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Brake boosters?

Started by Shaun Rimmer · · Last activity · 22 posts · 1,970 views

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Mountain Bikes
Published
11 April 2003
Last activity
14 April 2003
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Shaun Rimmer
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  1. Right, would a brake booster do much to _torsionally_ stiffen a set of suss forks? (02
    'zocchi MXR's)?

    They ain't bad as they are, and way better than the other forks I've had chance to check myself, but
    there is noticeable twist-flex when quick turning from left to right sometimes. Although I can tell
    mainly by feel (riding rigid for years helps to tell), it can be reproduced so it is visually
    noticeable.

    My though was to put an aluminium brake booster on there - any experiences? Knowledge? Conjecture?

    As ever, TIA!

    Shaun aRe - 'I like it stiffer up front.'

  2. "Shaun Rimmer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:


    Right, would a brake booster do much to _torsionally_ stiffen a set of


    suss

    Quoted message said:

    forks? (02 'zocchi MXR's)?

    They ain't bad as they are, and way better than the other forks I've had chance to check myself,
    but there is noticeable twist-flex when quick turning from left to right sometimes. Although I can
    tell mainly by feel (riding rigid for years helps to tell), it can be reproduced so it is visually
    noticeable.

    My though was to put an aluminium brake booster on there - any


    experiences?

    Quoted message said:

    Knowledge? Conjecture?

    I used to use a carbon one with an older fork that I had, it seemed to help a little with the flex.
    Too bad you live across the ocean, I still have a couple of them that you could have tried out :-(

    - CA-G

    Can-Am Girls Kick Ass!

  3. Shaun Rimmer said:

    Right, would a brake booster do much to _torsionally_ stiffen a set of suss forks? (02
    'zocchi MXR's)?

    They ain't bad as they are, and way better than the other forks I've had chance to check myself,
    but there is noticeable twist-flex when quick turning from left to right sometimes. Although I can
    tell mainly by feel (riding rigid for years helps to tell), it can be reproduced so it is visually
    noticeable.

    My though was to put an aluminium brake booster on there - any experiences? Knowledge? Conjecture?

    Hmm, I thought brake boosters were to stop outwards flex when applying the brakes - mainly for the
    back with frames that have thin seat stays. As such, they really won't make a huge amount of
    difference to the torsional flexibility of a set of forks.

    I would have said that if you're finding it that much of a problem, you'd be better off upgrading to
    something with a bolt-through axle, although I know this isn't an option.

    My MXR's are pretty good actually, and although stating the obvious, are miles better than my old
    Judy's. I think you should just accept that a small amount of flex comes with the territory when
    using sus forks.

    I've just had a thought - you don't even run V's on your forks. Adding a brake booster will be a
    total waste of time, IMO.

  4. "Shaun Rimmer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...
    |
    | Right, would a brake booster do much to _torsionally_ stiffen a set of
    suss
    | forks? (02 'zocchi MXR's)?
    |
    | They ain't bad as they are, and way better than the other forks I've had chance to check myself,
    | but there is noticeable twist-flex when quick turning from left to right sometimes. Although I can
    | tell mainly by feel (riding rigid for years helps to tell), it can be reproduced so it is visually
    | noticeable.
    |
    | My though was to put an aluminium brake booster on there - any
    experiences?
    | Knowledge? Conjecture?
    |
    | As ever, TIA!
    |
    |
    |
    | Shaun aRe - 'I like it stiffer up front.'

    I always thought brake boosters were to stop flex when braking. This is a different type of action.
    I am guessing you could just try it and see.

    mtbreview.comproduct 83762.shtml

    they seem to like them..............although they like most things :o)

    Simon............nice|

  5. Carla A-G <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    "Shaun Rimmer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:


    Right, would a brake booster do much to _torsionally_ stiffen a set of


    suss

    Quoted message said:

    forks? (02 'zocchi MXR's)?

    They ain't bad as they are, and way better than the other forks I've had chance to check myself,
    but there is noticeable twist-flex when quick turning from left to right sometimes. Although I
    can tell mainly by feel (riding rigid for years helps to tell), it can be reproduced so it is
    visually noticeable.

    My though was to put an aluminium brake booster on there - any


    experiences?

    Quoted message said:

    Knowledge? Conjecture?

    I used to use a carbon one with an older fork that I had, it seemed to


    help

    Quoted message said:

    a little with the flex. Too bad you live across the ocean, I still have a couple of them that you
    could have tried out :-(

    Cheers anyhow Carla ',;~}~

    Shaun aRe

  6. Shaun Rimmer said:

    Right, would a brake booster do much to _torsionally_ stiffen a set of suss forks? (02
    'zocchi MXR's)?

    Does that one have the cast or removbeable arch? If the latter, I suggest check out the Black Spire
    Arch blackspire.comprod barch.html And it'll let you run 3"+ tires, up front

    Quoted message said:

    They ain't bad as they are, and way better than the other forks I've had chance to check myself,
    but there is noticeable twist-flex when quick turning from left to right sometimes.

    I get a bit of that "gritty pad rub on the rim sound" from my z.2 Atom Bombs, flicking my way
    through the tight twisties of FOMBA. If you want suspension you are going to pay a price _somewhere_
    along the line. Still wouldn't trade my trusty Atom Bomb for anything, (Except maybee a Marzocchi
    oil/coil w/ 100mm travel instead of only 80 ;-)

  7. In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

    Quoted message said:


    Right, would a brake booster do much to _torsionally_ stiffen a set of suss forks? (02
    'zocchi MXR's)?

    They ain't bad as they are, and way better than the other forks I've had chance to check myself,
    but there is noticeable twist-flex when quick turning from left to right sometimes. Although I can
    tell mainly by feel (riding rigid for years helps to tell), it can be reproduced so it is visually
    noticeable.

    My though was to put an aluminium brake booster on there - any experiences? Knowledge? Conjecture?

    As ever, TIA!

    Shaun aRe - 'I like it stiffer up front.'

    A stiffer hub/QR would probably have a greater effect. Especially the type where the QR skewer is
    close to the same diameter of the hole through the axle. Formula makes one like this.
    --
    _________________________
    Chris Phillipo - Cape Breton, Nova Scotia ramsays-online.comramsays-online.com

  8. bomba <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:
    Shaun Rimmer said:

    Right, would a brake booster do much to _torsionally_ stiffen a set of


    suss

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    forks? (02 'zocchi MXR's)?

    They ain't bad as they are, and way better than the other forks I've had chance to check myself,
    but there is noticeable twist-flex when quick turning from left to right sometimes. Although I
    can tell mainly by feel (riding rigid for years helps to tell), it can be reproduced so it is
    visually noticeable.

    My though was to put an aluminium brake booster on there - any


    experiences?

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    Knowledge? Conjecture?

    Hmm, I thought brake boosters were to stop

    <[1] outwards flex when applying

    Quoted message said:

    the brakes - mainly for the back with frames that have thin seat stays.

    They are. Where did I say or suggest they weren't, eh? Harrumph!

    Quoted message said:

    As such, they really won't make a huge amount of difference to the

    Quoted message said:

    [2] torsional flexibility of a set of forks.

    Why so? I'm _asking_, right, because just because [1] is true, it doesn't _necessarily_ mean that
    [2] is. They may or may not (I dunno first hand, hence me asking) posess enough torsional rigidity.

    Quoted message said:

    I would have said that if you're finding it that much of a problem,

    More an anoyance (no Wheeler, this ain't your cue!) that it takes some from crisp steering response.

    Quoted message said:

    you'd be better off upgrading to something with a bolt-through axle, although I know this isn't
    an option.

    Truth mate ;-(

    Quoted message said:

    My MXR's are pretty good actually, and although stating the obvious, are miles better than my old
    Judy's. I think you should just accept that a small amount of flex comes with the territory when
    using sus forks.

    Maybe - but if I can reduce that flex by a significant proportion by bolting on a booster, then WTF
    not do it?

    Quoted message said:

    I've just had a thought - you don't even run V's on your forks. Adding a brake booster will be a
    total waste of time, IMO.

    I know I'm not running V's, and I'm not bothered about the forks spreading outward ('cos the don't).

    Cheers!

    Shaun aRe

  9. Simon <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:


    "Shaun Rimmer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...
    |
    | Right, would a brake booster do much to _torsionally_ stiffen a set of
    suss
    | forks? (02 'zocchi MXR's)?
    |
    | They ain't bad as they are, and way better than the other forks I've had chance to check myself,
    | but there is noticeable twist-flex when quick turning from left to right sometimes. Although I
    | can tell mainly by feel (riding rigid for years helps to tell), it can be reproduced so it is
    | visually noticeable.
    |
    | My though was to put an aluminium brake booster on there - any
    experiences?
    | Knowledge? Conjecture?
    |
    | As ever, TIA!
    |
    |
    |
    | Shaun aRe - 'I like it stiffer up front.'

    I always thought brake boosters were to stop flex when braking.

    They _are_!!!!!! (aarrrggg!).

    Quoted message said:

    This is a different type of action.

    A safety pin is designed for holding pieces of cloth together, but it's perfectly adequate for
    bursting ballons with. These are different types of actions, yes?

    I'm just asking if by their nature, and their positioning, they might 'accidentally/incidentally'
    posess enough torsional rigidity to make a worth while difference.

    Quoted message said:

    I am guessing you could just try it and see.

    Aye - I could throw cash at the problem blindly and hope I suppose, or I could ask some quastions
    first and maybe, just maybe, someone will already have done that and know........ ',;~}~

    Quoted message said:

    mtbreview.comproduct 83762.shtml

    they seem to like them..............although they like most things :o)

    Aye, I know - they _are_ great forks for the money, and comparitively, very stiff. Still, there's
    some flex there I would get rid of if I could do it cheaply enough.

    Quoted message said:

    Simon............nice|

    Shaun aRe - not disappointed with mine at all.

  10. "Shaun Rimmer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:


    Right, would a brake booster do much to _torsionally_ stiffen a set of


    suss

    Quoted message said:

    forks? (02 'zocchi MXR's)?

    They ain't bad as they are, and way better than the other forks I've had chance to check myself,
    but there is noticeable twist-flex when quick turning from left to right sometimes. Although I can
    tell mainly by feel (riding rigid for years helps to tell), it can be reproduced so it is visually
    noticeable.

    My though was to put an aluminium brake booster on there - any


    experiences?

    Quoted message said:

    Knowledge? Conjecture?

    As ever, TIA!

    Shaun aRe - 'I like it stiffer up front.'

    I'm not sure you would see a difference...the boosters are arch-shaped 'cuz they're not 'sposed to
    open up...unless they were 1/4" thick steel, I can't imagine they'd offer a lot of front-to-back
    rigidity. I say go machine a thick ass steel horseshoe and bolt that 2-pound dealie onto your Zoke.
    It'll feel stiffer 'cuz you're riding slower 🙂

    Chris

  11. "John G" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    I get a bit of that "gritty pad rub on the rim sound" from my z.2 Atom Bombs, flicking my way
    through the tight twisties of FOMBA. If you want suspension you are going to pay a price
    _somewhere_ along the line. Still wouldn't trade my trusty Atom Bomb for anything, (Except maybee
    a Marzocchi oil/coil w/ 100mm travel instead of only 80 ;-)

    I get that gritty pad rub a lot too...but I get it carving turns when I commute, ride on trails,
    ride on the road...pretty much any time I turn hard in the wet/mud. I had hoped and prayed it was a
    limp wheelset, but new and better ones didn't help much. I run my Vs with real, real tight clearance
    to the rim, so opening them up could help. Guess my cookie-cutter just has weak ass pivots (I get it
    more in the rear than in the front - no jokes Rimmer).

    Chris

  12. "Shaun Rimmer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:


    Right, would a brake booster do much to _torsionally_ stiffen a set of


    suss

    Quoted message said:

    forks? (02 'zocchi MXR's)?

    They ain't bad as they are, and way better than the other forks I've had chance to check myself,
    but there is noticeable twist-flex when quick turning from left to right sometimes. Although I can
    tell mainly by feel (riding rigid for years helps to tell), it can be reproduced so it is visually
    noticeable.

    My though was to put an aluminium brake booster on there - any


    experiences?

    Quoted message said:

    Knowledge? Conjecture?

    As ever, TIA!

    Shaun aRe - 'I like it stiffer up front.'

    Shaun, she'll still love you if you spend all the ring money on these:

    <hanebrink.netindex.html

  13. "Chris" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Guess my cookie-cutter just has weak ass pivots (I get it more in the rear


    than in the front

    You braggin' or complainin'?!?

    Bill "never saw an ass pivot (as opposed to a pivoting ass)" S.

    PS: Don't see how a brake booster can help with fork flex while using disc brakes, Shaun, but let
    us know if it does!

  14. spademan o---[) * <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:


    "Shaun Rimmer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:


    Right, would a brake booster do much to _torsionally_ stiffen a set of


    suss

    Quoted message said:

    forks? (02 'zocchi MXR's)?

    They ain't bad as they are, and way better than the other forks I've had chance to check myself,
    but there is noticeable twist-flex when quick turning from left to right sometimes. Although I
    can tell mainly by feel (riding rigid for years helps to tell), it can be reproduced so it is
    visually noticeable.

    My though was to put an aluminium brake booster on there - any


    experiences?

    Quoted message said:

    Knowledge? Conjecture?

    As ever, TIA!

    Shaun aRe - 'I like it stiffer up front.'

    Shaun, she'll still love you if you spend all the ring money on these:

    <http://www.hanebrink.net/forks/ride/index.html>

    Heh, more like she'll still love my pulped remains...............

    Shaun aRe - They do look kinda nice though..............

  15. John G <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:
    Shaun Rimmer said:

    Right, would a brake booster do much to _torsionally_ stiffen a set of


    suss

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    forks? (02 'zocchi MXR's)?

    Does that one have the cast or removbeable arch? If the latter, I suggest check out the Black
    Spire Arch blackspire.comprod barch.html And it'll let you run 3"+ tires, up front

    Nah - they're the one piece mag lowers, cryofit.

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    They ain't bad as they are, and way better than the other forks I've had chance to check myself,
    but there is noticeable twist-flex when quick turning from left to right sometimes.

    I get a bit of that "gritty pad rub on the rim sound" from my z.2 Atom Bombs, flicking my way
    through the tight twisties of FOMBA. If you want suspension you are going to pay a price
    _somewhere_ along the line.

    Oh aye, I know!

    Quoted message said:

    Still wouldn't trade my trusty Atom Bomb for anything, (Except maybee a Marzocchi oil/coil w/
    100mm travel instead of only 80 ;-)

    Heh!

    The lad at the LBS who does trials suggested a decent booster would be worth while. Said he'd done
    the same when he was using his hard tail for semi-trials stuff and it worked well. I'll prolly give
    it a shot.

    Cheers.

    Shaun aRe

  16. Chris <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:


    "Shaun Rimmer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:


    Right, would a brake booster do much to _torsionally_ stiffen a set of


    suss

    Quoted message said:

    forks? (02 'zocchi MXR's)?

    They ain't bad as they are, and way better than the other forks I've had chance to check myself,
    but there is noticeable twist-flex when quick turning from left to right sometimes. Although I
    can tell mainly by feel (riding rigid for years helps to tell), it can be reproduced so it is
    visually noticeable.

    My though was to put an aluminium brake booster on there - any


    experiences?

    Quoted message said:

    Knowledge? Conjecture?

    As ever, TIA!

    Shaun aRe - 'I like it stiffer up front.'

    I'm not sure you would see a difference...the boosters are arch-shaped


    'cuz

    Quoted message said:

    they're not 'sposed to open up...

    And because they need to be to fit there...... ',;~}~

    Quoted message said:

    unless they were 1/4" thick steel, I can't imagine they'd offer a lot of front-to-back rigidity. I
    say go machine a thick ass steel horseshoe and bolt that 2-pound dealie onto your Zoke. It'll feel
    stiffer 'cuz you're riding slower 🙂

    Chris

    Fuggedaboudit!

    Shaun aRe

  17. Sorni <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    "Chris" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    PS: Don't see how a brake booster can help with fork flex while using


    disc

    Quoted message said:

    brakes, Shaun, but let us know if it does!

    Well, in theory, the fork legs are 'twisting' around on the axis created by where the arch joins
    them. A thought a booster may help stop them from twisting, and if you look at where it mounts,
    you'll maybe see why I thought this.

    Anyhow, it has been suggested to me by someone I know that it does help, and enough to make it worth
    while (mentioned in reply to Clydesdale).

    Cheers.

    Shaun aRe

  18. Shaun Rimmer said:

    Sorni <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    "Chris" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    PS: Don't see how a brake booster can help with fork flex while using

    disc

    Quoted message said:

    brakes, Shaun, but let us know if it does!

    Well, in theory, the fork legs are 'twisting' around on the axis created by where the arch joins
    them. A thought a booster may help stop them from twisting, and if you look at where it mounts,
    you'll maybe see why I thought this.

    As previously mentioned, you'd see more benefit from tightening the lower end of the legs at the
    axle as this is the point that sees most deflection. Added to which, a brake booster is supposed to
    prevent outward flex, not twisting. That's not to say that extra metal there won't help, but there
    wasn't enough of an advantage that Marzocchi thought to add extra material to the bridge.

    On a Judy, it may well make an appreciable difference, but I would imagine that installing it on an
    already stiff fork will give you reduced returns.

    Quoted message said:

    Anyhow, it has been suggested to me by someone I know that it does help, and enough to make it
    worth while (mentioned in reply to Clydesdale).

    Give it a crack and then report back here. My theories are mere conjecture, so some real world
    experience would be good. Just make sure you don't fall in to the placebo trap 🙂

    --
    a.m-b FAQ: t-online.deambfaq.htm

    b.bmx FAQ: t-online.debmx faq.htm

  19. Shaun Rimmer said:

    John G <[email hidden]> wrote

    Quoted message said:
    Shaun Rimmer said:

    Right, would a brake booster do much to _torsionally_ stiffen a set of suss forks? (02 'zocchi
    MXR's)?

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    Does that one have the cast or removbeable arch? If the latter, I suggest check out the Black
    Spire Arch blackspire.comprod barch.html And it'll let you run 3"+ tires, up front

    Nah - they're the one piece mag lowers, cryofit.

    Ohh very well then just send me your 02's and I'll ship you off my 99's
    w/ Blackspire arch, problem solved, everybody is happy happy.

    Somewhere in the pile-O'[censored] I have a carbon fibre brake booster.. I'll see if I can;t dig it up and
    mail it off, shuldn't be more than a dollar to send to the UK. You still at the same address?

  20. John G <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:
    Shaun Rimmer said:

    John G <[email hidden]> wrote

    Quoted message said:

    Shaun Rimmer wrote:

    > Right, would a brake booster do much to _torsionally_ stiffen a set of suss forks? (02 'zocchi
    > MXR's)?

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    Does that one have the cast or removbeable arch? If the latter, I suggest check out the Black
    Spire Arch blackspire.comprod barch.html And it'll let you run 3"+ tires, up front

    Nah - they're the one piece mag lowers, cryofit.

    Ohh very well then just send me your 02's and I'll ship you off my 99's
    w/ Blackspire arch, problem solved, everybody is happy happy.

    Heheheh - yeah, I'm full of tricks like that ',;~}~

    Quoted message said:

    Somewhere in the pile-O'[censored] I have a carbon fibre brake booster.. I'll see if I can;t dig it up
    and mail it off, shuldn't be more than a dollar to send to the UK.

    OooOOO.........how easy is it to ship beer to the US? ',;~}~

    Quoted message said:

    You still at the same address?

    The Co. one? Yeah, but I've moved home twice ',;~}~

    Shaun aRe - 'shacked up' ........heheheheh!

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