BikeLover1989

I have a bike from a department store which I use as a commuter bike, and it is only compatible with V-brakes on the frame. Since I ride in all sorts of weather conditions, dry and wet, the V-brakes are really starting to take a toll on the rims. So, I am now thinking of converting the bike from the v-brake to the coaster brake (in addition to keeping the front v-brake as a back-up safety brake in case the coaster brake fails so I would still be able to get home safely and immediately start on the repairs). The questions are, how reliable are these brakes and if they do fail, how complex are they to repair? Also, is it easy to install a coaster brake on the wheel of a department store bike or do I need to go to the bike shop for a new wheel as well?

Any info greatly appreciated.

DieselDan

Sheldon didn't like them. A well greased coaster brake hub is fairly reliable and easy enough to rebuild with a moderate amount of bike repair experience. Shimano's E-110 is popular, affordable, easy to find, and very simple. You can even get a complete rebuild kit when the internals completely give out. A large bicycle wholesale distributor based in Lexington, SC has plenty of parts for the entire hub. They will even ship to shops in Canada, eh.

dabac

There are a few things missing from the conversation here:
- if your current bike has external gears you are likely to have issues with drop out width and axle length if you do a coaster brake conversion
- Coaster brake hubs use a reaction arm that attaches to the left chainstay. While the attachment clip is easy enough to improvise you might not have the required strength in the chainstay. I've personally warped two frames beyond repair that way.

Spent my whole childhood and a significant part of my teens on bike with coasters as main brakes, never had a failure. Since then I've had to repair two, although I've serviced a few more.
Today, with a wider frame of reference I can say that they suffer a bit in modulation during hard braking, and that they may overheat during long descents or if otherwise forced to work harder than "usual". But for a commuter I can't see that as a realistic problem.

Mechanically, they're very simple, not a lot of parts involved. Getting the hub apart can sometimes be a bit awkward. Probably the most common component needing to be replaced is the return spring/clip that pulls the brake shoes back from engagement, although one broken hub had an inner flange that had cracked. A clean and a lube will sort most issues out. Finding spare parts can sometimes be an issue.

AFAIK there aren't many hubs that would casually allow for a coaster brake to be fitted, so you're probably looking at a hub replacement, at which time you might find better economy in buying a whole new wheel.

LarDasse74

Some thoughts on your problem:

1. You will definitely have to replace the hub, which means re-spoke the wheel or just get a new wheel.

2. Coaster brakes can absolutely not be used with derailleurs.

3. Most modern bikes with derailleurs cannot easily convert to coaster brakes because the dropouts that hold the rear wheel in the frame do not allow horizontal wheel movement for chain tension adjustment.

4. Some companies, including Shimano, make excellent internally geared hubs that include coaster brakes and multiple speeds, but the two above points still apply. Shimano also makes gear hubs with a 'rollercam' brake - inside the hub but actuated by a hand lever.

5. For safety, your front brake should not be used as a 'back-up' brake. Your front brake should be your primary brake. Coaster brakes alone cannot stop you nearly as fast or as controlled as a front rim brake alone.

tcs

How about a drum brake?

Without more information about your "department store" bike, it's hard to give specific advice, but Sturmey-Archer offers front drum brake hubs (XL-FD, X-FD), front drum brake hubs with generators (XL-FDD, X-FDD), three-speed hubs with drum brakes (AB3, SAB3, X-RD3, XL-RD3), five speed hubs with drum brakes (X-RD5, XL-RD5), an eight-speed hub with drum brake [X-RD8(W)], a rear derailleur hub for freewheels with a drum brake (X-RD) and a rear derailleur hub for cassettes with drum brake (X-RDC).

Shimano ("Rollerbrake") and SRAM ("iBrake") also offer a selection of hubs that can mount add-on drum brakes.

HTH,
tcs

Note: It might be more cost effective to get a different bike instead of upgrading your "department store" machine.

HillRider

As to the durability of coaster brakes, ever hear of "Repack Hill"? In the very early days of mountain biking, the bikes used were stripped balloon tire "newsboy-type" bikes with coaster brakes. After each long downhill run the coaster brakes had to be redone and regreased, hence the name "repack".

Coaster brakes are ok for moderate service but are a poor brake for general purpose riding. They appeal to kids without the hand strength or coordination to use caliper brakes and to adults who are very casual riders. As a rear brake only, they are really poor if used alone.

BTW, consider getting a newer, and better, bike with disc brakes. They work well in bad conditions and don't wear out rims.

BikeLover1989

My "department store" bike is a Supercycle XTI-21, which has 21 speeds (7 gear freewheel on the rear wheel, with the typical hub on department store bikes) and 26 x 1.95 wheels. And I have been considering getting a brand new bike instead of heavily investing into it, but this bike is the only one of the 3 I got that I feel safe leaving locked outside in Toronto, where bike theft is a really huge problem. The other 2 are expensive Norco and Trek bikes with disc brakes, and those are just plain eye candy for thieves.

tcs

Fair enough. How about that Sturmey XRD drum brake rear hub then?

HTH,
tcs