Rim/brake question.

freehub

Hi.

I bought some koolstop break pads, I've only fitted ones to the front for now as the back pads are fine. The breaking does seem abit better, the piece that is on a slant which apparently is to remove dirt seemed to work at first. The problem is, the rims still got black gunk on and the actual koolstop break pads after been cleaned with muc off as they where totally black have lots of black streaks on them, some bits of metal was also bedded into them, I've remove that.

The thing is, are these normal? I had the impression the koolstop salmons did not get these bits of metal embedded into them.

I just want to know if these metal bits are normal for these pads, I can remove them, and that black streaks are just normal, I'm just worried they look like they may degrade breaking performance.

Also, my front wheel also has what appears to be dirt or something embedded into the rim, the streaks you see, I can't seem to remove them even when scrubbing, well if I did it hard enough I could, but I don't really want this amount of effort for cleaning the rims, is it ok if I've got rid of any dried gunk and scrubbed around the rims?


Thanks
Will.

lae

Can't speak for Koolstop pads as I haven't used them, but the black crud on the rim will usually come away with a bit of degreaser and a rough cloth (don't use anything abrasive though).

freehub

frinkmakesyouthink wrote:

Can't speak for Koolstop pads as I haven't used them, but the black crud on the rim will usually come away with a bit of degreaser and a rough cloth (don't use anything abrasive though).

I was thinking of using degreaser but I'd have to take the tyres off surely as it'd attack the rubber no?

John.T

freehub wrote:

frinkmakesyouthink wrote:

Can't speak for Koolstop pads as I haven't used them, but the black crud on the rim will usually come away with a bit of degreaser and a rough cloth (don't use anything abrasive though).

I was thinking of using degreaser but I'd have to take the tyres off surely as it'd attack the rubber no?

There should be no problem with the tyres on. They are pretty resistant to most solvents. Mine have seen plenty of Muc-off and quite a lot of parafin. You should always clean the rims before fitting new brake blocks.

freehub

John.T wrote:

freehub wrote:

frinkmakesyouthink wrote:

Can't speak for Koolstop pads as I haven't used them, but the black crud on the rim will usually come away with a bit of degreaser and a rough cloth (don't use anything abrasive though).

I was thinking of using degreaser but I'd have to take the tyres off surely as it'd attack the rubber no?

There should be no problem with the tyres on. They are pretty resistant to most solvents. Mine have seen plenty of Muc-off and quite a lot of parafin. You should always clean the rims before fitting new brake blocks.

I did clean them, just there where black streaks totally embedded in the rim and no matter how hard I scrub they don't seem to want to come off!

Garry H

Have had exactly the same experience. Replaced existing 105 blocks with the Salmons and they are no different at all as far as marking the rims go. I clean rims and blocks after every ride, but they continue to end up in the same mess. Will chalk it down to experience and not buy the salmon ones again. They also wear down a lot quicker because they are a softer compund, but admittedly, they do work better in the wet because of this. Might try some composite pads nexts time. I run them on Aksium wheels, if that has any influence.

freehub

Well I had a good scrub with some degreaser, that got my rims pretty clean. I cleaned the salmons, allthough could not get the black streaks off.

I must say, the breaking performance does not appear better, but when I break harder it does, I did not realise, I came to a stop today, felt perfectly fine, weridly, then all of a sudden a great thud, as the back wheel landed back on the floor, I did a pretty high back wheelie and felt like a right idiot, with a micra with youths in next to me, I pretended it was a problem with my breaks and started fiddling with the bolt to adjust distance the breaks are from the rim.

It was quite muddy and wet today, out of mcr, and the rim still looks pretty good, but I need to try and breka sooner and not as much, as they're wearing quicker.

John.T

Give them chance to bed in Will. You will find the modulation imroves and the wear rate slows.

freehub

John.T wrote:

Give them chance to bed in Will. You will find the modulation imroves and the wear rate slows.

They've done like 50 miles. Whats the usual mileage to class them as been properly worn in?

John.T

It depends on how worn the rims are and how much you use them. Just been out today. 6 of us and only one not making horrible scrapeing noises every time we brake. No prizes for who.

freehub

The only time mine make scraping noises is during a wet ride, my front rims are less worn that I thought, they seem fine, after some scrubbing with degreaser that actually worked. I'm only using them on the front, I doubt I'll ever need to put koolstops on the back, I'm sure the current pads will last for ages since I hardly use the back brake, apart from when stopped on an ascent.

John.T

All rides tend to be wet at this time of year don't they. Definately not dry roads round Bolton Abbey today. A bit muddy as well. Lovely day though.
My front ones have now done about 4000 miles of winter riding and are still good. The rears lasted about 3000 but they will wear faster as they get more crud. I tend to use both brakes but the front more heavily.

freehub

Do you use your rear brakes more than your front? I notice how my front wheels have always worn much faster than my rear. I'm on about 4000 miles with my R550 wheels and I'm surprised the rims are still hardly concave at all. My Open Pro's where VERY concave after 3500 miles, I still use them on my commuter now and again but I've got my Aksiums on that atm.

Don't know what brake pads I used, but they lasted just under 3000 miles in all conditions!!! Then the ones I put on lasted a couple hundred miles.

John.T

No. I tend to use both brakes but the front more heavily. In the dry for hard braking probably 80 to 90% front. In wet or slippery conditions probably about 60%. The aim is to just not lock the rear. To just kill a bit of speed off I just brake with which ever is easiest at the time.