Phil (ascentale)Apr 26, 2024

Next question from @trouble is about brake pads:

Q2. 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 Koolstops, but only after the metal bits wore grooves into my rim, ugh #BikeCommuterCabal

Has anyone else seen alarming brake/rim/rotor conditions?

#BikeNite #BikeNiteQ

Show threadJacobApr 27, 2024
@ascentale @trouble Side question: What are the little shark fins for??
Show threadTroubleApr 27, 2024
@or @ascentale they are part of the plastic body behind the brake pad. I presume they are there for stiffness. I have seen other pads with similar looking shapes.
Show threadLuke Kanies

@trouble @or @ascentale I think the shark fins are to help seat the wheel between the brakes, a kind of funnel to get it into place.

Higher end components, usually have them as part of the brake body, less expensive ones include them in the pad

Apr 27, 2024 at 8:24amWeb
Show threadPhil (ascentale)Apr 29, 2024
@lkanies @trouble @or I also thought that they were for squeezing. Sometimes you need to squeeze cantilever or linear-pull brakes together to free up the cable so that you can remove the wheel. The fins give you a "handle" for your fingers to squeeze, maybe?
Show threadLuke KaniesApr 29, 2024
@ascentale @trouble @or maybe? I’ve always just pushed the things that hold the pads