Trouble
#BikeNitePQ #BikeTooter Has anyone seen brake pads like this before? This is my second time coming across pads that look just like this (the plastic and brake material shapes) on a road bike. Look closely; those shiny silver bits? chunks of rim! I yanked these off and replaced them on my bike with Salmon Coolstops, but only after the metal bits wore grooves into my rim, ugh #BikeCommuterCabal
Apr 13, 2024 at 4:38pmWeb
Show threadGeoffApr 13, 2024
@trouble pads used on aluminum rims always do that, right? That's one reason we swap pads when swapping from aluminum to carbon wheels. Aside from the different compounds for heat management, you wouldn't want those melted aluminum bits digging into the carbon.
Show threadtarzanApr 13, 2024
@trouble in my experience this always happens with rim brake pads. Sanding the pads every now and then will help reduce wear on the rims, and sand the rims as well to keep them smooth.
Show threadTroubleApr 14, 2024
@tarzan but I've seen this with under 1000 miles on my road bike. It seems insane to change rims every 1000 miles.
Show threadtarzanApr 14, 2024
@trouble I am assuming you have alloy rims, not carbon fibre rims or rims with ceramic braking surfaces. Don't sand ceramic or carbon rims!
The lumps of metal in your pads come from grit from the road getting embedded in the pads, which gouge aluminium from alloy wheel rims. This builds up the crud in the pads and results in more gouging on the rim.
Show threadtarzanApr 14, 2024
@trouble In my experience regular inspection of the pads to pick out grit and keeping the wheel clean are the best way to reduce the wear on the rims.
Occasionally sanding the pads can help keep the surface smooth for good braking.
If you start getting ruts ground into the rims, giving those a sand down will improve braking power and reduce grit uptake in the pads.