tomjasz
1 GW
It is suggested and there's lots of comments around, but has anyone here used them, Kool Stop pads?
Kool Stop pads for rim brakes
- Thread starter tomjasz
- Start date
Ykick
1 GW
I've used tons of 'em and much like many varieties burned up in a couple 1000's miles. Remember, that faster, heavy eBike thing? And good luck finding genuine for under $12/pair. Final opinion is/was they're "okay" although some bikes are gonna squeal without adding toe-in/out. Softer rubber usually more likely to squeal so I just look for hard compounds on bikes that don't get Magura hydro rim brakes.
In your other "brake" thread I provided you hint/link to the best rim brakes my money ever puchased but perhaps you have me ignored? LOL...
In your other "brake" thread I provided you hint/link to the best rim brakes my money ever puchased but perhaps you have me ignored? LOL...
tomjasz
1 GW
Nope I didn't ignore, but if $12 for pads is high...Ykick said:
I'd like to maximize what I have. I still have a bike to convert and would like to use funds for that. Your proposal means new brake levers and giving up or having to modify my new Bafang kit levers. For far more than $12! :wink: I rather like both sets. I'm probably going to drop my top speed a bit too. I know hard to swallow for many here but this battered old shel isn't up to any more hard knocks. At 20 MPH, with loaded saddle bags, stopping is not as brisk as I'd like, to feel safe. If the bike was any faster I'd be looking harder at your choice. Thanks!
wesnewell
100 GW
If you're using rim brakes, just get the biggest ones you can find. The more surface touching the rim provides the best stopping power and the less wear on both the pads and the rim.
Chalo
100 TW
Kool Stop pads of any color are much better than OEM pads. But there is a big difference between "Salmon" compound (red rust colored) and other Kool Stop formulas. Salmon pads are much longer wearing, gentler on rims, and stronger in wet conditions. In my observation they offer more stops for their cost, even at $12 or $14/pair, than other pads as cheap as $4/pair. At my shop, Kool Stop linear pull pads cost $4 more than Avid, but last at least 3 times longer, maybe more.
Kool Stop pads of any color don't harden with age like most others.
For best wear life with linear pull brakes, use the "MTB" pattern pad. It's not that thick, but it's huge. For cantilevers, use Supra 2 or Eagle Claw pattern. It's pretty large and pretty thick. For caliper brakes, use Continental pattern. It's a small pad, but so thick I've never seen one worn out.
Scott Mathauser pads are uncommon and hard to find, but have the same basic virtues as Kool Stop Salmon.
Kool Stop pads of any color don't harden with age like most others.
For best wear life with linear pull brakes, use the "MTB" pattern pad. It's not that thick, but it's huge. For cantilevers, use Supra 2 or Eagle Claw pattern. It's pretty large and pretty thick. For caliper brakes, use Continental pattern. It's a small pad, but so thick I've never seen one worn out.
Scott Mathauser pads are uncommon and hard to find, but have the same basic virtues as Kool Stop Salmon.
tomjasz
1 GW
Settled, thanks!
Eclectic
1 kW
I thought about hijacking the other ebike brake pads thread ( http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=62233 ) but I decided to start my own. I'm hoping that Chalo might chime in since he is an advocate of Kool Stop pads. I have a late 80s or early 90s Univega MTB with smooth post cantilever brakes.
I know Chalo likes the salmon compound pads but my question is which ones. Should I get the replaceable pads or the kind with the internal backbone. I am leaning towards replaceable pads but which style. The Kool Stop website shows 3 kinds with replaceable pads and 4 kinds with internal backbones. Of the replaceable ones, they have "CROSS PAD", "TECTONIC" and "V-TYPE HOLDER".
http://www.koolstop.com/english/rim_pads.html
I know Chalo likes the salmon compound pads but my question is which ones. Should I get the replaceable pads or the kind with the internal backbone. I am leaning towards replaceable pads but which style. The Kool Stop website shows 3 kinds with replaceable pads and 4 kinds with internal backbones. Of the replaceable ones, they have "CROSS PAD", "TECTONIC" and "V-TYPE HOLDER".
http://www.koolstop.com/english/rim_pads.html
I like the salmon ones as well but they are much squeaker and harder to "Desqueak" with precise tuning. I have the non replaceable ones, I'll have to check which style specifically.
The dual compound ones can be a nice compromise. You might have to PM chalo a link to this thread if you want him to find it.
The dual compound ones can be a nice compromise. You might have to PM chalo a link to this thread if you want him to find it.
Eclectic
1 kW
Thanks. I'd kinda given up on this post. Actually now I've been thinking about trying the "Mountain" pads which have the internal backbone. I still like the idea of replaceable pads so I don't have to readjust them every time. I guess I'm just so confused. I also keep going back and forth on all salmon or combo 
I've had both all salmon and combo and to be honest I haven't noticed a huge difference. But I'm not a spandex super cyclists either, I'm just a guy that loves ebiking. Parhaps a brake connoisseur would know better. For me they both stop really well, and both tend to squeak a lot unless you get them juuuust right, haha.
Regarding squeal/squeak: Even with the clone (not actually Kool-Stop) salmon-combo pads I've got now, they squeal a LOT whenever they are even slightly damp. Fine when completley dry, though. I've readjusted a number of ways and that doesn't go away.
I thought it did go away once when I cleaned the rim and pads (simple-green) after riding thru the oily yuck in the water from the first rainstorm they got tested in, but apparently that was only cuz they were dry afterward. As soon as they got a teeny bit of drizzle on them from the rain this last time around, before the road got wet, it returned.
I haven't tested the theory that it is the water itself causing the squeal, which would require completely cleaning the tire, wheel, rim, and pads again, and then setting up the bike so that wheel would be off-ground, indoors, and then applying pure water to the pads/rim while spinning it with the motor, and hten braking to see what happens. Most likley, I will never do that test (especially since Yogi would be extremely likely to knock the bike off whatever stand I set up, while he investigates it cuz it's "new").
But they DEFINITELY brake better when wet than any of hte other pads I've had.
Now I just need a tire that can hold onto the asphalt while applying that brake. :lol:
I thought it did go away once when I cleaned the rim and pads (simple-green) after riding thru the oily yuck in the water from the first rainstorm they got tested in, but apparently that was only cuz they were dry afterward. As soon as they got a teeny bit of drizzle on them from the rain this last time around, before the road got wet, it returned.
I haven't tested the theory that it is the water itself causing the squeal, which would require completely cleaning the tire, wheel, rim, and pads again, and then setting up the bike so that wheel would be off-ground, indoors, and then applying pure water to the pads/rim while spinning it with the motor, and hten braking to see what happens. Most likley, I will never do that test (especially since Yogi would be extremely likely to knock the bike off whatever stand I set up, while he investigates it cuz it's "new").
But they DEFINITELY brake better when wet than any of hte other pads I've had.
Now I just need a tire that can hold onto the asphalt while applying that brake. :lol:
Yea, I forgot how bad water aggravated them. Now that I moved to Israel I can sort of remember rain as that wet stuff that falls from the sky, but its just been so long that my memory is a bit fuzzy.
One thing I found that helped was to spin the motor while holding some rough sandpaper to the braking surface of the rim. A couple dozen revolutions (so like, 2 seconds) was all I needed to put a nice rough edge on the aluminum and increase braking power while reducing squeak. The front is a pain in the rear though because I have to sand it by hand, no motor...
One thing I found that helped was to spin the motor while holding some rough sandpaper to the braking surface of the rim. A couple dozen revolutions (so like, 2 seconds) was all I needed to put a nice rough edge on the aluminum and increase braking power while reducing squeak. The front is a pain in the rear though because I have to sand it by hand, no motor...
Well, the front would be easy if you used a different motor (old hubmotor, etc) in an old bike frame as a friction drive to spin the front for you.
amberwolf said:Well, the front would be easy if you used a different motor (old hubmotor, etc) in an old bike frame as a friction drive to spin the front for you.
Thats…..actually not a bad idea!
Though I think it's all in the execution. I can just see me trying it. "Honey, can you come over here and hold this ebike juuuuust like this? Don't worry about that terrible screeching noise, that means its working…"
It's not too terribly hard, either:
http://www.endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=503510#p503510
http://www.endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=503510#p503510
tomjasz
1 GW
Installed both sets. Stellar! I went with the Kool Stop MTB Mountain Bicycle Brake Shoes, salmon.
Outstanding suggestion and excellent braking. Wet braking is an amazing difference, overall best $23.00 mod.
Thanks again.
T
Outstanding suggestion and excellent braking. Wet braking is an amazing difference, overall best $23.00 mod.
Thanks again.
T
anon0973923
10 W
It sounds like you replaced both sets at the same time which is what I was going to suggest doing. The first time I installed kool-stops, i just replaced my rear pads and when I went to brake on a downhill I nearly pulled a 180!
999zip999
100 TW
I got the kool stop in black work great. I
tomjasz
1 GW
mlt34 said:
Me? Squealing with delight. But the brake pads are dead silent, if that's the question.
Eclectic
1 kW
I actually started the thread “Kool Stop brake pads - Which ones?” but the mods combined it with this one.
This is what I ended up with from universalcycles.com (best price I found)
It was difficult finding all salmon Mountain Pads for canti’s. I only replaced the front pads (I had just replaced the rears so…).
One thing I found was YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE CORRECT TOE-IN FOR THESE PADS. At first I didn’t put any toe-in on them. The bike stopped REAL fast. The front forks would flex. The braking was kinda’ binary (full on, full off) and difficult to modulate. And it made horrendous amounts of noise.
Once I put in some toe-in (with the help of a 2mm thick washer as a feeler gauge), they are wonderful. Now they only make noise when I am braking real hard (I don’t mind that because it calls attention to the fact that I am emergency braking). When the rears need replacing, I will be using the same pads.
PS – I have no idea how they are in the rain because we (in SoCal) haven’t seen any significant rain in a looooong time.
This is what I ended up with from universalcycles.com (best price I found)
It was difficult finding all salmon Mountain Pads for canti’s. I only replaced the front pads (I had just replaced the rears so…).
One thing I found was YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE CORRECT TOE-IN FOR THESE PADS. At first I didn’t put any toe-in on them. The bike stopped REAL fast. The front forks would flex. The braking was kinda’ binary (full on, full off) and difficult to modulate. And it made horrendous amounts of noise.
Once I put in some toe-in (with the help of a 2mm thick washer as a feeler gauge), they are wonderful. Now they only make noise when I am braking real hard (I don’t mind that because it calls attention to the fact that I am emergency braking). When the rears need replacing, I will be using the same pads.
PS – I have no idea how they are in the rain because we (in SoCal) haven’t seen any significant rain in a looooong time.
tomjasz
1 GW
Same pads here. And I ordered one set first, followed by a second set for the front once I felt how they performed. The Kool Stop bike stops 100% better in the rain than the bike, wives and my quick errand, without. Amazing difference. Kinda pricey on a fixed income so I'll hold till next season or until she notices and complains. Followed Chalo's advice on a Ravx mini foot pump as well. Another great buy and piece of ES advice!Eclectic said:
rider95
1 kW
Really you goanna use rim brakes on a e-bike ? that will go over 30mph with a 200lb rider? bad Ideal
No, it's not.rider95 said:
If you have good rim brakes that are adjusted right, they're a lot better than most of the cheap disc brakes. When you get into high end disc, they're probably as good as high end rim brakes, if both are properly adjusted (and your wheels are true).
The major difference might be if you are riding in puddles, in that your rims will probably stay wet and discs might not. If it's raining it doesn't really matter--the'yll both be wet.
There's plenty of discussion on what kind of brakes are good and bad; I strongly recommend you search and read the various threads and posts about it.
I use (nowhere near the best, and poorly aligned right now) rim brakes on CrazyBike2, which is about 160-170lbs, plus my own 170lbs, and hauling up to 340lbs (last night in a test of a new trailer) behind it, for a total of close to 700lbs, and it stops just fine from 20MPH, which should be a harder test than 30 for 250-380lbs of rider/bike.
rider95
1 kW
you can put shimino disc brakes for $50 a wheel one finger stopping power . Much much better than any rim brakes and they work in the wet
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