I have Ultegra/600 (8 speed era) brakes and it seems that the new Shimano pads aren't compatible with my old shoes. Can I get any shoe + pad set to work on the calipers, or am i also going to run into problems here and should either find some NOS Ultegra/600 ones, or use it as an excuse to upgrade that part of my bike?

I'm going to suggest the koolstop dura holders with whatever pads you want - they are compatible with shimano refills.

https://static2.biketiresdirect.com/I...ge/kshdc-1.jpg

Thanks!

+1 Good recommendation. These holders/pads are a direct swap for the old style Shimano brake shoes and, as noted, take either Kool Stop or Shimano refill pads.

Also, here are Shimano's own pad holder/pads that will replace your brake shoes. Again, these take either Shimano or Kool Stop replacement pads.

https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product..._200285_200361

Alright, the Kool Stop shoes won't go on. The ovalized hole on the caliper is a hair too small for the nut on the shoe to go through. I can't use the original nut because it's backwards (nut on the pad, screw on the outside) and the screw is integrated into the Kool Stop shoe. I want a refund on my advice

Seriously, though, am I missing something?

You can get the old style Ultegra brake pads that you need. Your LBS can order them from QBP.

But I wanted to use the Kool Stop salmons!

I recently dealt with this on an old pair of Shimano RX100. The slot seemed just a little too small but I kept trying and eventually they fit. A little work with a file could help.

Oh sorry. I missed that part. Can you drill out the slot on the caliper?

Measure the difference. If it isn't too big i'm sure you can file it to fit. Use common sense when doing this

Yep - use a file to make slow enlargements on all sides of the hole until the screw will fit. Don't use a high-speed power-drill for this. Or you'll be asking if having a hole in the rim is bad...

I had the same issue when I fitted Kool-Stop pads and holders to an older Ultegra brake set. A few minutes with a small flat file solved the problem. The needed enlargement was quite small.

File the rear edges of the slots since the load is taken on the front edge under braking and you might as well leave as much metal there as you can.

BTW, once the holders are in place and aligned with the rims, you don't ever have to realign them when you replace the brake pads. That's a nice feature of the slip-in pad system.

Thanks for the suggestions again. I thought about filing it yesterday, but would rather not mess with that and risk messing the caliper up. Besides, my LBS had 6403 pads in stock and Biketiresdirect said I can return the Kool Stop pads.

Panthers, I am smart enough that I'd have the caliper off the bike if I filed it.

I knew you were, but others will be reading this, too.