Can I change my hub so I can put disc brakes on the bike

Asked by: Jen Dailey

Certainly possible. You’ll need disc hubs to be laced to your existing rims or new wheels. There are various adapters you can use to mount the callipers. RJ the bike guy has a video on it which might be useful.

Can disc brakes be added to any bike?

Disc brakes can be fitted to any mountain bike so long as the bike is equipped with two things: Hubs that have the fittings for a disc rotor. Frame and forks which have mountings for disc calipers.

Can you convert a bike from rim to disc brakes?

Adding a disc brake mount is a great way to increase stopping power on bikes originally built with rim brakes. This is a retrofit that we do regularly on titanium and steel frames, and some forks. Includes the cost of labor, the disc tab, and a short brace tube between the seat and chainstays.

Can I change the hubs on my bike?

Simple answer: yes, but it’s not worth doing. Cost of hub, spokes, nipples and having wheel rebuilt will exceed the cost of a new wheel. Even if you re-use the spokes a new wheel will still be cheaper. Wheel building requires special equipment, expertise and time to do correctly.

Can I add disk brakes to my road bike?

It’s something that has to be bought as a unit, and cannot be added on down the track to mechanical systems. So in the end, there are many factors that make a disc brake road bike different to one with rim brakes.

How much does it cost to add disc brakes to a bike?

You could probably install disc brakes with just a multi-tool as long as it contained a set of TORX and Allen head wrenches. What is this? To give you a price range, low end mechanical disc brakes will cost $48 for a complete set, while a highend Shimano XTR Brake groupset will cost $450.

Can you convert to disc brakes?

All you need is a disc brake conversion kit. Installing one of these kits is a straightforward process that involves removing the old drums, attaching a set of brackets to your wheel hub or axle flange, and then installing the rotors and calipers and hooking everything up.

What is better disc or rim brakes?

In terms of braking performance, disc brakes outperform rim brakes in almost every category. From variable weather conditions and steep descents, to quick stops in traffic and high-speed races, disc brakes are superior to rim brakes. However, disc brakes can be finicky, expensive, and difficult to change and maintain.

Do you need special wheels for disc brakes?

To use disc brakes you’re going to need a different hub than on standard rim brake wheels in order to accommodate the rotor. The good news is that more and more companies are bringing disc specific wheels to the market, so there are plenty of options out there.

Are disk brakes better on bikes?

Disc brakes offer better modulation than rim brakes, meaning it’s easier for the rider to precisely meter out how much clamping power is generated. Peak stopping power occurs just before the point of lock-up, and disc-equipped bikes are better equipped to flirt with that edge without crossing over.

Can you convert any hub to thru axle?

If it’s a front hub and your fork uses a QR, you can buy a new thru-axle hub and an adapter that lets you use a thru-axle hub in a QR fork. About $15 for the adapter. This will give a fractionally better bit of firmness, but primarily, if you change your fork down the road, you can get one with thru-axle.

Do you need new spokes when changing hubs?

The distance from the holes in the hub flange to the holes in the rim are dependent on flange diameter, flange spacing, and maybe even spoke hole diameter (assuming same spoke crossing pattern). If the new hub is dimensionally exactly the same as the old hub, then you can re-use spokes.

Are MTB hubs interchangeable?

Condensed answer: Rear MTB hubs are wider than rear Road hubs designed for bikes with rim brakes. Thus, rear road wheels built around MTB hubs won’t fit on a modern rim brake frame. However, disc-brake-ready road frames have a 135mm rear O.L.D. and can therefore accept a wheel with an MTB hub.

Is it worth upgrading to disc brakes?

Advantages of Disc Brakes



Compared to rim brakes (and rim brakes on carbon wheels), you’ll notice much more control and stopping power once the weather turns nasty. Easier to prevent wheel lock up: It’s easy with both rim and disc brakes to squeeze the lever and cause your wheel to lock up—that’s a recipe for disaster.

How do you put disc brakes on a bike?

Quote from video: Installation and setup necessary tools place the disc rotor on the hub mounting surface and align the holes ensure that the arrow on the disc rotor is pointing in the direction of the wheel rotation

How do you install a disc brake adapter?

How To Convert To Disc Brakes From V-Brakes On Mountain …

How do you put disc brakes on a bike?

Quote from video: Installation and setup necessary tools place the disc rotor on the hub mounting surface and align the holes ensure that the arrow on the disc rotor is pointing in the direction of the wheel rotation

What is better disc or rim brakes?

In terms of braking performance, disc brakes outperform rim brakes in almost every category. From variable weather conditions and steep descents, to quick stops in traffic and high-speed races, disc brakes are superior to rim brakes. However, disc brakes can be finicky, expensive, and difficult to change and maintain.

Do you need special wheels for disc brakes?

To use disc brakes you’re going to need a different hub than on standard rim brake wheels in order to accommodate the rotor. The good news is that more and more companies are bringing disc specific wheels to the market, so there are plenty of options out there.

Can I put brakes on my bike?

While there are a variety of bicycle brakes to choose from, two of the simplest types to install on a road bicycle are the cantilever and linear-pull brake systems. Both are mechanical systems, meaning that the user operates the device by using a lever that pulls a wire attached to the brake assembly.

Why do cruiser bikes not have brakes?

The cruiser bike also traditionally didn’t include brakes in the design. Instead of the standard hand-operated brakes, the cruiser bike is equipped with a coaster brake. Pedaling backward would slow the cruiser down sufficiently. The rear-coaster brake provides better control.

Can you put disc brakes on a fixie?

Condensed answer: By default, a fixed-gear bike a.k.a. fixie isn’t designed for disc brakes. That said, it’s possible to add a front and rear disc brake, but the process will require the replacement of the fork, machining, and welding.