sites.

Maybe, but a) I don't even know what fork I want yet, b) I think online retailers ought to tell you
about any rotor/caliper size requirements as part of the product description.

Rich