MTB Forks

You’d like to change your brake system? You’d like to get better performance on your brakes? So get MTB Disc Brakes to your bike. But be prepared to spend some money on your disc brakes and the stuff that belongs to them. Later on you will see how to install that kind of brakes.

There are two common types of mtb disc brakes, mechanical (cable-actuated) and hydraulic. Slight difference between these two types are relevant.

Actuation: Both systems use brake levers to start the braking process. The mechanical disc brakes use brake levers to give the cable a tug. The cable forces the mtb brake pads against a surface, known as the rotor or disc. The hydraulic disc brakes use brake levers to compress a fluid that will move the pads against the rotor.

Weight: Fluid vs. Cable. The fluid will be heavier then the cable and so the hydraulic mtb disc brakes will weigh more. It’s not very much but there is a difference. If you want to have the lightest brakes try to use V-brakes.

Performance: The hydraulic mtb disc brakes will perform better then the mechanical type. This is because the fluid reacts faster then a cable that is pulled. Also the cable can rip apart and you will lose all the braking power.

Price: Of course better performance will cost more. New hydraulic mountain bike disc brakes will be a shade higher in price as the mechanical mtb disc brakes.

It’s up to you which system is the one that fulfils your needs the most.

What else do you need for your mtb disc brakes?

The most important part is the wheel hub. You need a hub with one of the following mounting standard:

- International Standard (IS) (a six-bolt mount)
- Centerlock (licensed by Shimano)
- five-bolt (licensed by Hope)
- three-bolt (licensed by Hope and another system licensed by Rock Shox)
- there are many other mounting systems for mtb disc brakes …

The second thing you need is a MTB fork respectively a frame with an IS or PM mounting. IS means International Standard and PM means Post Mount. It doesn’t really matter which mounting you have or your brakes have. There are several adapters from one to the other mounting, so don’t care about what type you have.

Of course you need a rotor (disc) for your mtb disc brakes. This depends on the brake you got. Some manufacturers have special discs such as Avid, Hope, Hayes and Shimano. The best way is to get the disc the manufacturer suggests. You can choose between some disc sizes:
- 140 mm
- 160 mm
- 180 mm // 183 mm // 185 mm
- 200 mm // 203 mm // 205 mm
- 220 mm
These are the common ones but there are some other more special sizes related to the manufacturers. Anyway there are adapters for nearly every size.

How to install your new braking system? No matter if you got hydraulic or mechanical mtb disc brakes the installation will be the same.

Let’s start with a video how to install mtb disc brakes:

- First of all take the wheel off your bike.
- Then take your new rotor and put it on the wheel hub and fix it the way it should be. This depends on the type of mounting standard you have.
- After fixing the disc go back to your bike and your mtb disc brake to the mounting on your MTB fork or frame.
- Now put your wheel back on your bike.
- Last but not least you have to adjust the brake so that there is no noise while the wheel spins around. This step can take a long time and you have to be very patient with the adjustment.