ZTU writes:
>>> Just got a new Specialized Allez road bike. The stock brake pads
>>> are pretty bad and I would like to replace them. I'm looking for
>>> recommendations as to brands / models people like.
>> Kool-stop nothing is as good.
> I would second that, BUT if you have brakes with a lot of slop in
> them, like my Tektro cantilevers, the amount of toe-in required to
> stop the salmon pads squealing gets rather silly. On short drop
> dual-pivot brakes they are fine.
Toe-in is naturally caused by elasticity of brake calipers as the pad
is pressed against a moving rim. The reaction force on the pad is
forward and outward causing the brake arm to twist. Twist wears the
rear (leading edge) of the pad more than the front, called toe-in.
When it was noticed that worn pads that didn't squeal had toe-in,
people began bending brake calipers.
As I recently mentioned, squeal is generally caused by contamination
of the rim brake track, sweat dripping off a standing climber's face
being the prime source. Braking lightly while riding through a mud
puddle is the easiest way to clean a rim, while Bon Ami cleanser on a
moistened rim does as well. If it is a steep descent, some hard
braking will clean things also, but it must be steep to brake hard
without stopping.
Jobst Brandt
