Chris S
Legendary Member
- Location
- Birmingham
I've got leather-faced pads on my bike because it has chrome-plated rims. Does anybody know how they differ from Kool Stop ones? Both are supposed to help wet weather braking.
What's the difference between Kool Stop and leather-faced pads?
- Thread starter Chris S
- Start date
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Bromptonaut
Rohan Man
- Location
- Bugbrooke UK
Chrome rims were notorious for holding water and crap braking action with old fashioned hard black or soft pink rubber blocks. A rotation or more of the wheel was needed before the brakes (suddenly) bit. The leather absorbed a bit of the water and provided a slightly more progressive action.
Alloy rims have better wet braking action and Kool Stop pads are designed to better that advantage.
Assuming your chrome rims are on a bike for historic accuracy best stick with the leathers. If you can replace the chromed steel with alloy rims so much the better.
Alloy rims have better wet braking action and Kool Stop pads are designed to better that advantage.
Assuming your chrome rims are on a bike for historic accuracy best stick with the leathers. If you can replace the chromed steel with alloy rims so much the better.
hoopdriver
Guru
- Location
- East Sussex
+1 on the Koolstop pads They are excellent.
amaferanga
Veteran
- Location
- Bolton
If you were at all worried about wet weather braking then you wouldn't be using chrome rims 
Davidc
Guru
- Location
- Somerset UK
Chrome rims nearly killed me on wet days more times than I like to think about.
Leather pads helped a bit, were more expensive than rubber ones, but didn't solve the problem.
There were various attempts to make pads that worked, none that I tried did better than slightly improve wet braking.
If it's a classic bike keep the steel and chrome rimmed wheels as "Sunday Best", get some alloy ones for whenever it's wet.
I got rid of chrome on steel wheels in the 1970s and never want to see any again unless the brakes are discs.
Leather pads helped a bit, were more expensive than rubber ones, but didn't solve the problem.
There were various attempts to make pads that worked, none that I tried did better than slightly improve wet braking.
If it's a classic bike keep the steel and chrome rimmed wheels as "Sunday Best", get some alloy ones for whenever it's wet.
I got rid of chrome on steel wheels in the 1970s and never want to see any again unless the brakes are discs.
dan_bo
How much does it cost to Oldham?
About 15 yards at 20 MPH.
