When you are flipping a bike of marginal quality, what do you do about the bake pads? I tried getting the cheapest pads at the LBS for the last bike I fixed, but they worked essentially no better than the 27 year old pads worn down to the nubs, so I took them off. I don't like the idea of spending $20 just on brake pads for a bike that many sell for $60 or $70, but neither do I want to sell a bike that is unsafe to ride. So what do you do with the low-level beater bikes? Strip them down, sell the frame and recover what you can from the components?

Pffff...just use the old ones.

Use a file or sandpaper to resurface. Personally, I look for garage queens as flippers.

I've found Cane Creek 'gray matter' to work reasonably well, at least better than the petrified pads on some bikes I've flipped.

https://www.google.com/products?q=can...w=dd&scoring=p

If they're just dry and hard, not worn out, dress them on the side of a course grinding wheel in a bench grinder. Just a touch to flatten and break the surface. If you don't have a bench grinder (buy one after you flip your first bike) use course sand paper on a flat surface and slide the pad across it.

If you convert your bikes to "fixies" then you can sell them without brakes. I've also seen some in this forum sell flip bikes with a single brake.

Bell brake pads at Wally World. Set of 4 cost $5.99, same price as a set of Bell cables and housings, usually hanging right next to each other.

I just bought a set of 4 Jagwire "carbon" pads/shoes, NIB, for 4.99, shipping was $5.
I also got a ti set of Aztec/Delta's for $4.99.

Just an example of what you can find on eBay for $10.

Try searching on eBay for Kool Stop, Jagwire, Shimano brake, stuff like that.
I saw at least 10 sets of pads/shoes last night that won't hit $5.
There are lots of those 1-piece pads out there.

As far as flipping, simply tell them the pads aren't much good, and if the bike stops on the test ride, you've done your part. If you get into "I'll replace the pads,..." soon you'll be throwing in new bar tape, saddles, and skewers. If you're going to flip, inform the buyer well and don't worry about it.

20 pairs for 17.99 at aebike

https://aebike.com/page.cfm?PageID=30...ils&sku=BR1302

They're good ones, too. Stronglight turned us onto those months ago. There's a seller on eBay that sells them in smaller quantities.

I sprayed a set with one of those "No Touch Tire Cleaners" from Pep Boys. They were real slippery the first couple of times I used them but then they stopped squeeking and worked ok.