Can I switch my rim brakes to mechanical disk brakes on my bike?

Question

I have an older Specialized Hardrock Sport with rim breaks. If I can switch to mechanical disc breaks how expensive would it be, would it be practicle.

Are their any other upgrades that I could do to my bike to make it more efficent and up to date.....bike is ~10 yrs old now

Answer 1

It doesn't sound like you are the type of rider who would benefit from disc brakes. They help reduce hand fatigue on very steep, extended downhills where you constantly have to apply the brake. They also help when riding in wet conditions by keeping the brakes out of the wetness, but few people are hardcore enough to ride in the rain.

Disc brakes tend to need a lot more attention to keep them functioning properly. In my experience with my bike & friends' bikes they are a constant source of squeaks, squeals, and clicks. Rim brakes are just so easy...set them up once, and the next time you need to touch them is when you replace the pads.

Others have already done a good job outlining the cost associated with disc brakes. The brake set alone could cost over $100, and that doesn't the other potential parts, such as a new front fork & a new hub/wheel.

I would suggest that you continue to ride the bike until you have worn out its useful life. Once you have to start replacing shocks & the drivetrain then it is cost effective to buy a new bike. New parts are expensive, but with that said, every year there are vast improvements in biking technology. For $500 you get a much better bike today than you did 5 years ago.

Don't just upgrade parts for an upgraded look.

It is typically cheaper to lose 5 pounds off your body than 5 pounds off your bike.

I'm not sure exactly what type of riding you do (trails or street or both) so i'll respond assuming you do mostly trails. The best "bang for your buck" improvements would be tires and/or clipless pedals & shoes. Nothing beats a set of knobby tires to replace the original tires that came with the bike. Clipless Pedals allow you to pull up when pedaling making you more efficient.

Likewise, if you do strictly road riding then you might consider a set of skinny slick tires to reduce rolling resistance. Perhaps pedals are not practical for you.

Good luck!

Answer 2

The short answer is 'no'.

The long answer is, if you want to replace the hubs, have the appropriate mounts welded on the frame and replace the fork then it could be done. This will very likely cost far more than a new bike that already has discs on it.

You can purchase a prettyy nice bike... perhaps a Diamondback Response Comp that has good components, an excellent frame, and discs for around $400.

Answer 3

I really wouldn't spend a ton of money on this bike. There have been a lot of innovations in the past ten years. You could buy a new fork or upgrade the drivetrain, but these are both costly. I suspect that you drivetrain is 7 speed. Current mountain bikes have up to 9 or even 10 speed rear hubs. It would take a lot of hardware to make the change. You are probably better off saving your money and investing in a new bike down the road.

Answer 4

To switch to disc brakes , your frame and fork must have the available mounts for you to do so . Also , you have to get hubs that are disc brakes compatible . By switching to disc brakes , it doesn't make your bike more up to date . It only (slightly) increase the performance of your brakes (unless you are going for hydraulic disc brakes ) . If you want a slight improvement , perhaps you can get some new drivetrain ( cranksets , derailers , shifters ) .

Answer 5

I don't know how expensive disk brakes are, but I know you can't
put them on bikes that are too old. to get disc brakes you need
two little mounts to put them on, two for each wheel. to find out if your bike is compatible with disc brakes you simply look on either side of the bottom of your fork(it only has to be on one side), or on the frame in a similar area near the wheel in the back.

Answer 6

For the amount of money this conversion would cost, you can buy a really nice new bike with disc brakes.

You'll need new wheels with disc brake rotors
You'll need to have brake mounts welded onto your frame
You'll need to buy new disc brake calipers, and have them installed.

Answer 7

no. you can't switch to disc brakes unless your frame and front fork are set up to accept the brake caliper. You would also have to change your hubs so your wheels would accept a disc.