Post by BrusKO on Jan 11, 2006 14:22:57 GMT 8
article taken from www.nsmb.com/gear/therapy_02_05.php
REVIEW: Therapy Components Floating Brake
Wake up your rear end...
Words and photographs by Scott Velez
When I downsized my V-10 and bought a Santa Cruz Bullit last year, I loved the quicker handling, faster acceleration and the lighter weight, but the braking performance wasn't anywhere near what I was used to with the V-10. Not even close.
I really began to notice this on steeper and rougher trails, where the rear of the bike would skip, bounce and resist moving through its range of travel … classic symptoms of "brake jack." Lucky for me, Brian at Therapy Components has a solution - the Brake Therapy Floating Brake Kit.
I Need Therapy
In simple terms, a floating brake separates the braking forces from the bike's suspension, which allows the suspension to move freely even when under heavy braking. Certain bike designs, such as single pivot suspension bikes, amplify this ride characteristic more than others. Having ridden these types of bike designs both with and without a floating rear brake, I can tell you that there is no mistaking the difference between both the rear brake and suspension performance.
While the floating brake kit itself is surprisingly simple, the quality and workmanship are amazing. The mounting hardware is stainless steel, and the rod and plate are constructed of 2042 aluminium. For my DT Onyx rear hub, the kit included a replacement spacer and a pre-assembled brake-side bearing assembly. The bearing assembly goes into your hub and has a groove in it for the floating brake plate to slide over.
The other end of the floating brake plate attaches to your seat tube with a long rod. As the suspension moves up and down, the rod holds the upper end of the floating brake at a constant distance while the bottom rotates back and forth on the bearing assembly. This freedom of movement is what isolates the suspension from braking forces.
The complete kit, almost too nice to get dirty
The location of the seat tube collar is critical for proper operation. The instructions say the collar should be mounted a low as possible on the seat tube without contacting the rear triangle when the suspension is compressed. I took the shock out and cycled the suspension through its full range to make sure nothing touched and there was no binding. It's not complicated or much work, but I've been known to be a little anal when it comes to mechanical upgrades, so I took my time and completed the installation in about an hour with regular tools in the comfort of my own home.
Down and Dirty
My first test ride was at arguably one of the best testing grounds in B.C., the Whistler Mountain Bike Park, and it was an eye opener. I wasn't expecting to feel much difference on smooth "carpet runs" like A-Line, Dirt Merchant and the Biker Cross, but it was there.
I tend to drag the brakes a bit before entering corners and it was immediately obvious that the rear end was tracking better and not drifting sideways in the bumps.
The feedback and chatter I was used to on stutter bumps and square edged holes was gone. The rear wheel was staying in contact with the ground as the suspension cycled, and I was able to brake more with less rear wheel lock-up.
In places like Squamish and the North Shore where the trails are steeper, the difference is even more pronounced. The steeper the trail,
The arm that makes it happen...
the more you brake, the better it works. Instead of skipping and bouncing over roots and ledges, the rear end is able to track the undulations and stay in contact with the ground. After laying out big money for big travel, it's nice to feel the suspension work at its full potential.
Before I got the brake kit, I used to run the suspension really soft with a lot of sag, so it would be more compliant in the steeps. That worked great in the steep stuff but not so well for faster sections with big hits. After installing the floating brake kit, the suspension worked a lot better in the steeps and I was able to run 15lbs. more pressure in the Progessive 5th Element shock and use the same pressure settings for both Whistler and the North Shore. Nice!
The Nitty-Gritty
No add-on is perfect and there were a few things I had issues with. The instructions are easy to follow, but not up to the same quality as the metal work. The instruction sheets are printed with a cheap dot-matrix printer, some text is missing and a few of the installation images are too dark. A minor issue, but I expected more from a product in this price range. This could be an issue for those that are less mechanically inclined.
Scott letting the good times roll. Photo by Alex Laguardia
After installing the kit, you will find the rear wheel is more difficult to take off. Instead of just the quick release and chain to deal with, you need to undo the small screw that holds the brake adaptor on the axle.
When you get this off, the floating brake hangs loose and flops around while you work on the bike. If you've worked on other bikes with floating brakes, you know what I'm talking about.
This isn't an issue working in a controlled environment like your garage, but something to think about for trail-side repairs.
The biggest issue I've had is the spacer and bearing assembly supplied for my Onyx hub. If you hold the axle in your hands, the wheel spins great. But once it's fitted in the frame and the quick release is cranked down tight, there is some friction and the wheel doesn't spin quite so freely.
I contacted Brian about this and he said that hub tolerances can vary a bit, and this can result in the bearing assembly being pushed inboard a bit too far when the quick release is tightened. A small shim or spacer is supposed to fix this, but I haven't tried it yet. Instead, I have taken the easier way out and just don't tighten the quick release super tight (Remember this when riding behind Scott! - Ed.)
Satisfy the Quiver
If you have a bike that suffers from brake jack, do yourself a favour and try a Therapy Components floating brake kit. At US$295 plus shipping (US$20 for shipping to Vancouver) it's a bit pricey, but to make that number easier to swallow, there's a full 30-day satisfaction guarantee.
You also will not be charged any customs duties as its 100% "Made in the U.S.A." If you are not happy, you can return it and your money will be refunded. Brian says that no one has asked for a refund…ever, which is a testament to the function and quality of this kit.
The Santa Cruz Bullit, Kona Stab Primo and Giant Team DH kits are the most popular, but they have over 40 to choose from so there is a good chance Therapy Components has a kit for you.
Product testing can be so much work. Photo by Alex Laguardia
Performance: 4
Quality: 5
Price: 3
Overall: 4
Pros: Cons:
- Improves braking performance
- Allows wider range of suspension adjustments
- Excellent build quality
- Expensive
- Shims may be required for some hubs
- Adds complexity, esp. to removing wheel
Brought to you by guest writer Scott Velez.
REVIEW: Therapy Components Floating Brake
Wake up your rear end...
Words and photographs by Scott Velez
When I downsized my V-10 and bought a Santa Cruz Bullit last year, I loved the quicker handling, faster acceleration and the lighter weight, but the braking performance wasn't anywhere near what I was used to with the V-10. Not even close.
I really began to notice this on steeper and rougher trails, where the rear of the bike would skip, bounce and resist moving through its range of travel … classic symptoms of "brake jack." Lucky for me, Brian at Therapy Components has a solution - the Brake Therapy Floating Brake Kit.
I Need Therapy
In simple terms, a floating brake separates the braking forces from the bike's suspension, which allows the suspension to move freely even when under heavy braking. Certain bike designs, such as single pivot suspension bikes, amplify this ride characteristic more than others. Having ridden these types of bike designs both with and without a floating rear brake, I can tell you that there is no mistaking the difference between both the rear brake and suspension performance.
While the floating brake kit itself is surprisingly simple, the quality and workmanship are amazing. The mounting hardware is stainless steel, and the rod and plate are constructed of 2042 aluminium. For my DT Onyx rear hub, the kit included a replacement spacer and a pre-assembled brake-side bearing assembly. The bearing assembly goes into your hub and has a groove in it for the floating brake plate to slide over.
The other end of the floating brake plate attaches to your seat tube with a long rod. As the suspension moves up and down, the rod holds the upper end of the floating brake at a constant distance while the bottom rotates back and forth on the bearing assembly. This freedom of movement is what isolates the suspension from braking forces.
The complete kit, almost too nice to get dirty
The location of the seat tube collar is critical for proper operation. The instructions say the collar should be mounted a low as possible on the seat tube without contacting the rear triangle when the suspension is compressed. I took the shock out and cycled the suspension through its full range to make sure nothing touched and there was no binding. It's not complicated or much work, but I've been known to be a little anal when it comes to mechanical upgrades, so I took my time and completed the installation in about an hour with regular tools in the comfort of my own home.
Down and Dirty
My first test ride was at arguably one of the best testing grounds in B.C., the Whistler Mountain Bike Park, and it was an eye opener. I wasn't expecting to feel much difference on smooth "carpet runs" like A-Line, Dirt Merchant and the Biker Cross, but it was there.
I tend to drag the brakes a bit before entering corners and it was immediately obvious that the rear end was tracking better and not drifting sideways in the bumps.
The feedback and chatter I was used to on stutter bumps and square edged holes was gone. The rear wheel was staying in contact with the ground as the suspension cycled, and I was able to brake more with less rear wheel lock-up.
In places like Squamish and the North Shore where the trails are steeper, the difference is even more pronounced. The steeper the trail,
The arm that makes it happen...
the more you brake, the better it works. Instead of skipping and bouncing over roots and ledges, the rear end is able to track the undulations and stay in contact with the ground. After laying out big money for big travel, it's nice to feel the suspension work at its full potential.
Before I got the brake kit, I used to run the suspension really soft with a lot of sag, so it would be more compliant in the steeps. That worked great in the steep stuff but not so well for faster sections with big hits. After installing the floating brake kit, the suspension worked a lot better in the steeps and I was able to run 15lbs. more pressure in the Progessive 5th Element shock and use the same pressure settings for both Whistler and the North Shore. Nice!
The Nitty-Gritty
No add-on is perfect and there were a few things I had issues with. The instructions are easy to follow, but not up to the same quality as the metal work. The instruction sheets are printed with a cheap dot-matrix printer, some text is missing and a few of the installation images are too dark. A minor issue, but I expected more from a product in this price range. This could be an issue for those that are less mechanically inclined.
Scott letting the good times roll. Photo by Alex Laguardia
After installing the kit, you will find the rear wheel is more difficult to take off. Instead of just the quick release and chain to deal with, you need to undo the small screw that holds the brake adaptor on the axle.
When you get this off, the floating brake hangs loose and flops around while you work on the bike. If you've worked on other bikes with floating brakes, you know what I'm talking about.
This isn't an issue working in a controlled environment like your garage, but something to think about for trail-side repairs.
The biggest issue I've had is the spacer and bearing assembly supplied for my Onyx hub. If you hold the axle in your hands, the wheel spins great. But once it's fitted in the frame and the quick release is cranked down tight, there is some friction and the wheel doesn't spin quite so freely.
I contacted Brian about this and he said that hub tolerances can vary a bit, and this can result in the bearing assembly being pushed inboard a bit too far when the quick release is tightened. A small shim or spacer is supposed to fix this, but I haven't tried it yet. Instead, I have taken the easier way out and just don't tighten the quick release super tight (Remember this when riding behind Scott! - Ed.)
Satisfy the Quiver
If you have a bike that suffers from brake jack, do yourself a favour and try a Therapy Components floating brake kit. At US$295 plus shipping (US$20 for shipping to Vancouver) it's a bit pricey, but to make that number easier to swallow, there's a full 30-day satisfaction guarantee.
You also will not be charged any customs duties as its 100% "Made in the U.S.A." If you are not happy, you can return it and your money will be refunded. Brian says that no one has asked for a refund…ever, which is a testament to the function and quality of this kit.
The Santa Cruz Bullit, Kona Stab Primo and Giant Team DH kits are the most popular, but they have over 40 to choose from so there is a good chance Therapy Components has a kit for you.
Product testing can be so much work. Photo by Alex Laguardia
Performance: 4
Quality: 5
Price: 3
Overall: 4
Pros: Cons:
- Improves braking performance
- Allows wider range of suspension adjustments
- Excellent build quality
- Expensive
- Shims may be required for some hubs
- Adds complexity, esp. to removing wheel
Brought to you by guest writer Scott Velez.