Brake pads for carbon and alu rims

APIII
APIII Posts: 2,010
edited April 2008 in Workshop
Does anyone know if a) it is sensible to use the same blocks on both carbon and alu rims? I have heard of the pads picking up debris from alu rims that could damage a carbon braking surface, and b) if it's ok, then can anyone recommend a brake pad that will perform on both? I read in C+ a couple of issues ago about some new pads coming out that were suitable for both, but can't remember what they were called. They were orange and made up of three sections of different compound, and were supposed to help with squeal on carbon rims.

Comments

  • Kléber
    Kléber Posts: 6,842
    Don't. Carbon can easily be scored by flakes of aluminium. Imagine taking a scouring pad and working it on your carbon rims, you wouldn't do it, would you?

    I haven't heard of these new pads. The best solution seems to be to have pads and the brake shoes, as these are easier to swap over than the pads themselves.
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    Zipp and Swisstop make pads suitable for composities that can be used wih aluminium rims - however, suggest that if swapping from aluminium to carbon, to 'dress' the pad with a file to remove any metal and grit deposits.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • fearby
    fearby Posts: 245
    Swissstop yellow - supposed to be the best at braking for aluminium and carbon. :D
  • luke2792
    luke2792 Posts: 37
    In response to Monty Dog - i wouldnt go over them with a file - tou'll just get metal from the file on the pads

    either go for kleber of fearby's obtion
  • celbianchi
    celbianchi Posts: 854
    fearby wrote:
    Swissstop yellow - supposed to be the best at braking for aluminium and carbon. :D

    Yep Swissstop yellow. i use them on my alu and carbon rims and have been doing so for 12 months with no probs.
    i just wash the blocks down as part of usual cleaning routine.

    Here is their blurb:-

    The fantastic performance of the Yellow King compound on aluminium rims also enables you to change wheels between carbon and aluminium, for the first time, without changing the brake pads and still maintain high performance braking.
    While the Yellow King pads do not achieve the same performance on aluminium as the carbon surfaces they were designed for, they far exceed their cork-based counterparts, and are clearly superior to cork based compounds in the ability to modulate braking power.
    The performance of this unique compound far exceeds that of conventional carbon specific brake pads, with operating temperatures as low as - 20C to in excess of 300C! (Short duration)

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