V brake vs Cantilever vs U brake? 90s GT

[kicks66]

Hi there,

I'm building up a 1990 GT Team Avalanche - my first build - and wondering what brakes it can take? I'm struggling to understand if it can take all 3 of the V-brake / Cantilever / U-brake? From what I can see they all attach in the same way and function fairly similarly?

Of these, which gives the best braking power? Why would I not just choose the ones with the best braking power?

 

[foz]

It depends on the bosses - will either be U brake (and only U brake), or canti (and in that case V brake too, unless you have an extra wide rim)

post a pic

 

[Vesatoro]

I think you are stuck with U-brakes with that frame (brake bosses ABOVE the rim circumference). For canti- and V-brakes the brake bosses are BELOW the rim circumference.

 

[27motorhead]

Hi there,

I'm building up a 1990 GT Team Avalanche - my first build - and wondering what brakes it can take? I'm struggling to understand if it can take all 3 of the V-brake / Cantilever / U-brake? From what I can see they all attach in the same way and function fairly similarly?

Of these, which gives the best braking power? Why would I not just choose the ones with the best braking power?

Awesome bike! You need to post some photos. I assume it's got the Blue Widow paint? (dark blue with lighter blue crackle/drizzle paint).

If so it'll be U brake only due to high position of the brake bosses, plus they are completely different to cantilever/V bosses. You can get a converter plate to run cantilevers/V's (a bit like a brake booster), but it looks a bit Heath Robinson.

U brakes are super cool (IMHO!) but can clog in mud quite easily.

 

[Retro_Roy]

if u brake bosses, you have lots of options other than shimano u brakes.
you can use roller cams for one.

 

[kicks66]

This is what the rear looks like:

 

[27motorhead]

Yep, that's 100% 1990 Team Avalanche! I'd personally stick with the stock U brake set-up, but you need a long straddle cable that "X's" around the seat tube thanks to GT's triple triangle design. I know @Retro_Roy mentioned a roller cam, but not sure they'd work on the back of a GT due the routing around the seat tube as the cam needs to be pulled from the centre line of brake set-up and the seat tube is bang in the way. I'm sure there are other American exotica U-brake style alternatives that might work.

 

[27motorhead]

I nicked this off @PhillB 1991 GT Team Avalanche restoration.

Shows the U brake and the X straddle cable configuration:

 

[PhillB]

Here's that one after I spruced it up a bit...

The 1990 Team Avalanche had exactly the same set up... I also have one of those ;-) (Just noticed the ferrule has come off the cable end! )



Period u-brakes in good condition are a little hard to come by in my experience, the booster plates tended to get spot rusting and the u-brake arms fade... plus the little plastic bits break. I have bought a few for parts and combined them to make nice(r) ones. Hope this helps... I look forward to seeing your Team Avalanche, well done for saving another one!!

 

[kicks66]

That looks great - hopefully can get mine to a similar stage.

What brakes do you have on these pics?