Brake blocks..

[mark barker]

I've been riding my new bike with the factory fitted brake blocks (v-brakes) for the past few weeks (approx 500 miles) and they've totally worn away. There has been no sign of rubbing, and most of my riding is urban. I understand that using them in the wet increases wear rate, but it still seems a little excessive. I've got some cool stops on order, but I've been told they wear quicker than "normal" blocks, so should I be worried, or were the originals just completely pants?

 

[HLaB]

The originals probably were just pants; I've never heard about anybody criticising the life of Koolstops. I had their canti pads before I can't say I noticed anything other than they were good.

 

[ianrauk]

in the winter I go through blocks every couple of months on my commute. But I do have a lot of stop/start due to traffic/lights etc

 

[potsy]

Can't remember exactly when I put my Koolstop Salmons on, but I've done over 1000 miles on them and am only now keeping a close eye on when to change them.
Maybe you're stopping for too many red lights

You should notice a decent improvement especially in the wet.

 

[Davidc]

Depends what you're doing with them.

As HLab says OEM blocks tend to be of lower durability than aftermarket ones, and Kool Stops are good ones.

You're in Wiltshire, which is hilly. Blocks don't last well if you're doing loads of steep downhills. I'm training myself on hills at present and keep coming down 250m steeply from the tops, and I've killed a set of Tektro canti original blocks on the back brake since New Year in about 250 miles. (I use the back brakes for speed control on descents).

 

[summerdays]

It was one of the reasons I went to disk brakes as I seemed to eat brake blocks ... I think I used to find 3 months was normal in winter time.

 

[zizou]

It depends alot on road and weather conditions, but also your method of braking too. Some riders drag their brakes when going down hills and that can drastically shorten the life - particularly in wet, gritty conditions. One of the guys i ride with only gets 3 or 4 rides out his rear disk pads on his mtb at this time of year, whereas there are others in the group who have had the same pads on for more than a year.

 

[Grizzly]

I was the same, about 500 miles from a factory fitted set. I then replaced them with Koolstops and what an improvement in braking performance.

 

[Panter]

My Koolstops have done thousands of miles, they have an amazingly long lifespan especially considering how effective they are.

 

[zacklaws]

The overall effectiveness of your brakes also effects the life span of the pads, for example, the original brakes on my bike where that poor, that I was always having to brake needlessly in case of having to stop. It was no good racing up to a junction and finding that I have to stop at the last moment as my brakes would not stop me in time, so I always had to brake early to be prepared for that eventuality but because I was always braking, my pads would only last about 2 months if I was lucky, downhill wore them out the most because I always knew that I would not stop unless I braked well early. On some very hilly 100 mile rides, I could virtually wear out a set of pads with constantly having to check my speed downhill

I replaced the brakes with Bontrager Speed Limiters and they are that good, that I can leave the braking till the last moment if need be and if its all clear race away, and to check my speed its just a quick dab of them, no more having to roll for long distances with the brakes applied hard as the wheel turns. To date I have not had to replace the pads yet and there is still plenty of life in them.

Looking at my records from Sportstracks, I wore 3 sets out on the original Shimano 105 brakes in 2357 miles six months. On the Bontrager speed limiters, I have done 5680 miles 10 months and they are still good. The pads are the same brand too, BBB

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Koolstop Salmons are amazing. The only way to go if you ride with V Brakes.

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

It was one of the reasons I went to disk brakes as I seemed to eat brake blocks ... I think I used to find 3 months was normal in winter time.

Whereas I find with discs (avid BB5 cable operated) I spend more on pads than I ever did with rim brakes

+1 for the Koolstops though - my first experience with them was on some old chinese cantis on a early '90s MTBSO and they actually got the rear brake to kind of work..anything that can do that is good in my book

 

[Angelfishsolo]

+1 My first bike was an Apollo Kaos with cantilever brakes. Koolstops were the only blokes that slowed the wheels.

Whereas I find with discs (avid BB5 cable operated) I spend more on pads than I ever did with rim brakes

+1 for the Koolstops though - my first experience with them was on some old chinese cantis on a early '90s MTBSO and they actually got the rear brake to kind of work..anything that can do that is good in my book

 

[martint235]

Just a little note of warning, I did find that when my brake blocks were lasting a really long time, my rims weren't. Something has to wear.....

 

[mark barker]

Thanks for the comments folks, reassuring that I'm not the only one wearing through the blocks so quickly... It does make me wonder how the pads on my previous bike lasted so long though! Hopefully the Koolstops will arrive today or tomorrow and I'll get them fitted.