Brake pad compatibility

graeme_s-2
graeme_s-2 Posts: 3,382
edited January 2008 in Workshop
I noticed on the way home last night that all the wet weather has taken its toll, and at one point while going down a hill I applied the brakes and not an awful lot happened. I'm on a fixie so it wasn't a huge problem, but time for replacement pads.

The brakes I have look exactly like these tektros. Mine are tektro, they are dual pivot, my bike does have full guards so they must be long drop, and my pads do look to be in cartridges, but I couldn't confirm that they're definitely a 521AG. This being the case, will these cartridge inserts fit?

Comments

  • Lucky Luke
    Lucky Luke Posts: 402
    I use a pair of Tektro long reach on my winter bike and buy Dura Ace pads so I'd say yes . The fact that you've got full length guards on though doesn't necessarily mean you've got long drop calipers . My wife's winter bike (a Ribble) can take normal Campag calpiers .
    Luke
  • graeme_s-2
    graeme_s-2 Posts: 3,382
    Even if I have a non-long drop tektro brake, the pads and cartridges look identical in that picture, so it sounds like I should be ok with Shimano compatible pads. I'm going to take a punt and order them. This is for my winter fixie, my summer road bike does have shimano brakes, so if they don't fit the tektros I can always use them on my other bike sooner or later.

    Thanks for the help.
  • SDP
    SDP Posts: 665
    put your summer pads into winter bike & spend some $$s on soem swisstops for your best bike..awesome upgrade ! :lol:
    www.mjsracing.net
  • graeme_s-2
    graeme_s-2 Posts: 3,382
    Too late! :shock:

    So long as the kool stops fit my fixie, I can upgrade the pads on my road bike during the summer anyway :)
  • graeme_s-2
    graeme_s-2 Posts: 3,382
    I've fitted the front pads this morning (don't really have time to do the backs at work, so I'll do those at home this evening). The pads that came off were terrifyingly worn, and I really shouldn't have left them this long. Part of the problem is they were fine on Monday morning, and then after 3 wet commutes on Tuesday afternoon I just lost all braking power on the way home, so the wet and grit had obviously gotten to them. Will keep some spares kicking around the house in future.

    The cartridges were the right size, but I have no retaining screw on one side at the front. It must have been like that since I bought the bike in September, and I'll pop into the shop on the way home and get a screw from them. The old pad hadn't moved at all, so was obviously fine, the question is do I chance it with the new pad, or is it likely to shoot straight out the back as soon as I hit the brakes on the way home tonight?
  • simbil1
    simbil1 Posts: 620
    Never take chances with your brakes ;)
    http://picasaweb.google.com/thefirstsimbil/Bikes
  • Lucky Luke
    Lucky Luke Posts: 402
    Think you'll be ok . The pad can only slide out in one direction . If you have the holders on correctly then when you apply the brakes the wheel will try to force the pad toward the closed end not the open end . If you look carefully you'll see what I mean . Would be interested to know how well the Koolstop perform in comparison to Dura Ace as I keep hearing about them on the forum but haven't yet tried them myself .
    Luke
  • graeme_s-2
    graeme_s-2 Posts: 3,382
    Yeah, the more thought I'm giving it the less of a good idea it sounds. I'll pinch a screw out of one of the rear brakes and just rely on the front and my feet (it's a fixie) on the way home I think.

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