Retro-fitting caliper forks with v-brake mounts

[Mars]

My brother has a BMX with v-brakes on the rear but a caliper on the front fork. The caliper isn't a patch on the v-brake for efficiency.

Has anayone ever heard of anyone having v-brake mountings installed where they didn't exist previously?

If possible, a screw-in (non-welding) solution would be best. I have already thought this would depend on the thickness of the fork metal. If it were thick enough, you could tap your own thread and screw them into the front face only. If not, they might have to pass through to the rear with a nut to secure them.

This can't be the first time anyone has needed this?

[OneDs]

I have heard of them, in terms of screw-ins, but it's probably easier to buy new forks with lugs in them, you'll probably get U-brakes rather than V on a BMX though but U's can work just as well.

[Uriel]

Something like this?

http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/FSOOCBS/on-one-bolt-on...

[JD]

You can buy adapters

they bolt on to the caliper mounting, then usually jubilee clamps that strap the adapter to the forks tubes

a very ugly situation, but it does work!

[Mars]

Thanks gents.

It's for a New/Old School build - Landing Gear forks are only £60. I might have a go engineering a solution myself. Can't be hard and those forks are nuclear bomb proof.

Thanks.

[shalmaneser]

Running a front brake on a BMX is not cool, i'm afraid!

you might have some luck if you can find some flatland forks, although they may have a funny offset or something....my BMX knowledge is fairly limited.

personally, I'd just run a back brake, maintain the clean lines and use it for what it's designed to do...doing jumps not getting up to high speeds!

[Mars]

shalmaneser said:

Running a front brake on a BMX is not cool, i'm afraid!

you might have some luck if you can find some flatland forks, although they may have a funny offset or something....my BMX knowledge is fairly limited.

personally, I'd just run a back brake, maintain the clean lines and use it for what it's designed to do...doing jumps not getting up to high speeds!

Really?

[OneDs]

Er hmm!

http://bmxmdb.com/films/413-Front-Brake-Revolution

You have skip the first minute or so.

[Mars]

I've had a thought about this...

You've seen the "upside down horseshoe" type affair on MTB sus forks? It seems to be integral on some, but bolt-on on others. On older ones, before disk brakes were the norm, the ends of this bracket held the V-brake mounts.

If you could help me to identify the name of this component, I reckon I could make one to fit on a pair of Landing Gear forks without drilling or welding the forks themselves. Just needs a centrally drilled hole in the braket through which you'd bolt the bracket to the fork, then you should be good to install v-brakes.

[Mars]

I'm going to buy and try this:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Odyssey-Brake-Booster-for-ca...

[slomax]

I have a set of magura hydraulic HS11 rim brakes with brake boosters. Might me worth taking a look at those too.

[dr_gn]

My old GT Karakoram had a U-Brake at the back. I wanted V-brakes, so took it to a local frame builder (MB Cycles, Dronfield) and he brazed on some lugs for about £30. Job done. I think he even resprayed the heat damaged bits of frame for me.

[dr_gn]

dr_gn said:

Mars said:

I've had a thought about this...

You've seen the "upside down horseshoe" type affair on MTB sus forks? It seems to be integral on some, but bolt-on on others. On older ones, before disk brakes were the norm, the ends of this bracket held the V-brake mounts.

If you could help me to identify the name of this component, I reckon I could make one to fit on a pair of Landing Gear forks without drilling or welding the forks themselves. Just needs a centrally drilled hole in the braket through which you'd bolt the bracket to the fork, then you should be good to install v-brakes.

How would you stop rotation of the whole clamp when the brakes were applied? If I understood your concept, it's not such a good idea IMO.

I've got two pairs of PACE forks (RC-35 and RC 36 Evo III) and both have removable V-brake clamps. They are obviously designed for a specific fork leg diameter though. The PACE clamps do not require the horseshoe stiffener, they work fine with clamping force alone.

http://www.bikelights.co.uk/product/12/104383986/P...

[Mars]

dr_gn said:

Mars said:

I've had a thought about this...

You've seen the "upside down horseshoe" type affair on MTB sus forks? It seems to be integral on some, but bolt-on on others. On older ones, before disk brakes were the norm, the ends of this bracket held the V-brake mounts.

If you could help me to identify the name of this component, I reckon I could make one to fit on a pair of Landing Gear forks without drilling or welding the forks themselves. Just needs a centrally drilled hole in the braket through which you'd bolt the bracket to the fork, then you should be good to install v-brakes.

How would you stop rotation of the whole clamp when the brakes were applied? If I understood your concept, it's not such a good idea IMO.

I've got two pairs of PACE forks (RC-35 and RC 36 Evo III) and both have removable V-brake clamps. They are obviously designed for a specific fork leg diameter though. The PACE clamps do not require the horseshoe stiffener, they work fine with clamping force alone.

http://www.bikelights.co.uk/product/12/104383986/P...

Yes, those look simpler. Want to sell them?

Regarding your question, calipers don't rotate when you apply the braking force but I accept that with two additional fulcrums where the V-brakes attach to my "yolk" idea, you run the risk that one side applies more pressure and causes rotation. I would have tested the idea, and if necessary I could have run a stabilizing bracket to the side of the forks.

But yes, your idea looks better. Any idea where I could buy them?

[Mars]

P.S. I've found some on Wiggle which suggests they're intended for a fork tubes with outside diameter 34mm. Can you confirm this please? I need to check the outside diameter for Landing Gear forks too (need my brother for this).

[itsnotarace]

Seems like you are trying to reinvent the wheel. Why not just replace the forks with a set with correct lugs

http://www.winstanleysbmx.com/product/19630/Ruptio...

Or, get something designed with BMX in mind

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod...

[dr_gn]

itsnotarace said:

Seems like you are trying to reinvent the wheel. Why not just replace the forks with a set with correct lugs

http://www.winstanleysbmx.com/product/19630/Ruptio...

Or, get something designed with BMX in mind

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod...

Those DMR clamp bosses are £13 more expensive than the PACE ones I listed...then again if new forks are only £10 there is no point messing about.

[Mars]

dr_gn said:

itsnotarace said:

Seems like you are trying to reinvent the wheel. Why not just replace the forks with a set with correct lugs

http://www.winstanleysbmx.com/product/19630/Ruptio...

Or, get something designed with BMX in mind

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod...

Those DMR clamp bosses are £13 more expensive than the PACE ones I listed...then again if new forks are only £10 there is no point messing about.

Thanks. My brother, who I am looking into this for, won't want to change forks but clamps like these seem to be a decent approach.

[itsnotarace]

dr_gn said:

Those DMR clamp bosses are £13 more expensive than the PACE ones I listed...then again if new forks are only £10 there is no point messing about.

It is unlikely the Pace V brake kit is the correct width for the fork legs on BMX

[Mars]

itsnotarace said:

It is unlikely the Pace V brake kit is the correct width for the fork legs on BMX

The only details I could find is that the Pace ones are 34mm. There's no such info on the DMR ones, and I'd guess Landing Gear forks tubes are at the "wide" end of the scale.

40 quid's a lot of cash to speculate on. Might end up doing so anyway.