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Shimano 600AX brake shoes/blocks

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Shimano 600AX brake shoes/blocks

Old 06-06-08, 08:37 AM
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Shimano 600AX brake shoes/blocks

Hi all... any ideas which brake shoes I should use as replacement blocks for 80's style 600AX centre-pull calipers?

The blocks are tiny and look like they're not going to last long. It would be a shame to mothball these gorgeous calipers just because the blocks wear out.

Harris Cyclery reckons Dura-Ace 'refills' might work - anyone have any experience with this?
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Old 06-06-08, 08:54 AM
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"Center pull"? Do you mean side pull? If they truly are center pull, disregard what follows as I'm not familiar with Shimano's center pull brakes. I didn't even know they made them.

I have a set of Shimano 600 single-pivot side pull brakes (BR-6208) from the same era and they came with the same "brake shoes" as later Ultegra brakes. That is, the shoes and mounting plates are all one unit and replaced together. Here is The Third Hand's listing of these: https://www.thethirdhand.com/index.cg...d=276351321977

You can also modernize these brakes by getting Kool Stop "Dura Type" pads and holders and replacing the OEM shoes. After that all you will need are replacement pads.
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Old 06-06-08, 09:06 AM
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Shimano's AX series of brakes are a little unusual and HillRider's suggestions won't work in this case.
https://bikieray.im-rc.com/brakes/Shi...ke-Caliper.jpg

You can carve/reshape most types of replacement brake pads to fit the various AX brakes, given enough time.
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Old 06-06-08, 09:57 AM
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Originally Posted by LWaB
Shimano's AX series of brakes are a little unusual and HillRider's suggestions won't work in this case.
https://bikieray.im-rc.com/brakes/Shi...ke-Caliper.jpg

You can carve/reshape most types of replacement brake pads to fit the various AX brakes, given enough time.
Wow, these are really unusual and absolutely new to me. They appear to be a road-style take on the roller-cam MTB brake concept.

Do the original pads slip into the integral holders sort of like the current pad holders? What do you start with to make replacements? Can current dp slip-in pads be modified to work?
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Old 06-06-08, 03:43 PM
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Originally Posted by HillRider
Wow, these are really unusual and absolutely new to me. They appear to be a road-style take on the roller-cam MTB brake concept.

Do the original pads slip into the integral holders sort of like the current pad holders? What do you start with to make replacements? Can current dp slip-in pads be modified to work?
The MTB brakes came out in the late 80s, the AX brakes in the early 80s.

The pads slide in as normal. Last time, I carved up Scott Matthauser replacements for Campag Super Record brake pads. I haven't tried the more recent anemic style. It takes a little while to reshape brake pads, particularly if you want to match the 'aero' external shape.
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Old 06-07-08, 12:09 AM
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Great advice chaps, many thanks. For those that want to have a look, check out this link. They are gorgeous! (IMO).

https://www.velobase.com/ViewSingleCo...m=117&AbsPos=1

I feared it might be a 'hacksaw and file' job to fit new pads. Ho hum, I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.
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Old 08-06-08, 09:06 PM
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The 600AX and Dura-Ace AX brake pads were the same and I even have some new never used one that are most likely as hard as a rock being now 25+ years old from when I got them and who knows how old they were when I got them from Shimano. Would you trust a 20 year old condom??? How about 20 year old motorcycle tires or even bicycle tires for that much. So whay trust 20+ year old Shimano brakes pads if you can even find them new and if you can they will be around $50 for the set of four. So walk on down to your local bike shop (LBS) and buy two sets of current cartridge road bike replacement pads for Shimano type cartridges and go to work.

Here is only a part of my collection of stuff from the AX world and I am still looking for more.( Somewhere is another brake set??)
https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...xbrakes001.jpg
As you can see in the image above the long reach set of 600AX brakles still have some brake pads installed while the short reach set is missing its brake blocks. (Yes, they made them in short and long reach.) Also in the image you will see a standard cartridge typr road brake pad that will be the donoe for the day.

The next images show the new brake pad cartridge installed in the AX brake caliper. Yes, it just slides right in and kind of has some extra pad sticking out the back that will need to be cut to fit. The only issue that I see and will address is that the newer pad is not as deep and I feel the need to makd a spacer to fit behind the pad to make it not compress (I do not feel it to be an issue but just thinking about be safer)
https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...xbrakes002.jpg
https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...xbrakes003.jpg

Here is an image of the first cut of the pad top make it appear as if it was made for the AX caliper. I will need to install a set screw to secure the pad. (As long as the bike is rolling forward there is no way for the pad to come out but since Shimano decided to install a safety screw then why not do it myself.
https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...xbrakes004.jpg

The final image show the new custom fit pad next to the OEM pad. The new pad even has more sufrace so now maybe the AX brake will slow the bike down. They look cool but did not stop well in their day! Maybe with new rubber???? They do look cool!!
https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...xbrakes005.jpg
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Old 08-11-08, 02:56 AM
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Thanks for this tip, those pads look like just the thing.

Do you have a few more details of the Jagwire pads you used - model number etc?

Just want to make sure I get the right ones.

Thanks again for the detailed and really helpful tips!

grogee
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Old 08-18-08, 03:55 PM
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They are Shimano cartridge type made by Jagwire. Any of the Shimano type road inserts should work. The lomk below is to the site of Hawley.

https://www.hawleyusa.com/Webstore/onlinecatalog.aspx
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Old 08-18-08, 05:03 PM
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aka "Lobster Claws"...
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