Customers' Reviews:
Add Your Own Review |
|
 Amazing Pads!, November 4, 2010
By ichitz (New York, NY)
|
|
Kept hearing about how great Kool Stop pads are but I never got to buying one. I have the "if it's not broken, don't fix it" mentality. My old brake pads wore off and I was in need of a new pair so I thought this'll be the chance to try them out.
Wow! Stopping power improved dramatically. I originally set my caliper brakes to be extremely responsive with very little room between the pads and my rim. After I put these on, I dialed back my lever's responsiveness just because a little contact on these does a lot more in stopping than the older pads I had on my brakes.
Overall, great!
8 of 9 people found this review helpful
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
Infinitely better than Shimano pads, and cheaper as well!, May 11, 2009
By Video Gaming Ninja (Frisco, CA USA)
|
|
My first Kool Stop brake pads were the Eagle 2, which replaced the stock Shimano pads on my MTB, and were a huge improvement, especially in wet weather (as well as putting an end to the destruction that Shimano was causing to my rims). Now I have a road bike, and after searching for a compatible set of replacement brakes, I chose these.
The performance is much better, especially in terms of modulation and consistency, and I can actually stop in the rain, though it does take a few rotations of the rims before the water is cleared off by the pads. I had to clean off the old Shimano brake residue from my rims by shoving a dampened, folded paper towel between each of the pads and the rim, and then riding for a few minutes while applying the brake (steel wool was not necessary in this case). I also had to buy four #12 washers to "widen" my Royal Gran Compe brake mounts as they were not quite wide enough for these holders.
The pads do not capture small rocks and road grit like the Shimanos, so I rarely hear a grinding noise from particles embedded in the pads. I have had the dual-compound pads mounted on the front for 2500 miles, and it looks like they are almost halfway worn, so I'd say they could make it to 5000 (I'm tempted to put the included salmon pads on afterward to get more value from my purchase, we'll see how that goes).
If you already have Shimano holders (Dura-Ace or Ultegra), then I recommend just buying the Kool Stop cartridges Kool Stop Bicycle Brake Pads, as the holders are virtually the same. You'll be glad you did!
7 of 10 people found this review helpful
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
 Solid Brakes, December 27, 2007
By Chris Wellington (United States)
|
|
These are a solid replacement for old or stock caliper brake pad holders. They are more adjustable than the cheaper holders that came with several replacement brakes that I have purchased, making it easier to ensure that the pad makes good contact with the rim. The included pads are good for general purpose riding.
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
So Far Pretty Solid, October 20, 2010
By RizzleDizzle (Here, There, and Everywhere)
|
|
Put these on the rear of my trek 1.2 road bike. Far better than what was there before. The brakes are more linear in their application and instill more confidence in the rider. The initial break tip in is soft and the stopping power is very progressive with application of the brake lever. M0F0
UPDATE: August-2011
I bought another set of pads for the front of the bike a few months ago. It was just a matter of safety, and I did not want to compromise with anything less. It was a good idea, no regrets.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
 All 5 Stars - Don't Think So, July 3, 2011
By Joseph Brown (St. Louis, MO.)
|
|
While these Kool Stop brake pads do out perform & out stop the O.E. pads by a bit, by no way am I going all 5 stars. After reading all the other reviews, I was expecting something just short of a miracle. It didn't happen. And yes...I do have the brakes adjusted tight. The slightest movement on the brake handles & they are in contact with the rim.
Bottom line: Do they work better? Yes - a little. Are they worth that much extra ($$$) from normal pads you can pick up at your LBS (local bike shop)? Not in my book.
4 of 6 people found this review helpful
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
All 5 Stars - Don't Think So, July 3, 2011
By Old Hippie (St. Louis, MO.)
|
|
While these Kool Stop brake pads do out perform & out stop the O.E. pads by a bit, by no way am I going all 5 stars. After reading all the other reviews, I was expecting something just short of a miracle. It didn't happen. And yes...I do have the brakes adjusted tight. The slightest movement on the brake handles & they are in contact with the rim.
Bottom line: Do they work better? Yes - a little. Are they worth that much extra ($$$) from normal pads you can pick up at your LBS (local bike shop)? Not in my book.
4 of 7 people found this review helpful
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
Excellent product, May 22, 2011
By Life time learner (Baltimore, MD)
|
|
I got stuck in the rain and found my brakes didn't work very well at all. A quick visit to Google let me know that the Kool Stop salmon-colored pads would solve the problem. That's when I found these.
Another reviewer mentioned that the more expensive pads had additional adjustments, but they didn't mention what those adjustments are. Always in the past, I had "rubber on a stick" break pads -- a piece of rubber with a piece of all-thread coming out the side. Very cheap. These have a metallic holder and a funny looking washer. It took me some time to figure out that the washer was curved, and fit over a curved part of the holder. This creates a small "ball and socket" joint to allow aligning the brakes to the wheel.
Ideally, there are three axis to align. Looking at the side of the wheel, the pad should be parallel to the wheel. Looking at the wheel from the top, and imagining the tire is not there, the face of the brake pad should be parallel to the surface of the wheel. Finally, the pad should be "toed in" so the front of the pad strikes the wheel before he back of the pad. This prevents the brakes from screeching when brakes are applied.Just about any bike repair book or web site will show a picture of a rubber band tied around the back of the pad to allow the correct amount of toe-in. I've never been successful with all this -- probably because my rubber on a stick pads couldn't really be aligned, except for the first axis. But these holders make it possible to align all three axis.
What's even better -- these pads (both the salmon and the mixed) have a curved surface -- the front of the pad is thicker than the rest. Pad alignment is little more than squeezing the brake handle. It makes installing the pads much simpler, and it's very effective at keeping the brakes quiet.
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
Good pads, August 20, 2009
By F. Wheeler
|
|
These plus my cheapo dual pivot calipers gave me surprisingly good stopping power.
However the salmon part of the pad wears down fast, so keep an eye on them, especially cautious fixed riders.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
Worth the price, April 21, 2010
By P. Tang (So Cal.)
|
|
I installed this set of brakes to the front wheel of my bike. I have to say that it is so much more superior to the stock brakes that I replaced with these. It helps me decelerate much quicker so that I am less hesitant to ride fast around busy city streets where cars can suddenly appear. Good brakes for the price.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
Great Pad!, October 13, 2010
By Raymond E. Richardson Jr.
|
|
I put these on a Cannondale R900 to replace the original Shimano pads. The bolt needed a couple washers and some coaxing during installation. No filing just a little push and turn. The pads provide great stopping power and are quiet.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
Great Product, June 6, 2011
By elioporky
|
|
I couldn't have been more pleased with this purchase. Additionally, if your bike already has a functional pad holders, this particular set includes a second pair of pads, allowing you to upgrade the entire bike with a single purchase. Braking is noticeably improved. I will purchase this item again.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
Great Pads and Holders, November 22, 2010
By d s (Ca USA)
|
|
I replaced the Shimano Ultegra pads/holders with these and it was a good improvement. They are way more adjustable to get that perfect "toe in."
The dual compound seems to work the best for me out her in CA most times of the year.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
Awsome Brakes, September 14, 2011
By smithers
|
|
Best Brake pads i've used to date.No squealing or shuddering.Grip very agressivly on fast downhill decents on my roadbike. These are installes on Shimano Dura Ace brakes.
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
One of the best upgrades for a bike, September 1, 2011
By Sean M. Scott
|
|
Just received these yesterday. Threw them on and went for a ride. All I can say is wow. Alot more power. alot more modulation and quiet. Good brakes are important on a bike. If your chain snaps or drivechain lets go you can always recover from that. But you cant always slow down in time. So thats why its important to have a good braking system. These pads come with koolstops own pad holders that differ slightly from (well in my case tektro holders) They have a special conical washer that allows them to be adjusted to a greater degree than my tektro holders. This caused a problem when trying to re use the old tektro holders. The pad was hitting the wheel with the edge first (im not talking about a slight amount of toe in that is desirable) im talking like the rear of the pad hits and the front never makes contact. So if you want to do the entire bike. Get two sets or have good pad holders that can adjust for the unique shape of koolstop pads.
Also the picture that koolstop and amazon put up does not justify the quality of the pad. From the picture you get a feeling that these pads are cheep pads stamped out for pennies ment for walmart bikes. Not so! when I opened the package I was surprised at the fit/ finish these are high quality pads.
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
EXCELLENT! Wow is the best way to describe these brake pads, August 10, 2011
By Sheraz A. Choudhary
|
|
I have been ridding for over 15 years and raced road bikes in college.
For years, I bought DuraAce brake pads because I assumed that they were the best pads money could buy. My experience with DuraAce pads is that they stop well in dry weather but in wet weather brake efficiency declines.
I replaced my DuraAce brake pads with these and all I can say is Wow. First thing that struck me was how well-designed and innovative these brake pads were. Here are some of the innovations I noticed.
INNOVATIVE DESIGN:
* Brake pad shape and design allows for easy installation with the right toe-in (it is next to impossible to install these the wrong way). Just make sure the red part of the pad is facing the back of the bike and the brake pads are aligned with the rim and tighten :)
* Brake pad shape makes it harder for debris to get stuck in the groves.
* Bolt used to install the brake pad pulls outward which is better than the DuraAce bolt design.
* Like the new DuraAce brake pads the bolt rotates freely allowing for all angles to be easily adjusted during installation.
Make sure to clean your rims before installation and you'll be very satisfied with the end result!!! These brakes are a great cheap upgrade over DuraAce that enhance safety. Will always buy Kool Stop from now!
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
Great upgrade, July 26, 2011
By Jesse R Brunner
|
|
I purchased these to replace the very old and hard pads on my older road bike. These were a big improvement and gave me a lot more stopping power and feel. Its also nice that two sets of pads are included with the holders.
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
Kool Stop Bicycle Brake Pads, December 7, 2011
By Jose Manuel
|
|
I replace my old brake pads on my bike about three week ago. So far, I am happy with my purchase, I installed this on a 700cc front rim in a TREK road bike. First ride I got, no noise, no issues, and great response. Overall, it is a great product, easy to install and I will definitely recommended to a friend.
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
Great Pads, August 21, 2011
By Josh
|
|
I'll admit I don't have a very broad frame of reference, but these pads were very easy to install, and work very well. According to the instructions, I expected some degraded stopping performance until they had been broken in, but I didn't notice any lack in stopping power right after installing them. Maybe this was just in comparison to my previous, very worn pair; but I was happy with them at any rate. I haven't had a chance or the need to try out the alternate extreme-condition pads that came with this package yet.
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
KOOL STOP DUAL COMPOUND BRAKE PADS, January 14, 2008
By Darryl J. Haynes
|
|
WORK WEEL IN RAIN OR DRY CONDITIONS. MUCH BETTER THAN THE STOCK DURA ACE PADS.
0 of 2 people found this review helpful
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
Expensive -but worth it!, April 24, 2012
By Have Raleigh, will travel (Chicago)
|
|
These make even a low-end caliper feel like DuraAce.
I've got a pair of these on a Sora brakeset and I don't know why I'd spend more on a better set of calipers. These are really nice and with an extra set of brake pad inserts with every set it's like buying two pairs of pads instead of one. A very good value when you look at it this way.
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
Great Pads for Commuting, April 14, 2012
By Scooby214 (Oklahoma City)
|
|
I bought this set of Kool Stop pads to use on my 3 speed commuter bike. Since the set comes with two sets of pads, I put the salmon pads on my 3 speed and the dual compound pads went on my road bike, using its existing Shimano brake pad holders. I've used Kool Stop salmon pads before, and find they brake well for me in wet and dry conditions, plus they don't seem to wear my out my rims as quickly as Shimano pads do.
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
Home
View Cart
Bookmark This Page
Contact Us
