carbon specific brake pads
Last Post 06/07/2013 07:24 PM by Michael Chaffin. 10 Replies.
Author Messages
buttsbrian

Posts:14

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11/10/2009 09:50 PM
Is it ok to keep using carbon specific brake pads when switching between carbon and aluminum wheels?
bafouche

Posts:1

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11/11/2009 12:22 AM
Yes. I've done this the past two seasons with shimano carbon specific pads. I just quickly scuff them up with a little piece of sandpaper before I throw the carbon wheels on for the race. The brake surface on my carbon wheels is still fine.

I think swiss stop makes a pad that is actually designed to be used for switching between aluminum and carbon, but I haven't used it.
David Studner

Posts:11

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11/12/2009 12:32 PM
Brian is right, you can switch between rim materials with a plastic/rubber type pad (not cork) but it's important to clean off the aluminum dust from the pads before going back to aluminum because it's pretty abrasive. Denatured alcohol works well and while the Swissstop pads are expensive, their light color makes it easy to tell if the pad is clean or not before putting those carbon rims back on.
laurentja

Posts:122

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05/14/2013 02:14 AM
I would go one step further and, with a flashlight, do a good inspection of the pads. I often find myself digging out a little chunk of Al(with a small pick) that the sandpaper treatment may not remove. That can do some real damage to carbon rims.
Cosmic Kid

Posts:4209

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05/14/2013 07:05 AM
SwissStop yellow pads are excellent for use both aluminum and carbon rims.

I have used multi-purpose pads for over 10 years on both aluminum and carbon rims. Never sanded, filed or cleaned them before switching. Never once had any issue with aluminum in my pads.
Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
nightfend

Posts:48

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05/15/2013 12:40 PM
The new Black Prince Swissstop pads are far better at heat dissipation than their old yellow pads. Same braking performance as far as I can tell. Anyway, that is what I now use as heat is such a big issue with carbon rims.
Cosmic Kid

Posts:4209

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05/16/2013 10:33 PM
But the Black Prince pads cannot be used on aluminum rims. Word is that they are great pads, but if you are looking for multi-use pads, they aren't it (unfortunately).
Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
79pmooney

Posts:3178

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05/16/2013 11:19 PM
What happens if you use the Black Prince pads with aluminum? Stopping power with the aluminum? Damage to the aluminum or the pads? Or damage to the carbon rims when you go back? "Cannot be used" is a pretty strong statement. I'd like to hear why.

Ben
Cosmic Kid

Posts:4209

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05/16/2013 11:23 PM
My guess would be crappy braking performance....when the manufacturer says "not for use w/ aluminum rims", I'm not gonna test 'em out to see aht happens.
Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
nightfend

Posts:48

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06/04/2013 11:57 AM
Black Prince pads work fine on aluminum rims. It is simply that they wear out faster when used on aluminum braking surfaces.

But I would certainly clean the heck out of the pads if switching back and forth between aluminum and carbon as aluminum wheels tend to leave small metal flakes behind that embed into brake pads. The metal flakes then dig in and slice up carbon wheels if you do not clean the pads when you switch wheels.
12x23

Posts:15

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06/07/2013 07:24 PM
I pick those small aluminum pieces out of the pads after changing from rims with the milled brake surface and mostly afte having ridden the aluminum rims for an extended time. No problems with the older anodized rims.


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