Are my rims really cheap?
10-27-11, 12:01 AM
#1
we be rollin'
Thread Starter
Are my rims really cheap?
I'm wondering if this is normal if the rims on my department store bicycle seem to shed bits of aluminium into the brake pads then scratch them all up. I clean the brake pads, wipe the rims then it starts all over again if I brake a little hard at the bottom of a hill.
I know someone here once wrote about specific problem someone had here saying he shouldn't spend all his time cleaning his rims, brake pads. That's not what I'm doing, I only take out the bits of aluminium where they start scratching the rims. But, my specific question is, is it the QUALITY of lack thereof that is causing this problem.
I know someone here once wrote about specific problem someone had here saying he shouldn't spend all his time cleaning his rims, brake pads. That's not what I'm doing, I only take out the bits of aluminium where they start scratching the rims. But, my specific question is, is it the QUALITY of lack thereof that is causing this problem.
10-27-11, 12:20 AM
#2
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10-27-11, 09:11 AM
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Some of the rims in the department store bikes come from Indonesia or China...where there is one particular rim manufacturer that makes rims so cheap the following two things are common:
1. CNC that is so "stringy" that you can literally "peel" off a 2-3 foot long piece of "aluminum wire". That ends up in your brake pads...
2. Centerline thickness so thin that just the act of applying final tensioning to the wheels results in premature bulging and warping at the spoke holes.
=8-)
Bottom line is - you get what you pay for...
=8-)
1. CNC that is so "stringy" that you can literally "peel" off a 2-3 foot long piece of "aluminum wire". That ends up in your brake pads...
2. Centerline thickness so thin that just the act of applying final tensioning to the wheels results in premature bulging and warping at the spoke holes.
=8-)
Bottom line is - you get what you pay for...
=8-)
__________________
5000+ wheels built since 1984...
Disclaimer:
1. I do not claim to be an expert in bicycle mechanics despite my experience.
2. I like anyone will comment in other areas.
3. I do not own the preexisting concepts of DISH and ERD.
4. I will provide information as I always have to others that I believe will help them protect themselves from unscrupulous mechanics.
5. My all time favorite book is:
Kahane, Howard. Logic and Contemporary Rhetoric: The Use of Reason in Everyday Life
5000+ wheels built since 1984...
Disclaimer:
1. I do not claim to be an expert in bicycle mechanics despite my experience.
2. I like anyone will comment in other areas.
3. I do not own the preexisting concepts of DISH and ERD.
4. I will provide information as I always have to others that I believe will help them protect themselves from unscrupulous mechanics.
5. My all time favorite book is:
Kahane, Howard. Logic and Contemporary Rhetoric: The Use of Reason in Everyday Life
10-27-11, 09:39 AM
#6
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Yes your rims are cheap but using softer brake pads as mentioned above should help. Also making sure your wheels are relatively true to minimize braking stress on the rims should help some.
10-27-11, 10:32 AM
#8
Constant tinkerer
I agree. Maybe there is some theory to this, but I ride untrue rims on beater bikes all the time and can confirm this has no effect on wearing the braking surface (except at the points that bulge out.)
What matters is using good quality brake pads and keeping the metal shards out of them. Crap brake pads will grind down any rim. mrrabit's comment on the cheap CNC'd rims is also accurate. I've seen it happen on cheap rims.
What matters is using good quality brake pads and keeping the metal shards out of them. Crap brake pads will grind down any rim. mrrabit's comment on the cheap CNC'd rims is also accurate. I've seen it happen on cheap rims.
10-27-11, 12:59 PM
#9
we be rollin'
Thread Starter
I agree. Maybe there is some theory to this, but I ride untrue rims on beater bikes all the time and can confirm this has no effect on wearing the braking surface (except at the points that bulge out.)
What matters is using good quality brake pads and keeping the metal shards out of them. Crap brake pads will grind down any rim. mrrabit's comment on the cheap CNC'd rims is also accurate. I've seen it happen on cheap rims.
What matters is using good quality brake pads and keeping the metal shards out of them. Crap brake pads will grind down any rim. mrrabit's comment on the cheap CNC'd rims is also accurate. I've seen it happen on cheap rims.
10-27-11, 03:56 PM
#10
Constant tinkerer
The only pads I'll buy are Kool Stop, but I've heard good things about those Jagwire yellow pads (I think.)
10-27-11, 07:23 PM
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i've had this happen on machined brake surfaced rims only. sun rims and kinlin rims. otherwise, the rims are fine. it looks to me like the machining is too coarse and leaves furrows on the surface. after some use the high areas slough off and can embed themselves in the brake pads. usually it is temporary, and a good hard stop or two will dislodge them, but on occasion i have had to remove the brake pads and dig them out with the point of a knife. this is not the end of the world...
10-27-11, 08:40 PM
#13
we be rollin'
Thread Starter
i've had this happen on machined brake surfaced rims only. sun rims and kinlin rims. otherwise, the rims are fine. it looks to me like the machining is too coarse and leaves furrows on the surface. after some use the high areas slough off and can embed themselves in the brake pads. usually it is temporary, and a good hard stop or two will dislodge them, but on occasion i have had to remove the brake pads and dig them out with the point of a knife. this is not the end of the world...
Would it be worth it to buy fine sandpaper and sand it? Yeah, I know it's not the end of the world and I did use the fine point of a knife to dig out the metal particles. It's just that I think it wasn't that long ago that I cleaned them out before this.
10-27-11, 08:56 PM
#14
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Use some light grit emery cloth, like 150, lightly go around the rims, also replace the brake pads, they are cheap and using the old particle infested pads will just cause the same grief again.
10-27-11, 09:34 PM
#15
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My old stock brake pads on my department store bike used to gather flecks of aluminum, so I bought some aztec v-brake pads. They work so much better. However, they squeal like no other.
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