Replacement Mechanical Calipers for QMD-5.

[Finnthedude]

Hello all,

I wonder if anyone can help. I've recently dug out my old MTB (Claud Butler Stone River 2007/2008) and gave it a service as I'm back riding again after a 10 year break (need to lose the beer gut).

Everything is working fine and after a few hundred miles I decided to check the brake pads. Plenty of meat on them but they won't last forever so a spare set would be nice... and there's the problem - looks like they don't make pads any more for QMD-5 calipers. I've ordered something similar to see if I can mod them to fit but clearly that's not ideal, so I'm looking to get replacement calipers. Obviously the bike already has (160mm)discs, cables and levers so I just need a pair of calipers that'll bolt straight on.

Not looking to spend much as to be fair the bike isn't worth a whole lot (it is to me). I basically potter up and down the canal and maybe a few gravel paths up in the local hills. The QMD-5's have been fine so something similar but with more available spares would be perfect. I'd prefer something with a decent name rather than a knock off but as I say I don't really want to spend a lot. Also want to stick with the cable operated so don't want to convert to hydraulic.

Thanks for reading.

Finnthedude.

[slowster]

I would suggest Avid BB5 calipers. Chain Reaction have them for £29.40 each, including a 160mm disc (although you can probably still use your existing discs).

Note that these are MTB cable pull. You can also buy road pull versions of the BB5s and other mechanical disc brakes, but they will only work with drop bar brake levers. Note also that cheap BB5s on Ebay are likely to be counterfeit/knock offs.

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/avi ... -prod67747

[PH]

Are these the pads you need?
https://www.discobrakes.com/?s=0&t=0&c=74&p=764&tb=001

If not they may be identifiable from this pdf
https://www.discobrakes.com/pdf/DiscoBr ... ier_v9.pdf

It's possible that no one makes them and there's no older stock, but they were a common make and not that old, be a pity for them to become obsolete due to lack of pads, particularly as you're otherwise happy with them.

[Finnthedude]

I would suggest Avid BB5 calipers. Chain Reaction have them for £29.40 each, including a 160mm disc (although you can probably still use your existing discs).

Note that these are MTB cable pull. You can also buy road pull versions of the BB5s and other mechanical disc brakes, but they will only work with drop bar brake levers. Note also that cheap BB5s on Ebay are likely to be counterfeit/knock offs.

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/avi ... -prod67747

They seem like a good choice. I was worried about Ebay and Amazon knockoffs so CRC look like a good option. Thank you.

Are these the pads you need?
https://www.discobrakes.com/?s=0&t=0&c=74&p=764&tb=001

If not they may be identifiable from this pdf
https://www.discobrakes.com/pdf/DiscoBr ... ier_v9.pdf

It's possible that no one makes them and there's no older stock, but they were a common make and not that old, be a pity for them to become obsolete due to lack of pads, particularly as you're otherwise happy with them.

Very similar to those pads. I did find a post about those ones on an old forum that said they fit with a bit of grinding.
I've just received some old stock EBC pads (fa332) that might fit but they're not quite right, they have a flat back whereas the QMD5 pads have a circular indentation on the back - I have found the A2Z version of them (az750) on Amazon but they are currently unavailable and A2Z no longer list them either on their UK distributor website. :

https://www.amazon.co.uk/A2Z-Disc-Brake ... B006ZM1FIS


They're not listed on the discobrakes pdf unfortunately. Thanks for your help, much appreciated.

Thanks all,

Finnthedude.

[Finnthedude]

Just an update. I went for the BB5's, ordered one from Wiggle and one from CRC, they arrived at the same time. 10 minutes to fit (I fitted the rotors as well, might as well keep everything as matched pairs) and they look nicer in the black and red than the silver QMD's. The main difference is the braking improvement. I always thought the QMD's were fine until I fitted these. Now they're bedded in they are phenomenal in comparison.

I must put a pic up of the old girl with her new anchors.

Many thanks again to all who posted advice, it is much appreciated.

Finnthedude.

[slowster]

Thank you for coming back and letting us know the outcome.

NB If your bike is fitted with traditional spiral wound (Bowden) brake cables, you would probably get a further improvement by replacing them with compressionless brake cables*. However, if you are happy with your existing braking performance, there is probably no need to bother.

* e.g. https://www.highonbikes.com/products/ja ... -cable-set