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Frankenbrakes and brake improvement discussion

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Andeh

Customer Title
Mar 3, 2020
1,206
1,170
Anyone know of a source for replacement bearings for Hayes MCs? I went to go clean mine and discovered one of them had the race all munched up. Will ones from Codes work?
 

Andeh

Customer Title
Mar 3, 2020
1,206
1,170
Anyone know of a source for replacement bearings for Hayes MCs? I went to go clean mine and discovered one of them had the race all munched up. Will ones from Codes work?
Hayes replied, they're 684 bearings. I ordered a 10-pack off Amazon for $11 of 684-2RS (double rubber seal, appeared the same as what were in there). Dimensions of 684 bearings are different then Code/Guide bearings, which are imperial sized.
 

Jm_

sled dog's bollocks
Jan 14, 2002
20,187
10,716
AK
Hayes replied, they're 684 bearings. I ordered a 10-pack off Amazon for $11 of 684-2RS (double rubber seal, appeared the same as what were in there). Dimensions of 684 bearings are different then Code/Guide bearings, which are imperial sized.
An imperial bearing? I'd expect that kind of fuckery from Fox, but not SRAM.
 

TotalShanner

Chimp
Oct 3, 2023
2
0
The cascade calipers with code rsc levers are not on brakes ddzyne nl?
Is there any info online that shows the numbers with how they actually compare to the brakes on that site?
How do they stack up against the Maximas etc?
 

TotalShanner

Chimp
Oct 3, 2023
2
0
The cascade calipers with code rsc levers are not on brakes ddzyne nl?
Is there any info online that shows the numbers with how they actually compare to the brakes on that site?
How do they stack up against the Maximas etc?

Also meant to ask if anyone has paired the latest Hope tech4 v4 levers with the cascade calipers?
Is the hope master cylinder piston size smaller than the code rsc lever?? Edit - I see that the code is 9.5mm on the spreadsheet.
I'm not sure if the newest hope tech4 lever is on the spreadsheet?
 
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Boozzz

Chimp
Sep 12, 2019
81
85
Amsterdayummm
The cascade calipers with code rsc levers are not on brakes ddzyne nl?
Is there any info online that shows the numbers with how they actually compare to the brakes on that site?
How do they stack up against the Maximas etc?

Also meant to ask if anyone has paired the latest Hope tech4 v4 levers with the cascade calipers?
Is the hope master cylinder piston size smaller than the code rsc lever?? Edit - I see that the code is 9.5mm on the spreadsheet.
I'm not sure if the newest hope tech4 lever is on the spreadsheet?
The Cascade callipers use a 18/16 mm slave cylinder combo, same area as e.g. a Hope V4. So combine a Code R lever and a V4 calliper on the site to get an idea. Note that the RS/RSC lever should give you a bit more mechanical advantage due to the leverage modifying link in there.

As far as the Tech 4 lever goes, I unfortunately didn't measure mine when I had them (was dealing with too many QC issues/leaking and eventually returned them for a refund), but according to the guys on the German forums who measured them, total leverage ratio for the Tech 4 V4 is comparable to a Hayes Dominion, both around the 40 mark.
 

Andeh

Customer Title
Mar 3, 2020
1,206
1,170
Question for people running 2.0mm rotors on Dominions... what do you usually do when you install new pads? Whenever I've done this, there's basically so little clearance between pads and rotor that it's nearly impossible to not have intermittent rub unless the rotor is perfectly true. (Even with pistons fully retracted before installing new pads.) And then also the lever bite is crazy quick.
Do you do a top bleed to relieve some pressure? Sand down the pads a bit (seems like counter to the point of fresh pads)? Suffer the rub & feel for a few rides until the pads wear down a bit?

Also, do you adjust the lever reach to a certain distance from bar before bleeding? I know on SRAM's bleed guide, they tell you to do that, but Hayes doesn't mention it. I ask because the brake I'm installing the fresh pads cannot be set to pull fully to the bar, whereas my other 3 can. I'm assuming I need to wind the reach out a bit before I bleed it next time, correct?
 

toodles

ridiculously corgi proportioned
Aug 24, 2004
5,857
5,227
Australia
Also, do you adjust the lever reach to a certain distance from bar before bleeding? I know on SRAM's bleed guide, they tell you to do that, but Hayes doesn't mention it. I ask because the brake I'm installing the fresh pads cannot be set to pull fully to the bar, whereas my other 3 can. I'm assuming I need to wind the reach out a bit before I bleed it next time, correct?
I might be lost here but I'm sure bite point adjust might be worth setting all the way out before a bleed but what would lever reach do?
 

canadmos

Cake Tease
May 29, 2011
22,029
21,582
Canaderp
I just stuck new pads in my Dominions and only had to back the pistons out fully. Levers feel the same as before. Oh and also had to adjust the calipers on the mounts - as mine don't seem to push out the pistons equally on both sides, on both the front and back calipers. They work and I've tried cleaning and resetting the pistons multiple times, but it always happens....so I just ignore that now.

It sounds like you might have too much fluid in your brakes? My front one did that when new, but stopped with the instant engagement after bleeding it a second time. I bleed them with the bleed block in.

But yes, very little wiggle room.
 

Andeh

Customer Title
Mar 3, 2020
1,206
1,170
I might be lost here but I'm sure bite point adjust might be worth setting all the way out before a bleed but what would lever reach do?
I hadn't touched the bite point adjust since I've gotten them. Both are set all the way clockwise. I backed off the touchy brake a few full rotations and it didn't seem to do much.

Today I did a top bleed and as soon as I opened the MC port, quite a bit of fluid came out. I was able to get the pads in without rub after that, but the front brake (the trouble one) still has a reach such that if it's fully wound in, it corresponds to a few full rotations (~12-15 clicks) out on the rear brake for the same distance to the grip. They feel pretty similar now but I'm thinking next time I bleed the front, I'm going to try winding the reach much further out. Or when I bleed the rear, wind it's reach all the way in.
 

toodles

ridiculously corgi proportioned
Aug 24, 2004
5,857
5,227
Australia
One thing I've noticed with the Dominions compared to the SRAM brakes using the syringe bleed is that it seems a bit vague to find the neutral/non-pressurised fill amount. Might be the syringes I've got being a little sticky or the reservoir bladder design but they don't have a positive feel to indicate when you can removed the syringe and not spill fluid out or suck air in. I just slightly pressurise it and have a rag handy when I unscrew the syringe.
 

slimshady

¡Mira, una ardilla!
A buddy just sent me this very link. I'm intrigued.

Mineral oil, pads that look like either Hopes or Dominions, and their recommended bleed kit is the one I bought off Ali Express...

I wonder...
Already discussed at Vital's tech news thread. They are a Chinese factory who rebranded to Lewis a few months ago. You can get the same brakes under the ZRace brand for half the price or less on AliExpress. They indeed use Hope pads.
 
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Da Peach

Outwitted by a rodent
Jul 2, 2002
13,783
5,225
North Van
Already discussed at Vital's tech news thread. They are a Chinese factory who rebranded to Lewis a few months ago. You can get the same brakes under the ZRace brand for half the price or less on AliExpress. They indeed use Hope pads.
After perusing their site, I checked the ‘ol Ali, and had a look for “Lewis brakes”.

Lots of levers look similar, but none of them have the same calliper or hose assemblies.

I still like my Dominions a lot, so this is a future me consideration.

Along with my Arrival ponderings.
 

slimshady

¡Mira, una ardilla!
After perusing their site, I checked the ‘ol Ali, and had a look for “Lewis brakes”.

Lots of levers look similar, but none of them have the same calliper or hose assemblies.

I still like my Dominions a lot, so this is a future me consideration.

Along with my Arrival ponderings.
There are some good reviews of the other brands' brakes are emptybeer and chinertown.
 

troy

Turbo Monkey
Dec 3, 2008
1,026
785
Already discussed at Vital's tech news thread. They are a Chinese factory who rebranded to Lewis a few months ago. You can get the same brakes under the ZRace brand for half the price or less on AliExpress. They indeed use Hope pads.
Zrace is a completely different brake. Different lever/hoses/calipers
 

Terunky

Chimp
Oct 22, 2023
2
0
Hello there ! Made an account for this thread, biking 10 years and never had a good brake. Always to much lever throw, and to much arm pump. I like to understand a few things.

1: In the spreadsheet, the hydraulic leverage is not correct? like my hope v4 brakes, master area is 78.5 and slave is 911. So hydraulic leverage is 911 : 78.5 = 11.6. But the spreadsheet says the half of it ( 5.8) why is that ? because they are opposite of each other? i dont get it :wacko:

2: When there is more leverage (hydraulic or mechanic) there is also more lever throw. so if we mount a massive caliper, or extreme long lever blades. And we squeeze the brake, we hit the grips before we have pad contact. So the big question: How can motorbrakes, quad brakes or motocross brakes have so much power, without all that lever throw ?
 

Jm_

sled dog's bollocks
Jan 14, 2002
20,187
10,716
AK
Gotta tell him to put the Redline Like Water in there.
A requirement when it gets cold.
I've been down that road. Doesn't fix the issue. Doesn't even come close unfortunately. Maybe a teeny bit better, but so close to baseline that it's not really worth it IME.
 

Boozzz

Chimp
Sep 12, 2019
81
85
Amsterdayummm
Hello there ! Made an account for this thread, biking 10 years and never had a good brake. Always to much lever throw, and to much arm pump. I like to understand a few things.

1: In the spreadsheet, the hydraulic leverage is not correct? like my hope v4 brakes, master area is 78.5 and slave is 911. So hydraulic leverage is 911 : 78.5 = 11.6. But the spreadsheet says the half of it ( 5.8) why is that ? because they are opposite of each other? i dont get it :wacko:

2: When there is more leverage (hydraulic or mechanic) there is also more lever throw. so if we mount a massive caliper, or extreme long lever blades. And we squeeze the brake, we hit the grips before we have pad contact. So the big question: How can motorbrakes, quad brakes or motocross brakes have so much power, without all that lever throw ?
1. Yes, because they work opposite each other.
2. Because they have a massively large diameter disc compared to their wheel size. Their leverage actually ratio isn't much off from MTB brakes. E.g. a Brembo 4 pot racing caliper with 30 mm pistons can be used with a 19 mm MC, which gives a pretty average hydraulic leverage ratio (just under 5).

It's just because everything MTB is so tiny, that if a tolerance is slightly off, it'll feel like ass pretty quickly.
 

Terunky

Chimp
Oct 22, 2023
2
0
Thanks @Boozzz that explains a lot :clapping:

Trying to find a good brake, or else i make my own. Still researching. Maybe progressive linkages like Servowave, but better and adjustable.
 

sethimus

neu bizutch
Feb 5, 2006
5,335
2,429
not in Whistler anymore :/
It was a shittily filmed unboxing "review" video of the Lewis brakes.

I would guess it was put out by someone who sells them.
na was some private dude, bikes were way to shitty for someone in the biz.

bee_kay77 has another vid out on them, apparently good first impression:

 
Feb 21, 2020
945
1,306
SoCo Western Slope
Typical of most things manufactured in China, they can copy anything and make it look purdy.
It's the QC, materials used, and durability that is usually lacking.

Have these been mentioned here yet? Not too bad with the current exchange rate to USD.

 

Nick

My name is Nick
Sep 21, 2001
24,933
16,537
where the trails are
Typical of most things manufactured in China, they can copy anything and make it look purdy.
It's the QC, materials used, and durability that is usually lacking.

Have these been mentioned here yet? Not too bad with the current exchange rate to USD.

Those look good. I exchanged some email back in early '22 about availability. at the time, they weren't ready/able to ship to the US. Looks like that is an option now. Also, at the time that guy said most people were running 2.0mm Gafler rotors with great results.

$NZ exchange isn't too bad either. If my TRPs weren't already so good I'd roll the dice.