Cantilevers vs. Center Pulls?

[belopsky]

Cool, thanks guys. I just rebuilt a set, thinking about selling it to try something else but also to get an old set of MAFACS to rebuild again as it was fun

[559Rando]

Originally Posted by belopsky

Cool, thanks guys. I just rebuilt a set, thinking about selling it to try something else but also to get an old set of MAFACS to rebuild again as it was fun

Did you use the Compass rebuild kit?

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[belopsky]

Originally Posted by 559Rando

Did you use the Compass rebuild kit?

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Not entirely - I made my own bushings, bought the Compass washers, and then the rest of the hardware (adjusters/holders) and stainless springs from Grand Bois

[tv_vt]

Never, ever met a canti brake I liked. Squishy, hard to adjust, etc. Blah.

[MikeD]

I've had bikes with Weinman and Diacompe center pulls. Meh... Flexy with no power.

[559Rando]

Originally Posted by belopsky

Not entirely - I made my own bushings, bought the Compass washers, and then the rest of the hardware (adjusters/holders) and stainless springs from Grand Bois

For a guy who never took metal shop, making bushings is way beyond me. What's the advantage versus buying the Compass ones? Something fun to do? Cheaper? Did you use brass? I thought brass was soft, so I wonder why they use brass for these?

Originally Posted by MikeD

I've had bikes with Weinman and Diacompe center pulls. Meh... Flexy with no power.

That can be so many things. I quite liked my brazeon Dia Compe 750s with Kool Stop pads. The stock pads were lousy. I've also had good stopping with the CNC'ed Dia Compe 610s (centermounted) and the Weinmanns that came on my '71 Raleigh International. Cable housing, toe-in, brake pads, levers, cable routing, etc all factor into the stopping power and feel.

[belopsky]

Originally Posted by 559Rando

For a guy who never took metal shop, making bushings is way beyond me. What's the advantage versus buying the Compass ones? Something fun to do? Cheaper? Did you use brass? I thought brass was soft, so I wonder why they use brass for these?

I decided to make my own because Compass was sold out of theirs when I wanted to rebuild.

All in all, if I had waited and got their hardware kit..vs what I paid/made myself, I saved $45, though I don't have all the glossy bits.

Next time I make another set, I might see if they'll sell me the hardware kit without bushings.

[belopsky]

I'll add that if you have a set of MAFAC that are laying around or got super cheap..some filing, sanding, polishing nets you some realllly nice brakes for $125

[Gummee]

If anyone's interested in a pair of the canti-style MAFACs, PM me. I have a pair I doubt I'll ever use

All ya gotta do to update them is run In-Place pads/holders

M

[Formulasaab]

My riding buddy Rich is behind the House Industries Velo stuff... Takes the Paul Racer brakes and jazzes them up a bit.

[Pastashop]

Ok, question: I've a frame with 55 mm canti stud spacing. Otherwise normal vertical distance to rim. What brake to use?

[donevwil]

Originally Posted by Pastashop

Ok, question: I've a frame with 55 mm canti stud spacing. Otherwise normal vertical distance to rim. What brake to use?

I'm guessing an older frame intended for Mafac Cantis? That's very narrow as I'm sure you're aware. Maybe some Kool Stop thinlines with posts on old Suntour XC-Pros or Shimano Deores? Posts will yield far more adjustment range than modern stud/spherical washer/nut. And definitely stay away from wide rims.

[Pastashop]

The frame is actually fairly new, clears 38 mm tires, but is set up with somewhat narrower spacing than common nowadays.

Another complicating factor: I'd like to try a carbon rim (don't ask why), so am trying to find a good pad for it...

Have a set of Shimano BR-R550 cantis... they use road brake style pads. Futzing with the spacers on the pads seems like it could work, but is somehow more problematic than other cantis I've set up in the past. Also they came with longish pads, and I've not spotted any carbon rim pads that would fit those longish holders.

[nash]

I have always wanted a bike with centerpull braze ons. Just to try out. Not to many out there besides going custom, which is beyond me financially.

I do love a good set of cantis though. A set of smooth post shimano cantis like older xt's lx's etc, can be set up real well and feel great in my experience. cantis arent hard to to set up, its just geometry and angles of the cables.

[marciero]

Am considering buying belopsky's Mafacs for braze-on mounting.
To compare with the Paul's-

Paul's have wider stud spacing.
Paul's have individual spring adjust.
CNC vs forged...

Any other considerations? Also considering Compass. But beyond the aesthetics, is there a benefit from these beyond what can be had by upgrading the parts on the Mafac (most of which belopsky seems to have done)?