xenologer
04-06-11, 03:30 AM
Regarding brake pads length, why are some short vs long? Given the same brake would long ones have more surface area thus stop better? Improved wear?
Bicycle Mechanics - Why are mtn pads longer than road pads?
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nealjoslyn
04-06-11, 04:27 AM
I have always wondered this as well. You would think road pads would be just as long as the mountain pads.
fietsbob
04-06-11, 08:06 AM
Now, suspension forks have plenty of space, so QR opens and pads can clear the fork Blades.
Narrow crown forks open the Qr, and the long tail of, like, my KS Eagle claw pads hit the fork blades.
Now that its popular for Cross, cantilever shoes with road length pads are made.
Narrow crown forks open the Qr, and the long tail of, like, my KS Eagle claw pads hit the fork blades.
Now that its popular for Cross, cantilever shoes with road length pads are made.
DannoXYZ
04-06-11, 03:53 PM
Regarding brake pads length, why are some short vs long? Given the same brake would long ones have more surface area thus stop better? Improved wear?
Longer wear on both pads and rim. In the early days when MTB had same size pads as road-bikes, it wouldn't be unusual for me to wear out a set of brake-pads in a month. On the road-bike, they would last for years. Larger pads on MTB really help extend the time to replacement.
While total squeezing-force on rim is what generates the friction to slow the bike, the total friction doesn't change regardless of the size of the pads. However, whether that friction is spread out on 0.5 sq.in. versus 1.5 sq.in. makes a difference on the wear at any single spot. Smaller pads will face higher friction per unit area than larger pads for the same amount of total friction and squeezing force.
Longer wear on both pads and rim. In the early days when MTB had same size pads as road-bikes, it wouldn't be unusual for me to wear out a set of brake-pads in a month. On the road-bike, they would last for years. Larger pads on MTB really help extend the time to replacement.
While total squeezing-force on rim is what generates the friction to slow the bike, the total friction doesn't change regardless of the size of the pads. However, whether that friction is spread out on 0.5 sq.in. versus 1.5 sq.in. makes a difference on the wear at any single spot. Smaller pads will face higher friction per unit area than larger pads for the same amount of total friction and squeezing force.