Cycling UK Forum

I have had the same brakes for at least 10 years. Avid single digit 7s. I need to replace the pad holders as there are getting rusty, is it worth looking into a new set of brakes or are v brakes still v brakes?

I'd only bother changing the whole brakes if the pivos had pla in them,otherwise I'd buy new holders and pads will suffice.I'd recommend BBB Tristops or Koolstop Salmon.

I agree with Rehon apart from , if it's just the pads you're changing then I wouldn't bother with anything expensive at all.

I replaced my Shimano Deore pads with Bell pads from asda at £1.37 a pair .

They work as good , if not better and give me over 5000 miles and stop me on a fully loaded touring bike with no problem.

I replaced my Shimano Deore pads with Bell pads from asda at £1.37 a pair .

+1

In fact I rate Bell pads as better than Shimano.

these Clarks CP513 holders are good value



The inserts are moderately good. The inserts in their gold/elite series brake shoes (eg CPS513)



are softer, grippier, similar to BBB tristop etc.

cheers

V brake technology has gone backwards because the parallel push mechanisms are gone, as is the ball bearing XTR brakes.

MikeDee wrote:V brake technology has gone backwards because the parallel push mechanisms are gone...

well, yes, but the main effect of those was to vastly increase the risk of the brake squealing for little appreciable benefit, wasn't it?

cheers

Brucey wrote:

MikeDee wrote:V brake technology has gone backwards because the parallel push mechanisms are gone...

well, yes, but the main effect of those was to vastly increase the risk of the brake squealing for little appreciable benefit, wasn't it?

cheers

Yes, sloppy pivots caused more pad squeal, but the real purpose was to keep the pads aligned to the rims as the pads wore.

Didn't the arch of the Avid Arch Supreme brakes act like a brake booster (I.e., seatstay stiffener)?

Gone are the CNC'd Avid Speed Dial Ultimate levers too. I had a set of these on a bike that got nicked. They were sweet.

most V inserts only have 2-3mm wear in them anyway. The change in angle through this range is small, which means that this 'benefit' of a parallel push mechanism is moot.

However there are two other, more subtle differences with the shimano version of the parallel push mechanism



1) that the virtual pivot position is moved as well as the pad carrier remaining at a fixed angle. This reduces the height change of the brake block as it wears and reduces the chances of 'dive'. Again because wear life is small, this benefit is moot. Also

2) the Brake MA is no longer dependant on the boss height. Over a small range (as per the slot in the pad carrier) the brake block moves the same way and therefore the brake MA is (unlike other V brakes) constant regardless of boss height. However whenever the brake block is not immediately opposite the pivot in the pad carrier (i.e. in the middle of slot), the loads on the parallelogram linkage are increased, leading to faster wear etc.

FWIW these benefits are not great; by and large the net result is that parallel push brakes are more trouble than they are worth.

cheers

Bikewaser,irc
How are the Bell pads in the wet,and do they pickup road grit and rim swarfe?

He reason I rate BBB Tristops is for their wet weather performance and immunity to pick up road grit,as a consequence they don't pick up alu swarfe from the rim and are kinder to them as a result,though it has to be said due to their soft compound they wear a bit quicker than other brands.
Koolstop Salmon OTOH don't pick up grit and swarve but aren't immune to it like the BBB's,though do last longer than most others IME,and whilst wet stopping is good it isn't as good as the BBB's.

What's the difference in rim wear with these different brake blocks? Swissstop green seem to give low rim wear, but are not made any more. I haven't tried BBB but they seem worth a try.

Brucey wrote:these Clarks CP513 holders are good value



are softer, grippier, similar to BBB tristop etc.

cheers

I like these pads too. Good life and pad thickness to start with. Work well in all conditions and also don't seem to pick up debris or bits of aluminium as much as some, like the Shimano pads.

I find Shimano LX standard V-brakes work very well.

Where do you get those thick clarks pads from des?

They look interesting.

Do you have a link?

Sweep wrote:Where do you get those thick clarks pads from des?

They look interesting.

Do you have a link?

Used to get them from Chain Reaction, who have been out of stock for a while, even if you want them with brake shoes - http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/gg/e ... -prod55822

I have run out of spares recently and need some replacements very soon, so found these on Amazon:-

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005PVLSLO/ ... TE_3p_dp_1

Ordered 10 pairs a couple of weeks ago, all arrived promptly.

Des has edited my post to suggest that Clarks code CP513 belongs with brake blocks that are actually Clarks CPS513.

The clarks elite/gold models do seem to wear a bit quicker than some but they also work a bit better too. They are (when new) a bit thicker than many, and this can mean that they don't fit some touring bike front brakes, where the end of the brake block is between the fork blades, and the fork blades are set close together.



Inserts only is Clarks ref CPS501. https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/brake-blocks/clarks-gold-mtb-v-brake-insert-cartridges-triple-compound-cps501/ because of postage charges works out a bit pricey unless you are ordering other stuff too.

Another brake block/insert I like is the Fibrax 'Rhino' model.



cheers