Replacement brake pads needed

the_hundredth_idiot

I currently have what I think are these in black - i.e. pads and shoes.

They replaced the standard Campag Veloce pads which came with my bike. I had to take my bike in to the shop for a few bits and pieces and asked them if they would fit new brake pads while they were at it. And I'd heard Swissstop were very good ...

But the pads have worn through very quickly - perhaps just due to the winter weather and all the grit around. So I wondered if there were any options to replace them with something a bit cheaper. That is, can I buy any pads which I can quickly and easily slot into the Swissstop shoes or would I have to buy new shoes as well? Are the Swissstop shoes a standard size and fitting - or can I buy shoes which are a standard size so I have more options in the future for replacement pads?

Apologies if these are numpty questions - I've always had MTBs in the past and that always seemed so simple - v-brake pads wear out means buy new v-brake pads. For some reason this feels more complicated. :oops:

Cheers

Squillinossett

Well I use Kool Stop Salmon, I couldnt rate them higher. Might try some Swissstops next, but not sure if they would be worth twice as much!

fungus_the_muffin_man

I got some Koolstop salmons and they have only lasted about 500 mile max. I thought they were suppossed to be good :?

rake

Fungus The Muffin Man wrote:

I got some Koolstop salmons and they have only lasted about 500 mile max. I thought they were suppossed to be good :?

they are winter pads thats why. low rim wear is considered good because wheels last longer. should have tried the dual compound buddy

Jamey

Depends what you mean by 'good'.

Pads can either last for ages OR be excellent at stopping you, but you can't have both.

If pads last ages it's because they're harder rubber. They might stop you ok but they won't be as effective as a softer rubber compound. But if they do the job to your satisfaction then stick with them as you've got no reason to try anything softer.

If you want the best possible stopping power then try a softer pad, but understand that they won't last as long because they're softer. However they won't wear your rims out as fast either, which is nice.

When people say "good" they usually mean stopping power rather than longevity, and there are usually two brands/models of pads that get recommended - Swissstop Green pads and Kool Stop Salmon pads.

Most people on here have tried one or the other and will recommend you the one they tried first and stuck with. As far as I can tell there are very few people on this forum who have actually tried both for comparison but I have (trumpet blowing alert) so I'll share the wisdom of my findings with you...

Both were equally good at stopping but the salmons lasted longer so those are what I carried on using.

I've definitely posted similar things on this forum before but I make no apologies for posting it again

rake

and cheaper.

the_hundredth_idiot

So ... let's say I head down the Kool Stop Salmon route (that's what I have on my MTB so I'm happy they are a quality brake pad for my road bike at a lower price than Swissstops).

What do I need to buy and from where to allow me to fit Kool Stop Salmon brake pads to 2008 Campag Veloce calipers (normal ones not the skeleton calipers. if that makes a difference).

Links preferred! I've had a browse in the usual suspects (CRC, Wiggle, SJS) and couldn't figure it out. Can I fit Shimano blocks to Campag calipers? Are the basic brake block fittings the same?

I could go back to the bike shop but I tried yesterday (sans bike) and they quite reasonably said they needed to see the bike to be able to tell me for certain - and I don't know when I'll next get chance to pop out one lunchtime on the bike. Plus, the bike shops near my office seem a bit rubbish for maintenance items like this - I think they're used to people dropping their bikes off for the day to be serviced/repaired rather than people wanting to do it themselves - they only seem to have basic stocks of stuff like this out on the shelves.

Cheers.

Jamey

Can't help you there, sorry. My brakes are Vees and I've not had to enter the world of calipers yet.

balthazar

These are the correct ones for Campag cartridges:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Kool_ ... 300003402/

the_hundredth_idiot

I saw those, but will they fit the Swissstop cartridges/blocks which I now have (I think). That is, the Campag cartridges which my bike came with are no more (although I seem to think that as my groupset is "only" Veloce the brake blocks come as all-in-one, integrated brake blocks rather than a cartridge and replaceable pad - see the Q&A on that Wiggle item you linked).

balthazar

Apologies. If you need the holders as well, then there's the Dura Road:


http://www.dotbike.com/productsP5993.aspx

or, if you don't mind old-fashioned style pads for a lot less money, the Continental:


http://www.dotbike.com/productsP5993.aspx

Although, the Swisstop holders you already have may be Shimano fit – I can't help you there, but someone will.