Carbon wheels and normal brake pads

pickled
pickled Posts: 439
edited June 2011 in Road buying advice
I'm thinking about getting a set of carbon 50mm clincher wheels and I was wondering whether it's possible to run them in TT's without the hassle of changing brake pads each time?
I'm assuming they'll work fine, just not as well as carbon specific pads.
Anyone done this?
If it's ok then it's carbonzone time!

Comments

  • James_London
    James_London Posts: 530
    Not a great idea. Pads used with alloy rims collect small shards of metal which will ruin your carbon rims amazingly quickly, not to mention for the most part carbon-specific pad compounds work best for carbon and alloy for alloy. If you're not bothered about braking you can 'dress' (ie file the surface off) your pads before putting in your carbon wheels.

    Changing Shimano and SRAM pads takes about 5 minutes so not a big hassle. Campag can be a little more time consuming but still not difficult. Best to remove the pads so you don't need to adjust the shoes too much.
  • amaferanga
    amaferanga Posts: 6,789
    Never use brake pads that have been used on alu rims on carbon rims. New standard pads are ok (a lot of folk seem to use the standard dura ace pads).

    Takes about 2 minutes to switch brake pads - I swap my front between an alu wheel and carbon wheel for training/racing and swapping pads really does just take 2 minutes - its not a big deal.
    More problems but still living....
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    I have a complete set of brake shoes with the carbon pads fitted - takes about 5 minutes to do both ends. Because my carbon wheels are tubs and my training wheels clinchers, the pads need to be adjusted anyway as they run at different heights. If you feel that the hassle of changing brake pads is too difficult, then you'll probably have a pair of ruined wheels in no time!
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • pickled
    pickled Posts: 439
    Ok guys. Cheers for the advice. I'll just get used to changing them over then.
    Thanks for not just calling me a lazy git straight away!
  • on-yer-bike
    on-yer-bike Posts: 2,974
    Monty Dog wrote:
    I have a complete set of brake shoes with the carbon pads fitted - takes about 5 minutes to do both ends. Because my carbon wheels are tubs and my training wheels clinchers, the pads need to be adjusted anyway as they run at different heights. If you feel that the hassle of changing brake pads is too difficult, then you'll probably have a pair of ruined wheels in no time!

    +1. But the second set of shoes are BBB, not Campag Record, due to the extraordinary price.
    Pegoretti
    Colnago
    Cervelo
    Campagnolo
  • Pokerface
    Pokerface Posts: 7,960
    +Another for changing the brake blocks over. Have some really nice SwissStop ones for the carbon wheels and regular ones for the alu wheels.

    Plus I find having to swap over the brake blocks deters me from just popping in my 'good' wheels on a whim (even though changing the blocks just takes a few mins). It saves my tyres on the carbon wheels from extra wear and tear!
  • Pokerface
    Pokerface Posts: 7,960
    P.S. The ONLY time I find this system to be a pain is with my TT bike as I would like to train on my TT bike with spoked wheels more often, but they put the brake blocks in the hardest to reach places on a lot of TT bikes (hidden under the BB or int he rear triangle, etc).

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