adamantienne

looking to change the brake pads on my old road bike and I noticed the front brakes have these extra tabs on them. (little V at the bottom of the picture). mine is metal, covered with a rubberized coating. google search has been fruitless as I can't really describe them. They are not found on the replacement pads. can anyone tell me what they are they for?

obrentharris 

They are to help guide the wheel back into place during a quick tire change.
Brent

TimmyT 

These live on as "fins" on the bottoms of modern cartridge brake shoes.

Here is a pair of CX70s with them:

adamantienne

ahh ok cool, thanks!

rootboy 

What brand of brakes are they? If, like in the picture you added, they are Campagnolo, the pads are the black inserts which slide into the "shoes", which are the things with the wheel guides attached to them.
Just replace the pads themselves. With Kool Stop black replacements.

There's a bit of a trick to it, but it's not hard.
And if your brakes are Campagnolo, and the guides are covered with black plastic, they are likely later record or "Super Record" era brakes, and whatever you do, don't get rid of those old shoes with the wheel guides.
Or if you do, get rid of them my way. :>

AlexCyclistRoch

If, as you say, "They are not found on the replacement pads", then you are looking in the wrong place for your replacement pads. Go to a bike shop.

Murray Missile 

My '86 Schwinn Prelude has Dia-Compe brakes with guides and mine are not part of the brake pad assembly. They are a separate piece that fits into a recess on the inside of the caliper legs. One of mine was badly bent when I got the bike and snapped off when I tried to straighten it. I tried to source a replacement at the nearest LBS but I was told they couldn't get those any more and that I didn't need them and to just throw the other 3 away. Need them or not I like the look of them on there and want to keep them. I had seen a set on Ebay a few weeks ago but of course now that I need one there aren't any on there. BTW the nearest LBS is 25 miles away shopping around for a small piece like that locally is not practical.

Hardrock23

I have an 87 Prelude. I just looked at mine and they are like yours of course; I thought they were attached to the shoes before. Can you reattach just that piece though?
Im getting new calipers soon and was just going to keep the old ones in a box JIC, though i dont have plans to ever sell the bike now... If you'd like I can send you my Dia-Compe ones for just shipping, once i get the new ones. Or just the tabs if they are easily removable/attachable. They are Dia-Compe GX.

Murray Missile 

The guides go over the stud on the brake pad and fit between it and the caliper. Mine snapped in two right in the middle of the "V", the PO must have jammed a wheel into it and almost folded it flat. I wasn't too hopeful it would pull back out intact but had nothing to lose, I was right, it didn't. I ground the broken ends smooth and put it back in place until I can find a replacement. Most people would never notice but I'm kind of OCD about things like that. The bike had 2 perfectly good wheels on it when I got it but they didn't match so I replaced both. Besides, it was a good excuse to do a 700c conversion. I'll gladly accept your offer for your old brakes but only if I can pay you for them and more than just shipping.

Hardrock23

Im surprised the PO could bend it so badly. They seem pretty sturdy. I didnt know they were guides...I thought they were there to help give extra/easy leverage/places to hold when routing cable and/or setting the clearance. Thats what i used them for anyway lol. Theyre in great condition...Ill send you a PM once i have the new ones on and we can work something out. Should have the new ones in just a couple weeks.

Murray Missile 

Sounds good.

old's'cool

...and they also help even during a slow tire change... but the percentage impact on time is smaller!