Rough rims

[yashicamat]

Does anyone know what might be causing the rims on my touring bike to repeatedly roughen up with brake pad debris? I've tried several different brands of pads (next on the list is kool stops - maybe they'll solve my problem?) but after cleaning the rims up with emery cloth, they roughen up again after a few hundred hilly miles, resulting in diminishing brake power and nasty noises when hauling up. I don't think it's material embedded in the pads, though, it seems to be the rims themselves that collect the residue.

Is this likely to be the rims I've got on (Alex Adventurer - stock rims on a LHT), or the pads (standard pads on Tektro CR720s)?

Cheers.

 

[fossyant]

Are you keeping the rims clean - like after every mucky ride ?

 

[Gerry Attrick]

Ah yes, Tektro CR720 pads. I had to stop using them on my tourer as I was in danger of damaging my hearing! They made the most horrible scraping noise I've ever heard.

I changed them for KoolStop salmons. Problem solved immediately and better braking too.

 

[Davidc]

Not sure about using emery products on rims, I use WD40 on a cloth which cleans them very well or if really grimy degreaser foam.

Gerry Attrick's experience with Tektro pads is evidently the same as mine, although they seem to work OK on the back. I'm using Kool Stop dual compound at present. I still get squeals from the Tektro cantilevers and often threaten to put caliper brakes on instead but they certainly don't get the gunge on the rims any more.

 

[chris__P]

It is probably the pads. I had these rims on my Surly and didn't have a problem (i changed brakes to caliper brakes). Simple way to find out is just put some new pads on.

 

[yashicamat]

Right, well the currents brake pads are cartridge type, so upon removing the insert, the bit that sits inside the shoe measures 52mm long and is slightly tapered in width, being about 8mm at one end and about 9mm at the other. At the 9mm end, there is a retaining groove approx. 5mm from the end.

Would these be the correct insert for these shoes? http://www.sjscycles...55/?src=froogle

Cheers.

 

[baznav]

The problem is bits of grit get imbedded in the block and start damaging your rim,if you use the same blocks you have to keep digging out the bits and they'll be ok, however koolstop compounds are desighned to combat this problem and though don't completely solve the problem they are by far the best block on the market.

 

[andrew_s]

Would these be the correct insert for these shoes? http://www.sjscycles...55/?src=froogle

Those are Shimano pattern road bike pads, and match your description & dimensions, though I thought the CR-720 came with V-brake pads like these, approx 70mm long.
Road pads secure to the holder with a small allen head screw in the back, V pads secure with a split pin in the side.

Switching to koolstop pads fixed my problems with bits of metal embedded in the pads too.

 

[accountantpete]

The only time I have had a real problem with debis was eventually traced back to a small ding in the rim which was shedding bits of material - a quick polish over with very fine wetted sandpaper soon cured it.