V-Brake: Brake Booster

[Christopher Brunsdon]

I've got V-Brakes on my bike and upgrading to Disc is not worth it for me. So I got an awesome deal on a new set of XT V-Brakes Cantilevers. This is an improvement on my the Tektro ones that came with my bike.

 

Now tonight I cam across V-Brake Boosters on the interwebs. I understand their purpose and how they work. Big question is are they worth it?

 

Do any hubbers have them installed and did they make a difference? Personally I do not understand how they can make a difference on my front fork as the bosses are near the arch, but it could make a diff at the back.

 

[Guest Big H]

V-brakes on Tandems come with brake attenuators. It is a pulley that fits in place of the noodle on your V-brake, they work. I have them on both of my road tandems.

[Fleming]

I assume the booster you are referring to is the arch shaped thing that mounts over the brakes on the bosses. In the old days of cantilevers I used to use one on the back and it did help but only because I had a very flexible frame. If I pulled hard on the lever I could visibly see the bosses flexing apart as the pads pressed on the rim.

 

 

 

If you pull the lever and dont see any movement you probably dont need one. Come to think about it, I havent seen one of these things in years.

[Johan Bornman]

You don't need these. As it is, your brakes will be powerful enough to a) skid the rear wheel and b) do what the motorbike guys call a "stoppie".

 

Road tandems with V-brakes need the attenuator to make V-brakes compatible with road brake levers. The two have a mismatched mechanical advantage/travel and the attenuator has nothing to do with providing more brake force.

 

Even with visible flexing anywhere in the bike from applying the brakes forcefully, your limiting factor at the rear is still traction and at the front, overturning momentum.

 

Put the money in your pension fund.

[Tumbleweed]

Road tandems with V-brakes need the attenuator to make V-brakes compatible with road brake levers. The two have a mismatched mechanical advantage/travel and the attenuator has nothing to do with providing more brake force.

 

?

 

 

 

yup. i had to use these on the singlespeed i built with drop bars. the feel of the brakes was spongy...and a little dangerous.