So, soon after learning one of my brakes on my mountain bike was a death trap....I ordered up some new ones. My old one, the lever on the handle bar was loose and the holes that the bolts thread into were stripped out..and because of the thin wall of the brake lever housing for said hole was so thin, it was impossible to re thread the hole without breaking the lever. I found it was broken while I was washing and cleaning it up....Any more riding use and the lever would've snapped off and probably causing me to crash.

I ordered the brakes from the UK on Friday and they arrived today at my doorstep (Canada). This is the first time I"ve ever had new brakes...as I've always bought 2nd hand brakes as they were cheaper....but the ones I wanted just happen to be on sale for almost 50% off. I bought SRAM Guide RS brakes. They are replacing my aging Avid Juicy 5s. Same company owns both brands, Avid is just a recently discontinued brand and they've simply stuck with the one brand SRAM, who also own a suspension company called Rock Shox. My new brakes also have 4 pistons per caliper vs 2 in my old brakes. Having 4 pistons vs 2 increases braking power more evenly and gives a bit more power over all.

Installation!

Seeming they were brand new brakes...I had to shorten the brake hose on the rear, as it was about afoot too long for my needs. I had never done this before..so it was a first for me. I've always been paranoid about working on my own brakes...but it all worked out in the end. It wasn't as daunting of a task I was making it out to be...it was rather simple. I didn't even need to bleed my brake afterwards. Which was a nice bonus. Gloves were mandatory for this, as there's DOT 5 brake fluid inside the lines...nasty stuff.

(Yes, my purple vinyl gloves are fabulous...aren't they?)

Got everything situated properly..and so I tightened everything down.

and tadaa! ready to ride!

Oh yea...each brake came with a brake block for the pads.(it's so if the lever is squeezed, the pistons don't close, and leak brake fluid everywhere, if there's no brake rotor in it.) and on the other end..is a bottle opener..ingenious!