bunch of brake pad questions

[brucelee]

Hi,
1) Are these fake ?

2) Can you still get clarks VR pads for R8020, do clarks do pads with fins ? Anyone got a cheap source for VR/VRX ?
3) And finally, are those 'cooling' fins on the top of the pads a gimmick ? I just had a look at them and it seems to me they would direct the pad/disk material away from the tangent (which would intersect with the calliper body) to somewhere else... Any thoughts. I'm just thinking how fast the finish on my callipers got destroyed and wondering if the material thrown off could eat through the caliper body over time ....
Cheers,
Bruce.

[JohnR]

Merlin has a good range of pads at reasonable prices including these with fins https://www.merlincycles.com/shimano-j0 ... 78638.html. I presume the idea of the fins is to enhance the contact area between metal and passing air in order to dissipate more heat. Note that they are marked L & R to help the fins align with the airflow. I've got some waiting to be used next summer in descents from Alpine passes.

[gregoryoftours]

I'm not sure if they're fake or not. Shimano's own compatibility charts state that (cheaper) non finned patterns can be substituted for the finned pads. The fins provide a little better cooling but not a significant amount.

https://shimanobikes-nz.prontoavenue.bi ... 0Chart.pdf

[Brucey]

. The fins provide a little better cooling but not a significant amount.

that presumably all depends on whether you consider ~100F cooler calipers 'significant' or not.