best brake upgrade?

[Panter]

Or shoudl I say cheapest

My new commute has some very steep downhill sections, but they're narrow, twisty and gritty so I'm hard on the brakes all the way down.
The standard brakes aren't very good and I'd really like (probably need) to up the power so I'd feel more comfortable being able to stop quickly if required.

Would just changing pads to Salomon koolstops make enough difference or would I be better off changing calipers?

 

[jimboalee]

Find a set of calipers ( Road bike? ) that have a greater Mechanical Advantage than the calipers you have now.

This is the multiple of distance between the pivot/block and pivot/cable hitch. The latter should be greater, think of it as a Bellcrank Lever.

You might not need to change calipers however. I had a pair of Weinmann Side Pull calipers on an old Carlton that had 1:1 Mech Addv'. They had soft rubber blocks and could pitch me over the bars.

The soft rubber blocks wore out quick, so I bought a 'job lot' in the early seventies, and STILL have some left. I haven't seen them for years, so they might now be a rarity.

My Pug has Mafac 'Racer' which have a 2:1 Mech Addv', and they stop me dead too. Original Mafac blocks ( Pink rubber ) wore out. Replacement were from a Cycle Jumble.

Seems today's blocks are not as good as the stuff from 40 years ago.

 

[Andy in Sig]

I think long term you should consider a bike with disc brakes. They are brilliant and are essentially fix and forget as well as being loads more effective.

 

[Ivan Ardon]

Is this for the SCR3? The calipers should be good enough.

Kool-stops and a good lube of the cables should sort you out.

 

[fossyant]

New pads and cables - yup new cables make a great change - buy the good ones !

 

[Panter]

Many thanks all

Sorry for my late reply, I forgot that I'd asked the question untill I spotted that my pads had worn out

As the pads need doing, I'll change them for the Koolstops and get some cables too.
Why are the better ones better? it is less stretch and which ones would you recommend?

EDIT: If the pads and cables don't do it, I'll look at some more efficient calipers

 

[Panter]

I'll change them for the Koolstops and get some cables too.
Why are the better ones better? it is less stretch and which ones would you recommend?

Scrub that, I ordered some shimano 105 cables, they've got to be better quality than what's on there now plus mine are over a Year old

 

[Mike Rudkin]

I changed the pads on my Trek 1.2 (after reading postings on here) from the ones supplied to Kool Stop Salmon on front,and Kool Stop Black on rear.
It now stops !!! Many thx guys,Mike.