What is the difference between the road bike pads?

by bow_bell Mon Mar 08, 2010

Hi,
I need to buy replacement pads for my Road bike.
Under the OBE > Road Brake Shoes > Shimano Compatible Replacement section of your site your have 5 products that are suitable for normal rims

Shimano Compatible Replacement Blue - OBE-R45RB
Shimano Compatible Replacement Red - OBE-R46RR
Shimano Compatible Replacement Black - OBE-R40R
Shimano Compatible Replacement Triple - OBE-R43P
Shimano Compatible Replacement Yellow - OBE-R44RY

What is the difference between them and which are the best?
I cycle around 100 miles a week on London roads in all weathers so really want pads that stop fast, especially in the wet and will last, without wrecking my rims.
Thanks
PK

by support Fri Mar 12, 2010

Hi

Thanks for your question. The only difference in compounds for the Shimano compatible replacement pads is for carbon rims, ceramic rims or normal rims.

For those you have listed the only difference is color. The compound is the same.

Thanks

by Jabberwocky Tue Nov 02, 2010

Hi,

Following that on what is the difference between the carbon and ceramic brake pads to each other and standard brake pads?

and are there any combinations that you mix safely or not? i.e. use carbon specific pads on ceramic rims or aluminum rims

Thanks

by support Wed Nov 03, 2010

Hi

Thank you for your message.

One of the key differences between the carbon, ceramic & standard pads is their hardness.

Carbon pads are the softest, ceramic the hardest and standard pads somewhere in between.

Using the wrong compound on the wrong rim type would either result in the pad wearing too quickly if the pad is too soft (eg a carbon pad on anything but a carbon rim, or a standard pad on a ceramic rim) or would result in damage to the rim if the pad is too hard (eg a ceramic pad on anything other than a ceramic rim, or a standard pad on a carbon rim).

On the question of can you 'mix safely'. The braking power of the mixed pads is 'safe'. However pads that wear too quiclkly or spoil rims are a danger. So in short, use the correct pad for you rim.

Thanks
Best Regards