Originally Posted by
BFisher
I have read comments with regard to thinner pads changing the leverage or whatever on older single pivot brakes, but they have been completely untrue in my experience. For example:
To be clear, that is not what I was saying at all. The pads do not change the leverage significantly. New pads will be fine on old brakes. The only thing is that they will not last as long.
The issue is where the pivots are on the calipers themselves. The ends of dual pivot calipers arc upward as they go in. Single pivots for all practical purposes do not. If you put thick pads on dual pivots, the contact point at the rim will creep upward as they wear out, eventually hitting the tire.
Center pull brakes also have this issue, to a lesser degree.