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Upgrading brake pads for carbon rims

scotthunterscotthunter Posts: 140
edited April 2019 in Road buying advice
Hi,

Anyone here had Ultegra brake pads that come with the Ultegra R8000 groupset and upgraded the blocks with anything superior?

I was wondering if the Swissstop Flash Pro Black Prince will provide better stopping power? I am using Giant SLR carbon rims. Current Ultegra ones that came with my TCR are ok in the dry but pretty terrible in the wet.

Thanks.

Posts

  • sloppyschleckondssloppyschleckonds Posts: 8,019
    Lifeline Blues
    I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles
  • MatthewfalleMatthewfalle Posts: 17,380
    are the wheels the ones that came with the bike or did it come with ali rims?
    Postby team47b » Sun Jun 28, 2015 11:53 am

    De Sisti wrote:
    This is one of the silliest threads I've come across. :lol:

    Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honour :D
    smithy21 wrote:

    He's right you know.
  • zeeezeee Posts: 103
    scotthunter wrote:
    Hi,

    Anyone here had Ultegra brake pads that come with the Ultegra R8000 groupset and upgraded the blocks with anything superior?

    I was wondering if the Swissstop Flash Pro Black Prince will provide better stopping power? I am using Giant SLR carbon rims. Current Ultegra ones that came with my TCR are ok in the dry but pretty terrible in the wet.

    Thanks.

    I upgraded from stock r8000 to black prince and find them excellent on carbon rims. Stopping is very good in the wet so would recommend. I had a bit of squeel at first but adjusted the pads properly and have been perfect since.
  • sandyballssandyballs Posts: 577
    SloppySchleckonds wrote:
    Lifeline Blues

    ^ This, I have a bike with Black Prince and 1 with Lifeline Blues on Zipp 303’s and the Blues feel better.
  • MatthewfalleMatthewfalle Posts: 17,380
    anything will feel better than if he is using ali pads on carbon rims ......
    Postby team47b » Sun Jun 28, 2015 11:53 am

    De Sisti wrote:
    This is one of the silliest threads I've come across. :lol:

    Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honour :D
    smithy21 wrote:

    He's right you know.
  • shirley_bassoshirley_basso Posts: 5,265
    Sandyballs wrote:
    SloppySchleckonds wrote:
    Lifeline Blues

    ^ This, I have a bike with Black Prince and 1 with Lifeline Blues on Zipp 303’s and the Blues feel better.

    Third this.
  • scotthunterscotthunter Posts: 140
    Matthewfalle wrote:
    anything will feel better than if he is using ali pads on carbon rims ......

    I have carbon rims. I am not sure if the pads that came with the bike are specific for carbon rims, all I know is that they are the grey standard ones that come with the Ultegra R8000 brake calipers.
  • shirley_bassoshirley_basso Posts: 5,265
    Then they are almost certainly not for carbon rims, unless the wheels came with the bike and you bought it brand new.

    Buy a set of the £4.99 ones from Wiggle Lifeline (make sure they are carbon). I find they take one ride to rough up a bit to really get the optimal performance out of them but otherwise they are awesome, and cheap.
  • philbar72philbar72 Posts: 2,228
    scotthunter wrote:
    Matthewfalle wrote:
    anything will feel better than if he is using ali pads on carbon rims ......

    I have carbon rims. I am not sure if the pads that came with the bike are specific for carbon rims, all I know is that they are the grey standard ones that come with the Ultegra R8000 brake calipers.

    the default fitout is with shimano's generic alloy pads. you would need to replace them with carbon specific pads. the lifeline ones everyone is going on about are very good. and not expensive.
  • MatthewfalleMatthewfalle Posts: 17,380
    scotthunter wrote:
    Matthewfalle wrote:
    anything will feel better than if he is using ali pads on carbon rims ......

    I have carbon rims. I am not sure if the pads that came with the bike are specific for carbon rims, all I know is that they are the grey standard ones that come with the Ultegra R8000 brake calipers.

    They aren't then and that would explain your conundrum and braking issues..

    the lifeline blue ones above for you then.

    #problemsolved
    Postby team47b » Sun Jun 28, 2015 11:53 am

    De Sisti wrote:
    This is one of the silliest threads I've come across. :lol:

    Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honour :D
    smithy21 wrote:

    He's right you know.
  • scotthunterscotthunter Posts: 140
    Zeee wrote:
    scotthunter wrote:
    Hi,

    Anyone here had Ultegra brake pads that come with the Ultegra R8000 groupset and upgraded the blocks with anything superior?

    I was wondering if the Swissstop Flash Pro Black Prince will provide better stopping power? I am using Giant SLR carbon rims. Current Ultegra ones that came with my TCR are ok in the dry but pretty terrible in the wet.

    Thanks.

    I upgraded from stock r8000 to black prince and find them excellent on carbon rims. Stopping is very good in the wet so would recommend. I had a bit of squeel at first but adjusted the pads properly and have been perfect since.

    Just looking on Wiggle. Do you know what the difference is between Flash Pro and Flash Evo?
  • shirley_bassoshirley_basso Posts: 5,265
    Buy the lifeline ones.
  • zeeezeee Posts: 103
    scotthunter wrote:
    Zeee wrote:
    scotthunter wrote:
    Hi,

    Anyone here had Ultegra brake pads that come with the Ultegra R8000 groupset and upgraded the blocks with anything superior?

    I was wondering if the Swissstop Flash Pro Black Prince will provide better stopping power? I am using Giant SLR carbon rims. Current Ultegra ones that came with my TCR are ok in the dry but pretty terrible in the wet.

    Thanks.

    I upgraded from stock r8000 to black prince and find them excellent on carbon rims. Stopping is very good in the wet so would recommend. I had a bit of squeel at first but adjusted the pads properly and have been perfect since.

    Just looking on Wiggle. Do you know what the difference is between Flash Pro and Flash Evo?

    The evo is lower profile for wider rims. Pro just standard size.
  • MatthewfalleMatthewfalle Posts: 17,380
    Don't go for Black {Prince - they are rubbish. I have them on my crit bike. They are rubbish.

    If you do want to go for Swisstop then go yellow - they are on N1 - much better: stopping power more instant and longer, look cooler. "Modulation" is exactly the same.

    Go for Lifeline

    #blueisthenewblack
    Postby team47b » Sun Jun 28, 2015 11:53 am

    De Sisti wrote:
    This is one of the silliest threads I've come across. :lol:

    Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honour :D
    smithy21 wrote:

    He's right you know.
  • svettysvetty Posts: 1,904
    Campag red for carbon
    FFS! Harden up and grow a pair :D
  • scotthunterscotthunter Posts: 140
    Shirley Basso wrote:
    Then they are almost certainly not for carbon rims, unless the wheels came with the bike and you bought it brand new.

    Buy a set of the £4.99 ones from Wiggle Lifeline (make sure they are carbon). I find they take one ride to rough up a bit to really get the optimal performance out of them but otherwise they are awesome, and cheap.

    The wheels did come with the bike, and I brought it brand new. It's a Giant TCR Advanced Pro 1. Giant make their own carbon wheels for their Pro series bikes.
  • scotthunterscotthunter Posts: 140
    Matthewfalle wrote:
    Don't go for Black {Prince - they are rubbish. I have them on my crit bike. They are rubbish.

    If you do want to go for Swisstop then go yellow - they are on N1 - much better: stopping power more instant and longer, look cooler. "Modulation" is exactly the same.

    Go for Lifeline

    #blueisthenewblack

    You say Black Prince are rubbish, but they have 4.5 / 5 stars from 97 reviews on Wiggle so they can't be all that bad. The only disadvantage of these vs yellow, from what I can gather, is that they wear out faster, but I don't care about that.
  • dstev55dstev55 Posts: 742
    Shirley Basso wrote:
    Sandyballs wrote:
    SloppySchleckonds wrote:
    Lifeline Blues

    ^ This, I have a bike with Black Prince and 1 with Lifeline Blues on Zipp 303’s and the Blues feel better.

    Third this.

    They do seem to differ with different wheels though. I was using them with a set of Wheelsmith Aero Dimpled carbon wheels and they were fantastic then used them with a set of Vision Metron 40's and they were bloody awful!
  • MatthewfalleMatthewfalle Posts: 17,380
    scotthunter wrote:
    Matthewfalle wrote:
    Don't go for Black {Prince - they are rubbish. I have them on my crit bike. They are rubbish.

    If you do want to go for Swisstop then go yellow - they are on N1 - much better: stopping power more instant and longer, look cooler. "Modulation" is exactly the same.

    Go for Lifeline

    #blueisthenewblack

    You say Black Prince are rubbish, but they have 4.5 / 5 stars from 97 reviews on Wiggle so they can't be all that bad. The only disadvantage of these vs yellow, from what I can gather, is that they wear out faster, but I don't care about that.

    i have both. yellow are better.

    look on here in threads passim - people always say the yellow are better

    i'd still buy the blue lifeline ones over either though

    #blue

    at the end of the day though, its your money and choice so buy what you want.
    Postby team47b » Sun Jun 28, 2015 11:53 am

    De Sisti wrote:
    This is one of the silliest threads I've come across. :lol:

    Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honour :D
    smithy21 wrote:

    He's right you know.
  • philbar72philbar72 Posts: 2,228
    scotthunter wrote:
    Matthewfalle wrote:
    Don't go for Black {Prince - they are rubbish. I have them on my crit bike. They are rubbish.

    If you do want to go for Swisstop then go yellow - they are on N1 - much better: stopping power more instant and longer, look cooler. "Modulation" is exactly the same.

    Go for Lifeline

    #blueisthenewblack

    You say Black Prince are rubbish, but they have 4.5 / 5 stars from 97 reviews on Wiggle so they can't be all that bad. The only disadvantage of these vs yellow, from what I can gather, is that they wear out faster, but I don't care about that.


    you believe wiggle reviews?
  • alanyualanyu Posts: 73
    Matthewfalle wrote:
    scotthunter wrote:
    Matthewfalle wrote:
    Don't go for Black {Prince - they are rubbish. I have them on my crit bike. They are rubbish.

    If you do want to go for Swisstop then go yellow - they are on N1 - much better: stopping power more instant and longer, look cooler. "Modulation" is exactly the same.

    Go for Lifeline

    #blueisthenewblack

    You say Black Prince are rubbish, but they have 4.5 / 5 stars from 97 reviews on Wiggle so they can't be all that bad. The only disadvantage of these vs yellow, from what I can gather, is that they wear out faster, but I don't care about that.

    i have both. yellow are better.

    look on here in threads passim - people always say the yellow are better

    i'd still buy the blue lifeline ones over either though

    #blue

    at the end of the day though, its your money and choice so buy what you want.

    I hate the yellow residue on the rim and the black offers a lower temperature at the cost of its lifetime. Yellows performance better in dry while blacks performance better in wet.
  • paul1000paul1000 Posts: 187
    Campag red
  • scotthunterscotthunter Posts: 140
    Shirley Basso wrote:
    Then they are almost certainly not for carbon rims, unless the wheels came with the bike and you bought it brand new.

    Buy a set of the £4.99 ones from Wiggle Lifeline (make sure they are carbon). I find they take one ride to rough up a bit to really get the optimal performance out of them but otherwise they are awesome, and cheap.

    Just checked and these are the pads I have currently:

    https://www.giant-bicycles.com/gb/giant-carbon-rim-brake-pads
  • lakesludditelakesluddite Posts: 1,337
    So they are carbon specific brake pads then - not the Shimano ones that would come standard with Ultegra.

    In that case it might just be a case of trial and error. I use the aforementioned Lifeline blue from CRC/Wiggle, and have found them to work really well on my Prime carbon rims - having said that I don't venture out in the rain on the carbon wheels, so I can't give any feedback for wet-weather performance.
  • MatthewfalleMatthewfalle Posts: 17,380
    LakesLuddite wrote:
    So they are carbon specific brake pads then - not the Shimano ones that would come standard with Ultegra.

    In that case it might just be a case of trial and error. I use the aforementioned Lifeline blue from CRC/Wiggle, and have found them to work really well on my Prime carbon rims - having said that I don't venture out in the rain on the carbon wheels, so I can't give any feedback for wet-weather performance.

    why don't you venture out?

    #rain
    Postby team47b » Sun Jun 28, 2015 11:53 am

    De Sisti wrote:
    This is one of the silliest threads I've come across. :lol:

    Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honour :D
    smithy21 wrote:

    He's right you know.
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