Brake Pad Cartridge Compatability

Flasheart

I think it's about time I upped the spec on my brake pads after a close call in the wet on Sunday. Stupid car drivers don't always give right of way on a roundabout. :evil:

I was toying with the idea of getting a set of those Swisstop Green pads, but I can't seem to find any specific to Tiagra. Closest I can see is 105 compatible, do they fit?
The Tiagra pads aren't cartridge type like the Swisstop ones, just blocks of rubber. All I can find are Swisstop black cartidge's and no Tiagra specific.
So (if they fit) would I have to buy some Swisstop Black cartridge sets (front and rear) and then a set of the Swisstop Green blocks to replace the black?

Sounds like a lot of money to be spending to get the end result I want. :roll:

Samson1

You'll probably need to buy some brake shoes (the bit between the caliper and the pad) so you can fit the Swisstop pad to the shoe and the shoe to the caliper. Might not be so easy to find them without pads but then you could just use 105 pads until they wear out then replace with Swisstop, I think 105 pads should be quite a decent upgrade.

skyd0g

Here's an alternate pad/holder combo that would work: http://www.dotbike.com/ProductsP5993.aspx?utm_source%3dinternal%26utm_medium%3dsite%26utm_campaign%3dDFR 8)

Evil Laugh

swissstop green seem very good, improved breaking over 105. Very smooth and consistent and don't leave loads of gunk on the rim.

Probably worth the hassle in the long run.

Although maybe will be cheaper to buy some 2nd hand 105 breaks and sell your tiagra, maybe cheaper than buying new shoes etc.

Let me know if you need some black 105 brake calipers!

macondo01

Flasheart - have you thought about Kool Stops? I am sure you've heard of them. I have Tiagra and bought a set of the road ones - they were £19.99 from the LBS for one set of shoes fitted with the combined black and salmon pads and a spare set of the plain salmon refills. It is a lot for new shoes and pads (I couldnt bring myself to buy the second set till today!) but they are good and last a long time. The guy in the shop claimed that after three years they are still going strong on his bike. Oh and they do work much better and they look nice.

D'oh just seen these are the ones you're suggesting Skydog!

Flasheart

Hmmm the Koolstop do look good. It's not the asthetics (but ofc that does matter) but the wet weather stopping power. In the dry I can stop no probs but not too great in the wet unfortunatly.

So let me get this right...105 brake pad cartridges etc will fit Tiagra brakes without any fettling?

jpm5555

Further to this, I've got Ultegra brakes on an old Specialized Allez and the brake blocks look awfully like this:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?PartnerID=79&ModelID=17579

I assume that these aren't the cartridge type that I could buy Kool stop inserts for? Would the Kool Stop pads and holders from DotBike recommended by skyd0g do the trick for me also?

Thanks in advance

skyd0g

@Flasheart & JPM5555

Yes. 8)

jpm5555

Thanks - 2 pairs on their way 8)

Flasheart

Yep thanks from me too.
2 pair of Koolstop pads ordered from Dotbike yesterday.


8)

Flasheart

Arrived yesterday and fitted them last night...albiet backwards :oops:
I had the salmon part of the pad at the front, and the shark fin part of the carrier sloping backward as it looked more sleek :roll:
Glad I didn't try a ride with them like that. :shock:
Instructions were a bit lacking. I suppose that Koolstop thought every cyclist had fitted a cartridge pad before, rather than just all rubber blocks
Dotbike were good to their word on delivery though

skyd0g

Kool 8)
Post your thoughts on them once you've had chance to test them.

Gary67

I bought a pair of these
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... delID=2954
,as i already had the shimano version on the front and ultegra's on the rear(which where pants!).Replaced my front pads with the spare set and put the new ones on the rear and they work fine.Will replace them with Koolstops when they wear though as everyone says how good they are.

NWLondoner

skyd0g wrote:

Here's an alternate pad/holder combo that would work: http://www.dotbike.com/ProductsP5993.aspx?utm_source%3dinternal%26utm_medium%3dsite%26utm_campaign%3dDFR 8)

I use them with swissstop green and they seem to work great. Much better IMO than the koolstops

Flasheart

Okay first ride with the new Koolstop's. First 4 miles no need to use the brakes.
Shortish descent into a sharp blind turn that has water over the road was first use.

Sh!t !!

Not the pads, just the expletive that I uttered as I almost locked up my front wheel and felt the back of my bike lift when applied the normal pressure to my front brake lever. :shock:
Sooo much better that the standard Tiagra brake blocks.
Using the Black/Salmon combo btw

Big thumbs up from me

Bunneh

Flasheart wrote:

Okay first ride with the new Koolstop's. First 4 miles no need to use the brakes.
Shortish descent into a sharp blind turn that has water over the road was first use.

Sh!t !!

Not the pads, just the expletive that I uttered as I almost locked up my front wheel and felt the back of my bike lift when applied the normal pressure to my front brake lever. :shock:
Sooo much better that the standard Tiagra brake blocks.
Using the Black/Salmon combo btw

Big thumbs up from me

So you ride just like you fly a bomber then? Dear god, let me get out of the way!

skyd0g

Flasheart wrote:

Okay first ride with the new Koolstop's. First 4 miles no need to use the brakes.
Shortish descent into a sharp blind turn that has water over the road was first use.

Sh!t !!

Not the pads, just the expletive that I uttered as I almost locked up my front wheel and felt the back of my bike lift when applied the normal pressure to my front brake lever. :shock:
Sooo much better that the standard Tiagra brake blocks.
Using the Black/Salmon combo btw

Big thumbs up from me

8)

rake

Flasheart wrote:

Using the Black/Salmon combo btw

good choice i think. the pure salmon are meant for wet weather only although work good in the dry. dual compound have the best of both worlds.

flanners1

Got the Salmons on all my bikes as from yesterday. Rode a sportive today and what have I been doing no grinding of the rims at all. SO good and great grip and modulation. Had DA 7900s for one ride on a set of DA 50mm wheels and they started taking off the ally after 18miles, total sh1te never will I run those pads ever again, what a great upgrade the Kool Stops are.