Fastest, cheapest brake improvement

terryhughes

After going from hydraulic disks on a MTB to Tektro calipers along with the extra speed on the road bike the brakes aren't very good. I have Sora shifter and Tektro callipers.

DO I need to upgrade the callipers to see an improvement or will decent brake pads do? If so what is reccomended as I have the standard ones on from the factory.

imposter2.0

Pads. Almost anything is an improvement on the standard Tektro pads...

terryhughes

Imposter wrote:

Pads. Almost anything is an improvement on the standard Tektro pads...

Thank you. I will get some ASAP

butcher of bakersfield

I have the same setup. Swapped to Koolstop Salmon pads on the front. Made a big difference.

Cheapies on the rear still, as I don't need the power there.

Also make sure your levers are set up optimally. When I first got my bike, I set them up so you just had to touch them before they hit the rim. It took me a little while to realise this was a bad idea, as it's difficult to get any kind of leverage when on the hoods. Now I have them set up so the levers pull back as close to the bars as possible without touching them. Huge improvement.

MountainMonster

butcher of bakersfield wrote:

I have the same setup. Swapped to Koolstop Salmon pads on the front. Made a big difference.

Cheapies on the rear still, as I don't need the power there.

Also make sure your levers are set up optimally. When I first got my bike, I set them up so you just had to touch them before they hit the rim. It took me a little while to realise this was a bad idea, as it's difficult to get any kind of leverage when on the hoods. Now I have them set up so the levers pull back as close to the bars as possible without touching them. Huge improvement.

That's some sound advice there.

DubaiNeil

I must admit that brake setup by the bike shops is one of my pet peeves. Their apparent desire (in my experience) to set the brake blocks a gnats todger away from the rims allowing me the luxury of 1mm of brake lever travel seems entirely unnecessary - and I don't really care if that is the "pro" setup (which I doubt anyway...)

When my bikes go in for service (which isn't often as I do most of the stuff myself) I have to remember to ask them not to set the brakes up in their preferred way, as I then have to alter it afterwards. I've even had that happen when the bike has gone in for an entirely unrelated issue...

Old_Timer

I'll second the Kool Stop pads, wither the Salmon or their combination black-salmon made a big difference for my stopping with the SRAM Rival calipers.

TakeTurns

Swisstop Greens. Consistent all the time.

apreading

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

IanRCarter

I'm using Sora callipers, the standard brake pads were so bad they were quite frankly dangerous. Bought a set of Clarks cartridge pad holders which came with a set of pads and then replacements for when they wear down. Not the ebst pads but they do alright, I find a lot of road muck gets into the gaps in the pads though and it doesn't sound nice and surely can't be great for the rim. I'll be changing to Koolstop Salmons after I've got through these and hope they live up to the hype.

slowbike

I have to just add ... I tried swissstop greens, it was better, but then I changed my callipers for 105's - that was the biggest improvement by far, swapping the new brake pads back and not that expensive as an upgrade as I bought them s/h off here...

philbar72

first thing brake blocks, second thing upgrade the brakes to 105. swissstops or koolstops are good.

Terrytibbs

DubaiNeil wrote:

I must admit that brake setup by the bike shops is one of my pet peeves. Their apparent desire (in my experience) to set the brake blocks a gnats todger away from the rims allowing me the luxury of 1mm of brake lever travel seems entirely unnecessary - and I don't really care if that is the "pro" setup (which I doubt anyway...)

When my bikes go in for service (which isn't often as I do most of the stuff myself) I have to remember to ask them not to set the brakes up in their preferred way, as I then have to alter it afterwards. I've even had that happen when the bike has gone in for an entirely unrelated issue...

How is the mechanic in the bike show meant to know how you prefer to have your brakes. Maybe the majority of their customers prefer a small amount of movement at the lever. You're correct in letting them know how you want them now. It sounds like you're moaning at....nothing really.

Terrytibbs

I've recently put some Koolstop salmon pads on the back brake of my 105s. Still have the original pads on the front. There isn't much difference to be honest.

The biggest thing I find when doing my brakes is to thoroughly clean the rim surface. That makes a huge amount of difference. Maybe once a week depending on the weather, give the rims a good clean. best thing to do. Even with your standard tektro pads.

dilatory

Personally having jumped from crappy Tektro brakes on my 2300 bike to the Ultegra brakes the difference is night and day. I don't think I could skid on the Tektro brakes even if I wanted, but these Ultegra could endo or something no problem and stop on a dime. I'm not sure of the difference in the middle, but the 6800 brakes are fantastic and make a significant impact to speed and confidence.

Terrytibbs

dilatory wrote:

Personally having jumped from crappy Tektro brakes on my 2300 bike to the Ultegra brakes the difference is night and day. I don't think I could skid on the Tektro brakes even if I wanted, but these Ultegra could endo or something no problem and stop on a dime. I'm not sure of the difference in the middle, but the 6800 brakes are fantastic and make a significant impact to speed and confidence.

Definitely. 6800 brakes are immense. Worth every penny. Even better with the Ultegra STI lever which has a larger leverage. Or if someone wants to wait until the end of July, the 5800 brakes are coming out which are a bit cheaper.

TakeTurns

Swisstop greens last long...but at a cost I've noticed. Anyone else think it chews into the braking surface?

kajjal

Slowbike wrote:

I have to just add ... I tried swissstop greens, it was better, but then I changed my callipers for 105's - that was the biggest improvement by far, swapping the new brake pads back and not that expensive as an upgrade as I bought them s/h off here...

Did exactly the same for a marked improvement from the Tektro's my bike came with.

rickeverett

DubaiNeil wrote:

I must admit that brake setup by the bike shops is one of my pet peeves. Their apparent desire (in my experience) to set the brake blocks a gnats todger away from the rims allowing me the luxury of 1mm of brake lever travel seems entirely unnecessary - and I don't really care if that is the "pro" setup (which I doubt anyway...)

When my bikes go in for service (which isn't often as I do most of the stuff myself) I have to remember to ask them not to set the brakes up in their preferred way, as I then have to alter it afterwards. I've even had that happen when the bike has gone in for an entirely unrelated issue...

so true.

I don't bother with LBS's now when it comes to fixing or touching the bike. Stuff isn't that hard to do and there's always something on the internet.

chris_bass

Terrytibbs wrote:

I've recently put some Koolstop salmon pads on the back brake of my 105s. Still have the original pads on the front. There isn't much difference to be honest.

The biggest thing I find when doing my brakes is to thoroughly clean the rim surface. That makes a huge amount of difference. Maybe once a week depending on the weather, give the rims a good clean. best thing to do. Even with your standard tektro pads.

What do you use to clean your rims? (sorry for the horrific double en tendre!) everything i try seems to almost make them worse!

drlodge

Meths should work well as it doesn't leave a residue (unlike white spirit)

ManOfKent

Kajjal wrote:

Slowbike wrote:

I have to just add ... I tried swissstop greens, it was better, but then I changed my callipers for 105's - that was the biggest improvement by far, swapping the new brake pads back and not that expensive as an upgrade as I bought them s/h off here...

Did exactly the same for a marked improvement from the Tektro's my bike came with.

I was advised by a clubmate that Tiagra would be a good enough upgrade from the seized-up Tektro on the winter bike and have found no reason to disagree with him. Dirt cheap too and I'm using the pads they came with.

butcher of bakersfield

I've always used glass cleaner since I picked up the tip from a BMX magazine sometime in the mid 90's (probably Ride). Never had any problems with it.

mcnultycop

I put Koolstop salmons on and they felt similar to the original Tektro pads for two rides. They now appear to have bedded in and the improvement is massive. I'm a big unit (115kg) and descending was terrifying because of the inability to slow properly (being an MTBer used to superb brakes). Descending is still terrifying, but at least it is better controlled now.

kajjal

mcnultycop wrote:

I put Koolstop salmons on and they felt similar to the original Tektro pads for two rides. They now appear to have bedded in and the improvement is massive. I'm a big unit (115kg) and descending was terrifying because of the inability to slow properly (being an MTBer used to superb brakes). Descending is still terrifying, but at least it is better controlled now.

I find exactly the same coming from MTBing. My next road bike will definitely have disc brakes as rim brakes are not up to the job of stopping 100kg + on steep drops quickly.

dilatory

Kajjal wrote:

I find exactly the same coming from MTBing. My next road bike will definitely have disc brakes as rim brakes are not up to the job of stopping 100kg + on steep drops quickly.

While not like my hydraulic brakes, the new 6800 brakes are awesome! Seriously.

Initialised

dilatory wrote:

Kajjal wrote:

I find exactly the same coming from MTBing. My next road bike will definitely have disc brakes as rim brakes are not up to the job of stopping 100kg + on steep drops quickly.

While not like my hydraulic brakes, the new 6800 brakes are awesome! Seriously.

So would fitting these: Ultegra 6800 Brake Shoes, to existing calipers give roughly the same performance?

mcnultycop

Kajjal wrote:

mcnultycop wrote:

I put Koolstop salmons on and they felt similar to the original Tektro pads for two rides. They now appear to have bedded in and the improvement is massive. I'm a big unit (115kg) and descending was terrifying because of the inability to slow properly (being an MTBer used to superb brakes). Descending is still terrifying, but at least it is better controlled now.

I find exactly the same coming from MTBing. My next road bike will definitely have disc brakes as rim brakes are not up to the job of stopping 100kg + on steep drops quickly.

I think the same, although there is only so much stopping a narrow road bike tyre can achieve!

marcusww

TakeTurns wrote:

Swisstop greens last long...but at a cost I've noticed. Anyone else think it chews into the braking surface?

Yes the greens are too aggressive for softer or lighter aluminium rims as I found to my detriment. Good at braking especially in the wet but will never put them on a bike again. Koolstop salmons for me too.

MisterMuncher

Initialised wrote:

dilatory wrote:

Kajjal wrote:

I find exactly the same coming from MTBing. My next road bike will definitely have disc brakes as rim brakes are not up to the job of stopping 100kg + on steep drops quickly.

While not like my hydraulic brakes, the new 6800 brakes are awesome! Seriously.

So would fitting these: Ultegra 6800 Brake Shoes, to existing calipers give roughly the same performance?

I've just moved 6800 pads/shoes over to my commuter with R650 long-drop brakes, having put SwissStop Greens on the good bike. All things being equal, they've improved the braking a great deal, but they're not just as sharp as the full 6800 calliper/brake combo. How much of that is down to the longer drop on the calliper I couldn't say.

bikingjohn

MisterMuncher wrote:

Initialised wrote:

dilatory wrote:

Kajjal wrote:

I find exactly the same coming from MTBing. My next road bike will definitely have disc brakes as rim brakes are not up to the job of stopping 100kg + on steep drops quickly.

While not like my hydraulic brakes, the new 6800 brakes are awesome! Seriously.

So would fitting these: Ultegra 6800 Brake Shoes, to existing calipers give roughly the same performance?

I've just moved 6800 pads/shoes over to my commuter with R650 long-drop brakes, having put SwissStop Greens on the good bike. All things being equal, they've improved the braking a great deal, but they're not just as sharp as the full 6800 calliper/brake combo. How much of that is down to the longer drop on the calliper I couldn't say.

I concur. I have been using Tektro R580 on my CAAD10 and then Alize (Nazare). I thought the brake were already very good after changing the pads to SwissStop green pads. Now the Ultegra 6800 brakes are MUCH better in braking. The pads and the calipers are just way better.