Shimano R501 Lifespan?

[DWiggy]

I got a set of Shimano R501's around March time, they have now done about 4800 miles and the braking surface is really worn out. (concave and ribbed) Just an idea of how worn out they are a set of pads usually last about 2500+ miles but my last set have done only 600 and need replacing!!!
Is this normal for these to wear out so fast, I thought id get 15k min from them!?
BTW The bearings are fine.

My bike does get used in all weathers but it thoroughly cleaned once a week.

Dave

 

[Vapin' Joe]

Depends on the type of roads you're riding on. There is no set mileage for rim wear, constant use in bad weather on grit strewn roads will knacker the braking surface very quickly.

A good argument in favour of disc brakes.

 

[ianrauk]

Depends on the type of roads you're riding on. There is no set mileage for rim wear, constant use in bad weather on grit strewn roads will knacker the braking surface very quickly.

A good argument in favour of disc brakes.

This. ^^^
Also dependent on how heavy you are with braking. Some are more heavy on the brakes then others. I'm a heavy braker myself.
I was going through rims on my commute bike at a rate of a pair every year to 18 months.
One of the reasons I swapped over to disc brakes.

 

[DWiggy]

Depends on the type of roads you're riding on. There is no set mileage for rim wear, constant use in bad weather on grit strewn roads will knacker the braking surface very quickly.

A good argument in favour of disc brakes.

I can really see the advantage of disks on a commuter, the bearing, hubs are all fine. I cant imagine its easy to convert over? Looks like ill need a new set of wheels. :/

 

[KneesUp]

I can really see the advantage of disks on a commuter, the bearing, hubs are all fine. I cant imagine its easy to convert over? Looks like ill need a new set of wheels. :/

You need mounts for the callipers. If your forks don't have them you need to change the forks as chances are yours won't be designed to cope with the force generated by the disc. You can brace the rear of the bike to fit a caliper, but this isn't so easy if your bike isn't steel, but to be honest most of the braking effort is done by the front anyway, so you could just go for a fork change and a front disc.

EDIT: rear bracing can be done like this on a steel frame - http://www.cyclesinmotion.co.uk/shop-custom-bike-builds/

 

[Rob3rt]

It is a very hard question to answer as it will depend very much on you and your useage, miles alone don't tell the whole story, that said your cleaning regime needs improving, once a week is not enough IMO, a quick wipe of the rim and brake block after every ride with a thorough weekly clean would be much better and not much more effort.

In my experience and the sort of use I get from rims, if a pair of rims had worn out with the mileage you have had, I'd be contacting the manufacturer and telling them the product was either faulty or not fit for purpose. In fact I recently did this with Pro-Lite after a rim wore to the point of cracking, in what was, in my experience, a disgustingly short amount of time. This was after 3k miles at most, more likely ~2.25k of mostly dry riding, relatively little braking as I don't commute and bar a few traffic lights on the way to my training routes, I only ride to train on uninterrupted routes and clean my bike after every ride (they tried to tell me I had done more miles than that, but I know better as I log things in such a way I can deduce the actuality within a pretty good range) but for you and your riding style, cleaning regime, where you ride, etc that mileage way well be completely normal and acceptable.

 

[400bhp]

FYI, my original set of 501's wore out after 7000 miles IIRC. They were on my commute bike. The rear rim actually split. It was a very very loud bang when it happened. Luckily the bike was hung up in the garage at the time (awaits @fossyant to trot out his usual story)

£70/7000 = 1p per mile. Pretty good vfm.

I'd echo all of the above points though. Will depend a lot on riding conditions, your brake pad type, how you actually brake and your maintenance regime.

I could do a statistical analysis with another few examples of 501's wearing out if I could be arsed.

 

[fossyant]

18 months out of commuting wheels usually. 7000 to 8000 miles

 

[DWiggy]

Although I didn't do anything different from my last set of wheels that seemed to have lasted a lot longer I've just ordered another set of wheels (much to the dissatisfaction of my wife) , and will give them a good wipe down after every ride to see if this helps!

...I'm glad I don't own a Carbon bike as my Ali one seems to be dissolving fast enough!

 

[DWiggy]

18 months out of commuting wheels usually. 7000 to 8000 miles

I thought this was about right but 4700! seems a bit low

 

[KneesUp]

I bought my bike second-hand, and it has it's original front wheel (it came with the back, but that has lost two spokes) This thread suggests that it hasn't been ridden much in the 23 years prior to my owning it!

 

[Twizit]

....that said your cleaning regime needs improving, once a week is not enough IMO, a quick wipe of the rim and brake block after every ride with a thorough weekly clean would be much better and not much more effort...

I'd agree for training rides, but when I've just worked a 12 hour day then commuted home through crappy weather for an hour or so, I have to say the last thing on my mind would be to be bothered with wiping down rims. The chain might get a quick wipe down and lube if it was really wet but that's about it beyond a weekly more thorough clean.

Mind you, this is why I commute on a self built On-One gas pipe special single speed that I really don't care too much for

.... but this thread has made me think I ought to check the rims at some point. 24 months old with my commuting means about 8,000 miles to date. This said the wheels were hand built with fairly bombproof Rigida rims....

 

[DWiggy]

I'd agree for training rides, but when I've just worked a 12 hour day then commuted home through crappy weather for an hour or so, I have to say the last thing on my mind would be to be bothered with wiping down rims. The chain might get a quick wipe down and lube if it was really wet but that's about it beyond a weekly more thorough clean.

Mind you, this is why I commute on a self built On-One gas pipe special single speed that I really don't care too much for

.... but this thread has made me think I ought to check the rims at some point. 24 months old with my commuting means about 8,000 miles to date. This said the wheels were hand built with fairly bombproof Rigida rims....

Yep usually the last thing on my mind giving the wheels a wipe after a soggy commute.

 

[confusedcyclist]

Pick up a cheap set of rims if your hub/flange is still in good nick. Perfect excuse to practice a bit of wheel building, and always good to have spares.

 

[Barnowl930]

Just replaced the Mavic Aksiums on my winter/poor weather bike after 3000 miles.
Filthy cornish lanes had ground them down to a dangerous level.
Using swissstop blue brakes and washed after every other ride