Unca_Sam

I have a question there may not be an easy answer for. What, besides mounting post treatment (threaded or smooth) and pad thickness (or expected caliper travel) differentiates the various styles of rim brake pad? I'm only concerned about shape, not compound.

As an example, I have 2 pair of Kool Stop eagle claw 2 pads with plenty of life that were too thick for the low profile cantilever brakes and wider rims for my touring bike. I recently acquired a Raleigh-built Hercules from 1960, and a Schwinn Racer from 1966 which need new pads. So what's stopping me from using the threaded post Kool Stops I pulled from my tourer on those single pivot calipers?

dedhed

If they fit, nothing. I run a pair on the front of my 84 Gran Prix

fietsbob

Here is the Range.. Kool Stop International - High Performance Bicycle Brake Pads Since 1977
a more recent design..

Unca_Sam

Thanks! You're using eagle 2 pads on your Grand Prix then? I'm guessing that pad shape is influenced by expected conditions, and Kool Stop added innovations like their plow tip to cope. I expect that you don't want to use a flat-faced rectangular block for harsh conditions, but using a plow tip for less challenging conditions isn't a detriment.

fietsbob

What I have found with Eagle Claw pads , is, on forks, the long , leading end is between the fork blades, facing back,
so the QR opening of brake calipers is ineffective.. I then must let the air out of the tire to get the wheel out..

Papa Tom

I would like to see this link but my anti-virus shut it down. Has anybody else had a problem with it?

dedhed

Yep, the back is inside the fork legs and a tight fit. My bike shouldn't need the wheel removed unless it's flat.

fietsbob

G'g'l it your self and it may work better..

Unca_Sam

Locked out for me too. fietsbob is right, google will get you there.

Unca_Sam

You must be using a wide tire on a narrow rim. Usually the brake QR does enough to squeak the wheel out, when inflated. You're not wrong about them hanging up inside the fork legs though. I can measure, but I think I'm only reducing the caliper distance by 2mm (1mm per side) by using these over the installed Weinmann pads.

79pmooney

My take (and experience) is that except for clearance issues (tires, fork, etc) I cannot tell a difference between pad style, just the rubber compound. My winter/rain/city bike has had probably every Koolstop cantilever option made over the years. (Mafac Racers and skinny Open Pro/almost as skinny Sport rims. With that combo, clearance, even tire clearance isn't an issue.) I suspect the bigger, longer pads last longer just being more rubber there but as far as stopping, I cannot tell.

Unca_Sam

That's the vibe I'm getting. As long as the attachment style meshes and you have the clearance, go for it. I believe I'm going to save around $20 and do it. Lord knows I'll need all the help I can get with clean chromed rims to stop.

79pmooney

If you are going to run chrome rims, consider the Racer calipers. They will probably drop right on to both of those bikes. (My 1967 Peugeot came with them so while they may not be model correct, they are the right vintage. For many years, the best stoppers out there. Still excellent. KoolStop and Racers work really well (and very rarely give off little muted versions of the famous Mafac squeal)

And complete aside but fun - I miss the squeal. In traffic, what a tool! .A Boston driver cuts me off. I hit the front brake much harder than I need to . SQUEAL!!! Every head for a block in each direction turns. I point at the offending car. Driver comes out of his fog and sees everybody looking at him! Driver slinks off with his tail between his legs. (I grew my cycling legs in and around Boston.)

Ben

Unca_Sam

Thanks for the recommendation. When sorting the bins at the co op, I found a pair of racers, along with calipers (minus hoods). They were in quite a sorry state and barely operable, no straddle cables, and sticky. The Schwinn stopped to my satisfaction even with the dried out Weinmann pads (in dry, flat conditions). I'm confident fresh KoolStop salmon compound will work just fine for the flatlands here.