Possible to upgrade to 180 (or203) rotors from 160?
Posted: 10 Dec 2013, 4:26pm
I have a couple of bikes that I'd like to improve the braking systems on.
1. Specialized Sectuer disc - after running the bike for less than a month, the bike tech told me that I was "over-braking" as the rear disc was showing signs of over-heating. I very much like being alive and do not want to descend Cat 3s without braking on open roads. So, I'd like to improve the cooling of the rotors and I wonder if increasing the surface area (by increasing the diameter) might be the way to go. As I see it, I would need to purchase the appropriate mounts for the bigger rotors and the bigger rotors. This bike is currently fitted with Avid BB mechanical brakes and I don't think it should be a difficult changeover.
2. Trek 6500 MTB - the brakes on this bike (Shimano Deore M575 hydraulic on 160mm rotors) have been pretty good up to now but it is time to replace the rotors which are quite well worn. I thought it might be a chance to bump up my stopping power by fitting 180mm rotors. Then I read a review of the 180mm adaptor mount that mentioned to be careful that your forks could take the extra forces of braking on 180mm rotors. I am not entirely sure that this is a valid warning as I would have thought that the "fail point" under braking would be the traction between tyre and riding surface rather than the fork but I am not scientist so...
Is upgrading from 160mm rotors to 180mm rotors feasible / advisable? Is my reasoning for upgrading sound? Any comments will be welcomed - even you are only telling me that I am an idiot for thinking about doing this
1. Specialized Sectuer disc - after running the bike for less than a month, the bike tech told me that I was "over-braking" as the rear disc was showing signs of over-heating. I very much like being alive and do not want to descend Cat 3s without braking on open roads. So, I'd like to improve the cooling of the rotors and I wonder if increasing the surface area (by increasing the diameter) might be the way to go. As I see it, I would need to purchase the appropriate mounts for the bigger rotors and the bigger rotors. This bike is currently fitted with Avid BB mechanical brakes and I don't think it should be a difficult changeover.
2. Trek 6500 MTB - the brakes on this bike (Shimano Deore M575 hydraulic on 160mm rotors) have been pretty good up to now but it is time to replace the rotors which are quite well worn. I thought it might be a chance to bump up my stopping power by fitting 180mm rotors. Then I read a review of the 180mm adaptor mount that mentioned to be careful that your forks could take the extra forces of braking on 180mm rotors. I am not entirely sure that this is a valid warning as I would have thought that the "fail point" under braking would be the traction between tyre and riding surface rather than the fork but I am not scientist so...
Is upgrading from 160mm rotors to 180mm rotors feasible / advisable? Is my reasoning for upgrading sound? Any comments will be welcomed - even you are only telling me that I am an idiot for thinking about doing this