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EB14: Ashima Goes Both Ways w/ New PCD Mech-to-Hydraulic Disc Brake Caliper

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Ashima PCD Power Cable Dual mechanical to hydraulic disc brake caliper

Like TRP’s progression from the Parabox to HYRD, the new Ashima PCD looks like a much, much better mechanical-to-hydraulic disc brake conversion than the Hydromech they showed off last year.

The caliper body is forged and CNC’d from aluminum and uses a side-mounted piston to push mineral oil behind pads on either side of the rotor. The lever plunging the piston into the master cylinder is pulled by cable, allowing it to retrofit to any standard brake lever. They’re recommending it’s use with a minimum size of 160mm rotors, but rating it for road, cyclocross and XC mountain biking. Stop in past the break for details and pics…

Ashima PCD Power Cable Dual mechanical to hydraulic disc brake caliper

Two adjustments are available – the cable barrel adjuster…

Ashima PCD Power Cable Dual mechanical to hydraulic disc brake caliper

…and the knob behind the lever. As with TRP’s HYRD, we’re guessing cable tension is extremely important with regards to getting enough power out of these brakes, so the lever adjustment likely adjusts the lever backward until the cable is taut. That’s our guess anyway, since there was a bit of a language barrier at the booth, but it’s important to note that you want the cable tight with the lever fully extended so the internals can fully open and close past the timing port inside the master cylinder. Otherwise, your brakes may not work.

Ashima PCD Power Cable Dual mechanical to hydraulic disc brake caliper

Ashima’s saying the  PCD’s provide plenty of braking power without a “strong” braking feel, which roughly translates to mean they’re not grabby but’ll still bring you to a standstill.

Retail is around $200 per set (two wheels) and they ship with a 160mm rotor and XTR organic brake pads. Claimed weight is 142g per caliper. They’re also available in red ano.

Ashima.com.tw

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LateSleeper
LateSleeper
9 years ago

Compared to the TRP HyRd, these save 106 grams and $100 per pair. The easier adjustment cable tension is welcome, too. The question is how they work, both out of the box, and over time.

Matt
Matt
9 years ago

Also a nice advantage over the TRP HyRd is that it appears that you’re able to swap pads from the top and it should give room to used finned pads for better cooling.

craigsj
craigsj
9 years ago

Right, plus they use XTR pads. These also are lower profile and may have better clearance with some frames. No way the TRP would fit in the rear of my disc cross bike, for example. These could be pretty appealing.

Mindless
Mindless
9 years ago

What would be interesting to know is how well it handles overheating – as there is no remote master cylinder reservoir to expand.

DT
DT
9 years ago

@mindless Good point abt the heat managmnt issue. And these being a most important and technical part as brakes, I wouldnt trust this brand to buy yet.

Chader
Chader
9 years ago

I also question the lack of a radial support cam for the cable. Maybe it won’t matter, but the TRP Spyre and Avid BB series both use them to make the cable pull more consistent and linear.

This design will vary and be non-linear from the start to the engagement as the arm angle varies during the pull.

Chader
Chader
9 years ago

Who knows, maybe that angular pull difference is actually a good thing here since it is driving a hydraulic system rather than a mechanical one like the others I mentioned?

It might help get over the free-stroke to engagement quicker and make for better modulation once engaged. It will be interesting to see reviews since it seems reasonably priced and good from a size and weight standpoint.

Just...
Just...
9 years ago

This looks like a closed system. There is no fluid reservoir, just a master cylinder, unlike TRP’s HY/RD. That means these won’t compensate for pad wear. Plus these look to be about twice as wide as the HY/RD. Could cause some heel clearance issues for a lot of people. Maybe also some spoke rubbing issues.

Sam
Sam
9 years ago

Those discs look rad.

janek
janek
9 years ago

Back to the roots I guess. I wonder how they solve potential problems with fading. The volume of brake fluid seems to be rather small so possibility of boiling the fluid during hard and repetitive braking is quite high.

Crushin-it
Crushin-it
9 years ago

Wondering if their use of “R1” is for Revision 1… or they’re blatantly riding Formula. Overheating looks like it could be an issue too. Looks good thou!

Crossladen
9 years ago

Brake works excellent, we use it since three months.
i would say : its perfect for cx-bikes
i would not recommend it for a roadbike which does very long decents( i never tried more than 300 altitudemeter)

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