bontrager carbon wheels shudder when braking

[bob_chew]

I have a set of bontrager carbon aero wheels and while I do love them there is one thing that bothers me about them. When braking they shudder (especially the front) which can be disconcerting in a high speed corner. I have cork brake pads. A friend of mine has the same wheels and experiences the same shuddering.

Anyone know why this happens and what can be done?

thx

 

[daveornee]

I have a set of bontrager carbon aero wheels and while I do love them there is one thing that bothers me about them. When braking they shudder (especially the front) which can be disconcerting in a high speed corner. I have cork brake pads. A friend of mine has the same wheels and experiences the same shuddering.

Anyone know why this happens and what can be done?

thx

It is an oscillation that happens due to the materials involved. I think I even read someplace that Lance commented about it when he used the same type rims and brake pads in TdF.
OCLV or almost any carbon fiber doesn't disapate heat very well.
Is your shuddering immediate or after some time when the braking surfaces have "warmed up"?
I would check with Bontrager for any special handling of the materials.

I once experienced a similar issue with Low Spoke Count Paired spoke wheels (Rolf) that had aluminum rims and using Campy brakes. I didn't have time to try anything with surface cleaning of the braking surfaces, but that is what I would have tried first. It wasn't my bicycle and the owner said he wasn't interested in my trying to resolve the issue.

 

[Trevor Jeffrey]

bob_chew wrote in message ...
>
>I have a set of bontrager carbon aero wheels and while I do love them
>there is one thing that bothers me about them. When braking they
>shudder (especially the front) which can be disconcerting in a high
>speed corner. I have cork brake pads. A friend of mine has the same
>wheels and experiences the same shuddering.
>
>Anyone know why this happens and what can be done?
>
>thx
>

Are the wheel bearings loose?

Trevor

 

[dianne_1234]

>bob_chew wrote in message ...
>>
>>I have a set of bontrager carbon aero wheels and while I do love them
>>there is one thing that bothers me about them. When braking they
>>shudder (especially the front) which can be disconcerting in a high
>>speed corner. I have cork brake pads. A friend of mine has the same
>>wheels and experiences the same shuddering.
>>
>>Anyone know why this happens and what can be done?

Does the rim get narrower where the spokes pull on it? This was the
case with a friend of mine. The shop got replacements that were
marginally better, but not much.

 

[flatline]

I experience similar shuddering with my Race X-Lite front wheel and
hard rubber brake pads. It's decidedly unpleasant. I use a Race-Lite
front wheel too. It also shuddders a small amount but is bearable,
and I favor it over the X-Lite. Both wheels are true and the bearings
are adjusted. My explanation for the vibration is the pads are
"chattering." Maybe a micrometer could be used to determine if
there is deformation. The X-Lite seems to be a stiffer wheel than the
Lite, which I think facilitates transmitting the vibration up to the
handlerbars.

dianne_1234 <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> >bob_chew wrote in message ...
> >>
> >>I have a set of bontrager carbon aero wheels and while I do love them
> >>there is one thing that bothers me about them. When braking they
> >>shudder (especially the front) which can be disconcerting in a high
> >>speed corner. I have cork brake pads. A friend of mine has the same
> >>wheels and experiences the same shuddering.
> >>
> >>Anyone know why this happens and what can be done?
>
> Does the rim get narrower where the spokes pull on it? This was the
> case with a friend of mine. The shop got replacements that were
> marginally better, but not much.

 

[Bill Lloyd]

On 2004-08-21 12:47:41 -0700, bob_chew
<[email protected]> said:

>
> I have a set of bontrager carbon aero wheels and while I do love them
> there is one thing that bothers me about them. When braking they
> shudder (especially the front) which can be disconcerting in a high
> speed corner. I have cork brake pads. A friend of mine has the same
> wheels and experiences the same shuddering.
>
> Anyone know why this happens and what can be done?
>
> thx

CF rims aren't known for their braking prowess. If you're using them
on an everyday basis, I pity you.