speedyspaghetti

Hey guys -

So I recently picked up a set of Reynolds Thirty-Two full carbon wheels with a Powertap G3 hub for a friggin steal. I finally mounted them yesterday (along with Kool Stop Dura 2 Carbon Pads) and these things rip uphill like nobody's business. However, braking on a steep descent is poop-in-pants-inducing. It seems like after a few hard brakes, the pads are already deteriorating significantly, and, beyond that, braking performance is less than ideal. I have to really yank on the brakes to get a good hard stop (for example when coming down a hill with a stop-sign at the bottom)

I put the Kool Stops on there because I've had good luck with their regular pads on my alloy rims, but I'm not so sure that these are the best. I know that Reynolds has their own blue pads, but a lot of reviews aren't great. There's the Swiss Stop Black Princes for like $40 a set, which others have recommended, but people also say that these wear quickly.

What suggestions do you guys have for pads? Or is this just part and parcel of carbon wheels with rim brakes?

Thanks!

datlas 

I have only used the Reynolds pads. My sense is they stop ok when dry, but you have to squeeze harder/apply more pressure compared to an alloy rim. That’s the price you pay for speed.

Unless, of course, you make the jump to disc brakes.

mvnsnd

Agreed. I use the Reynolds blue pads with my Reynolds carbon wheels. Ok in dry, need more effort to stop in wet.

wheelingmike

I bought a new set of Reynolds Assault wheels about 3 years ago and they came with the blue pads. They worked fine - decent stopping power when dry. Not really ideal for wet. Since I try not to ride when it's wet, it's not a big issue. Once they needed replacement, I bought a new set of Reynolds cryo blue pads and they were not the same! I hated them! They must've changed the formula because there was almost no modulations - it's either on or off. So I got a set of Black Prince on right now and the modulation is so much better. Stopping power is very good, even better than the original blue set. And yes, they do wear pretty quickly. When I need new pads again, I will give the Yellow King a try.

msu2001la

Carbon rim brakes and steep descents are a particularly terrifying combo. The only pads I've used that work reasonably well (Swiss Stop Black Prince) have worn very quickly.

Sy Reene

Nobody ever mentions the campy red pads. Reason? just curious

TrojanHorse

I use the Black Prince pads too. My blue ones squealed like the dickens. Yeah, they wear out but they work well.

Princess_Allez

Yellow king user here. They work well for me. I only ride in fair weather though, and I don't have any extended, long descents. The first half-life of the pads wears quickly, but slows its rate after that. From what I understand, Black Prince pads stop faster, but also wear faster- including the brake track.

woodcraft

Reynolds, now on Token (also blue but much less $) which are fine. Didn't like black prince.

NoWhammies

So far Mrs. NoWhammies has only used the Reynolds blue pads. Maybe I'll look in to the Token pads when it comes time to replace the existing set.

InvertedMP 

My Reynolds came with Cryo Blue pads. I wasn’t a fan of them and quickly replaced them with Black Prince pads and I am much happier.

Fiery

My guess is that it's a combination of being unaware that Campagnolo pads exist for Shimano-style holders and the general tendency to look for non-groupset manufacturers when buying aftermarket pads. Add to that the image of prestige, style, history of Campagnolo, and people just don't think "I should get me some Campagnolo braking pads for carbon wheels" unless they actually have a Campagnolo groupset and/or Campagnolo carbon wheels.

Sy Reene

Fair enough.. Fulcrum brand red pads are out there too. Noticed that by most reviews campy/fulcrum pads are well reviewed. The Bora carbon wheelsets have been around long enough (1994) that it would make sense that Campagnolo has some history figuring these out.

OTOH, nobody likewise ever mentions Shimano carbon rim brake pads?

Fiery

I have heard good things about Campagnolo red pads, they and Corima red pads seem to be open secret among people in the know. Of Shimano pads I've mostly heard people say they are better than expected (meaning they are perfectly usable), but I haven't really seen them recommended as an upgrade to someone looking for better performance.

primov8

Another +1 for Campy red pads. If not available, the newer version of the Reynolds Cryo Power blue pads work just as good.

popeye

Black Prince.