Brake blocks

Schoie81

Hi,

Had my Giant Defy since last May and the standard brake blocks that came with it are getting ready for replacement. Does anyone have any suggestions for what I should replace them with? I've been told the ones that came with it wont be great in terms of performance so looking for an improvement on them.

Thank you!

wishitwasallflat

Koolstop salmon

PS the next posters will all either say the same or Swissstop Green - and no I'm not psychic

Anonymous

Swissstop Green.

PS More black looking than green

marcusjb

Swissstop Green

(just for wishitwasallflat the psychic).

I've never used Koolstop Salmon - I have used Swissstop Green for the past 4 years and have never been left in need of more road than is available. So I am happy with them.

I know plenty of people who have only ever ridden Koolstop and say the same - so there's probably not a lot to choose between them. They are both high quality and dependable.

Schoie81

wishitwasallflat wrote:

Koolstop salmon

PS the next posters will all either say the same or Swissstop Green - and no I'm not psychic

So you're saying its just a case of choosing between these two and ignore everything else?

You sure you don't want a go at tonight's Euromillions numbers??

wishitwasallflat

Schoie81 wrote:

wishitwasallflat wrote:

Koolstop salmon

PS the next posters will all either say the same or Swissstop Green - and no I'm not psychic

So you're saying its just a case of choosing between these two and ignore everything else?

You sure you don't want a go at tonight's Euromillions numbers??

Yes that's your choice - marcusjb summed it up - and no I'm fed up with gambling its just too easy for me!

Anonymous

Schoie81 wrote:

So you're saying its just a case of choosing between these two and ignore everything else?

Pretty much this ^

I think the Swissstops are a fair chunk more expensive and possibly too good (meaning wheel may lock up) at their job, so if you can suffer salmon coloured pads the Koolstops might be the better option.

wishitwasallflat

Checks prices though cause Swissstop I'm sure are priced for pack of four Koolstops are pairs.

marcusjb

^ true

Swissstop Greens last a heck of a long time in my experiences - year round rider (very light though) - the current set on my main distance bike were put on February 10th last year and are just under 11000km old now.

Previous set did around 20000km and still had a little life (and I probably didn't need to change both pairs).

Schoie81

wishitwasallflat wrote:

Checks prices though cause Swissstop I'm sure are priced for pack of four Koolstops are pairs.

Quick browse online confirms this - Koolstop around £11.50 for a pair, Swissstop £21 for 2 pairs so not much in it, but Swissstop slightly cheaper.

venster

Carbonator wrote:

Swissstop Green

+1

I've tried others and came back to these..

Schoie81

Just taken a closer look at my brakes and they are fixed with a short bolt that screws directly into the back of the block so I can't just buy the Swissstop inserts which seems to be what most people sell. Anyone know of anywhere that sells the inserts and holders together? Can I buy a 'holder' manufactured by someone else and the swissstop inserts will fit in them or do I need to buy the Swissstop holders?

drlodge

Schoie81 wrote:

Just taken a closer look at my brakes and they are fixed with a short bolt that screws directly into the back of the block so I can't just buy the Swissstop inserts which seems to be what most people sell. Anyone know of anywhere that sells the inserts and holders together? Can I buy a 'holder' manufactured by someone else and the swissstop inserts will fit in them or do I need to buy the Swissstop holders?

If its a small screw you're talking about, that's standard. Unscrew it, then the brake pad should slide out. New pads slide in and the Swisstop pads at least come with new screws. I use Swisstop black, lasted about 18 months on my winter bike (3000 miles), they're not cheap but the pads wear instead of the rims.

Schoie81

DrLodge - no its not just a screw holding the insert in, it is holding the whole block onto the brake calipers

Anonymous

You might be able to get block and pads in one, but you will be better off getting the correct (slide in/out type) blocks/holders so that it makes it easier to change pads next time.

Schoie81

Carbonator wrote:

You might be able to get block and pads in one, but you will be better off getting the correct (slide in/out type) blocks/holders so that it makes it easier to change pads next time.

Carbonator - sorry, yeah that's what I meant - when I said 'together' I just meant a retailer that sells both the insert and the holder, rather than just selling the insert? Wiggle/CRC/amazon/planet X where I normally get stuff from only seem to sell the inserts?

drlodge

Like these? http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_273953

Sounds like you have "MTB" pads.

Did a search on "Swisstop Full Flash pro", a few places sell them but my work browser blocks the other sites.

Schoie81

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/tektro-brake-pads-p453-non-cartridge/?lang=en&curr=GBP&dest=1&utm_source=pla&utm_medium=base&utm_campaign=uk&kpid=5360493266

These are the kind of thing I've got at the moment. And yes, that's what I need - thanks Dr. Lodge. I never think to look at Halfords....

bobones

These are Swisstop black. 2 pairs with holders = £28

http://www.merlincycles.com/sram-by-swi ... 68078.html

Schoie81

Cheers bobones - that's a good price, cheapest I had found were £18 for a pair and £2 delivery. At £28 for 2 pairs they're not that much more than the inserts alone (albeit black instead of green pads...)

rickeverett

Just got some Swisstop Greens from Wiggle. Taking there time to dispatch mind, - hope it aint this thread!

Last lot were Swisstop Black but they wore pretty quickly. Hopefully these will be better.