Improving braking performance

[PeterH]

I have a mint condition Diamondback Axis 1996 model with its original M737 XT cantilever brakes. Due to light use the brake pads still have plenty of thickness left but i have noticed breaking performance is down. Can anything be done with these old pads to improve breaking performance or do i need new pads.
Thanks,
Peter.

 

[drystonepaul]

Old pads do dry out with age and Shimano pads have never been that great in terms of performance either anyway.

I can recommend Kool Stop Eagle Claws and Aztecs as good replacements.
Have a good look at how the brakes are set up too for maximum performance.

http://www.drystonepaul.com/maintenance ... r_1993.jpg
http://www.drystonepaul.com/maintenance ... r_1995.jpg

 

[Easy_Rider]

Another danger with old shimano pads is that they will start to rapidly wear the rim, you may even see flakes of aluminium on the brake block. I would also recommend kool stop eagle pads.

 

[REKIBorter]

Kool Stop pads and take a look at the Park Tools website for how to set canti brakes up correctly

 

[jimo746]

Try cleaning up the surface of the brake block and the wheelrim, I usually use a bit of scotchbrite or similar and then ensure you wipe away and dust that remains. Often the pad surface can kind of glaze over and impede braking performance.
But as already mentioned pads age and deteriorate, I can recommend the Aztec pads as a good replacement, I fitted some to my bike last year.
Also check the "angle of dangle" between the straddle wire and brake cable, if the cable has pulled through the clamp slightly or isn't at the right angle in relation to the brake arms then you'll lose a lot of braking power simply from poor setup.

 

[jimo746]

oops! damn wifi gremlins.

 

[We_are_Stevo]

...and fit one of these;

Or its modern equivalent;

...and discover just how good canti's can be




(BTW Paul: You were right about my brakes above; They're not even Deore LX, let alone XT - they're Exage 500LX :? )

 

[MADJEZ]

Throw them in the bin and buy some V-brakes..... :evil:

 

[We_are_Stevo]

Seriously, canti's with one of these are better than V's

V's are just easier to set up...

 

[longun]

coke on the rim,sand the abrase the rims and pads as mentioned above. a secret trick i use is a lump of roofers pitch.makes the rims super sticky,works on discs as well, but dont tell anyone its a secret........