No stopping power when wet - brake calipers or pads?

[Deleted member 30479]

Hi All,

Given the recent weather, it's been very slippery cycling into work on my commuter bike - (late 70's early 80's Koga Miyata Road Speed)

I need more stopping power - wondering if anyone can advise if I need new brake calipers or just a better pair of brake pads? I've got standard shimano replacement brakepads which are fairly new. Would it be better if I got something like Swisstops? (Keep hearing the Green ones are best type of outdoor pads)

Or do I need a new brake caliper/lever? Here are photos of the brake caliper - an unknown shimano - and the leaver. They're quite old, however, cable tension is good and works well when dry.

Thanks in advance

 

[Yardbent]

same prob on older Peugeot

if you don't object to 'modern' stuff i'm considering

1...dual lever calipers....nutted type
check your fitting and drop
http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/tektro-tektr ... prod29405/

2.. Kool-stop Continental pads
http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php ... 9s104p1591

HTH....john

 

[half cog]

Re:

Firstly are your rims alloy or steel?Steel rims need the old type special multi condition blocks to work even half decent in the wet. If they are steel then the best thing to do is to change to alloy a.s.a.p.Dual pivot brakes make a big difference to brake power and has been said the long kool stop pads also increase power.
Regards
Peter

 

[MrW]

these in the classified section?

viewtopic.php?f=22&t=297604

 

[Ian Raleigh]

If you are riding in wet weather always remember to brake gently once in a while to clear the water off the rims.

 

[Yardbent]

make sure 'which' type of calipers will fit if you buy new
most new ones are designed with a recessed Allen key fixing
which may required drilling mods to the fork bridge

older ones have a plain nut - as per my link

 

[Jonny69]

If they are chrome rims then they will be scary in the wet no matter what brake blocks you use.

The cheap Jagwire blocks are softer than the Shimano ones and I find they work better like for like, but that's in 90s calipers like Shimano SLR. On those calipers I'd be inclined to use the older rectangular blocks with the soft rubber texture. They work best in that vintage caliper in my experience.

 

[tobester]

Remember to clean the rims regularly, remove all that old rubber & dirt, helps a lot. I used to use white spirit, let dry & wash off. Also might sound crazy but i used to sand the face with corse sandpaper in opposite direction to rim, i.e. fine lines to increase friction. That's when i used to DH with rim brakes, ahhhhhhhhhhhh

 

[Deleted member 30479]

make sure 'which' type of calipers will fit if you buy new
most new ones are designed with a recessed Allen key fixing
which may required drilling mods to the fork bridge

older ones have a plain nut - as per my link

Thanks all for the suggestions

How do I know which type of calipers I need? Can you tell based on the photo? I don't mind modern looking calipers (it's going on my rat bike) however, I'm trying to keep the costs down... £39.99 is too much for both! Ideally I'll be able to find these used..!

Do I need to replace the brake levers too?

 

[The History Man]

Re:

viewforum.php?f=22

Might work with a small mod to frame. Cheap too.