Brake Boosters - do they ACTUALLY work?

[Pickle]

Seen them for sale on here from time to time, and thought they are a very cheap way of getting some extra oomph from your brakes.

But, do they actually work??

Anyone used them who can advise me? £5-10 seems an awful lack of money for extra performance!

 

[Andy B]

I think they only work if your seatstays flex when you apply the brakes, the booster stops the frame flex therefore you get more stopping power. Otherwise they're just extra weight

 

[Pickle]

I think they only work if your seatstays flex when you apply the brakes

So, those that you see on peoples forks aren't actually doing anything then? :?

 

[gump]

never used one, but the stays/mounts on some bikes flex an amazing amount, so can see how they could help.

I just think they look cack

 

[legrandefromage]

they do work on forks as while you apply brakes when riding, you are forcing the stanchions/ fork legs apart - losing braking power.

Brake boosters on older sus forks act as an extra brace, giving a bit more rigidity - ie, not having to book steering in advance! (spesh on old sus. forks)

For the rear, the brake force, is forcing the rear stays inwards, so one on the rear dont matter that much.

 

[Andy B]

For the rear, the brake force, is forcing the rear stays inwards, so one on the rear don't matter that much.

You sure?

I'd have thought that any brake front or rear would want to force the frame in the opposite way (outwards) to the braking force (inwards)

 

[hamster]

I agree - the stays on my bikes bend out and twist surprisingly when I give the Maguras a good squeeze.

 

[legrandefromage]

There are two forces involved - the actual pull of the lever on the brake and the direction of the wheel.

The brakes will move stays/ forks in the direction of the wheel.

Forward - rear stays move inwards toward the front of the bike

on the front - forward pushes the forks/ stanchion outward. in extreme cases this means that only the rear of the pad comes into contact with the rim

 

[legrandefromage]

I agree - the stays on my bikes bend out and twist surprisingly when I give the Maguras a good squeeze.

Yes, when stationary!

Move forward and that 'twist' moves everything forwards towards the front of your bike

 

[Andy B]

legrandefromage,I think we're getting our wires crossed a little

I'm talking about the frame/forks spreading away from the wheel at 90degrees to the wheel, not movement of the frame/fork fore & aft.

A brake booster will help against spreading & twisting, but not fore/aft movement (IIRC)