Which Brakes?

[JustinB]

BTW, I thought about the disc brakes some more, and the real problem is setting them up for quick release.

When my wheelchair finally gets ordered by my DME vendor, I'm going to be working with a friend to see what can be done about mounting them and making them work.

JB

[Jadis]

I have scissor brakes on my chair.

[Justin S]

When I first received my D-Locks I had similar problems, but after several adjustments they have been working well. It has been about a year since the last adjustment and they are still holding strong.

In my opinion, D-Locks are much better than push/pull lock brakes.

[Jeff B]

Justin,

Do you have spinergy's with your D's Locks? What type of chair are they on?

[Jeff B]

Here is the reply that I got back from the president of Accessible Designs regarding disc brakes:

I have answered your questions below. Please call to further discuss your wheelchair brake needs.

Thanks,

Todd

Todd Hargroder
President / CEO

Accessible Designs, Inc.
7626 Grissom Road
San Antonio, Texas 78251
210.684.6794 fax 210.684.7690
toll free 888.684.2234

email:
todd@adinc.cc
websites:
www.adinc.cc or www.accessibledesigns.com

"Providing Solutions for the Physically Challenged"

-----Original Message-----
Hello,

I am interested in switching brake systems on my wheelchair from the push to lock brakes it came with and would like to ask a few questions about your manual disc brakes:

- My brakes are engaged for 95% of the time I am in my chair (12-14 hours per day). Will your brakes work well under these conditions or will they need frequent adjustments as the cables get stretched out? I would be unable to adjust them myself due to lack of hand function.

SHOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM. ALL CABLES ARE PRE STRECHED MOUNTAIN BIKE GRADE.

- How do I determine which type of tires they will work with?

THEY WORK WITH ALL TIRES

- Do the same brakes work with a variety of wheels? For example if I was to later switch my wheels from wire spoke SunRim brand to something like Spinergy's will the same brakes be suitable for the new tires?

WHEELS REQUIRE AN INSTERT TO ADAPTED TO OUR DICS HUB. AT THIS TIME, WE ONLY SUPPLY INSERTS FOR SPINERGY WHEELS.

- Do you know if they will work with a Quickie XTR chair?

YES, I HAVE A XTR.

- How much weight do they add?

+/- OLD BRAKES TO NEW DISC BRAKES AROUND A POUND

- Do you have a Canadian distributor, preferably in the Hamilton or at least Toronto area?

NO

- How much will they cost?

DIRECT PRICE FOR MANUAL IS $650, PLUS $150 FOR SPINERGY INSERTS.

Thank you,
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So as you can see they are pretty pricey but I am still considring getting them for my next chair (maybe this June). I doubt that I will be able to get my insurance to pay for them but I would probably be willing to pay out of pocket for them. I use solid tires so my brakes grip poorly, particularily during tranfers and when trying to do some exercises like rows. That makes me irritated enough to buy the disc brakes. I wish that I could find someone who has tried them first though.

[Justin S]

Justin,

Do you have spinergy's with your D's Locks? What type of chair are they on?

Yeah, I have Spinergys on a QuickieTi.

[joshstevens7]

look into the kuschall scissor brakes with spring action. of all the brakes i have seen and used, these look the best, and they are easy to get to also. they should be able to fit on whatever chair. contact a kuschall dealer and talk with them about it. i just cant stand the scissor brakes that you have to lean and reach way under your seat, and i really like the spring action. with springs, they spring back to the fully open position when not in use.

[Linda H.]

Thanks guys.

I'm too chicken to go without brakes! I think that's mainly "a guy thing"....lol.

I haven't used brakes in years, not since I busted my a__ on a transfer when my brakes failed. I learned then and there that they couldn'd be trusted. When I was a new injury(to many years ago) I had the push brakes, and did regular injury to my thumbs, including a lost thumbnail, . Then I had the scissor brakes, they are a pain to keep adjusted, so I've just basicly given up on brakes altogether. If I could get my chairs ordered without them I would, but the VA gets funny about stuff like that.