Mafac - Brakes

Brakes

Early models included several cantilevers (in production at least until the early 1980s) and the early center-pull (marked Dural Forge). Cantilevers included:

• Kathy
• Driver
• Criterium

MAFAC, however, is best known for later center-pull brakes, including:

• Tiger
• Racer
• Raid
• Competition

All of the center-pull brakes followed the same basic design with minimal changes. The Competition model were a later high-end brake and used a different cross-cable than the other models. They also had brass bushings pressed into the arms in place of the plastic used on less expensive models. Other materials were substantially similar and finish qualities were equivalent. Early MAFAC brakes were produced in much lower numbers and are therefore less common while the Racer was MAFAC's highest volume brake product.

Levers evolved over time from being all aluminum with non-drilled lever arms to using resin bodies and drilled lever arms in some later models. Two varieties of hoods were supplied: half-hoods covering only the top of the lever assembly, or full-hoods covering the entire body of the lever assembly. Both included the built-in adjusters that allowed riders to adjust brake clearance while riding. MAFAC also supplied rubber lever arm covers as an option.

City bike levers were supplied with plastic lever arms.

MAFAC produced side-pull brakes in the late 1970s and early 1980s, concurrently with their cantilever and center-pull offerings. The first of these was the angular LS model, later followed by the Campagnolo Nuovo Record-like LS2. LS2 models were also produced under the branding Spidel in association with other French manufacturers who had assembled a common group set to compete with Campagnolo and SunTour. The LS/LS2 were the top of the line MAFAC side-pull but a mid-range brake set called LC was offered in side-pull configuration as well.