Mafac racer technical difficulty
 

I'm having trouble getting the Mafacs to work properly. It seems that hard breaking causes the pads to move out of adjustment. I'm also getting a squeal at higher speeds. I've got kool stop salmon pads on now. Does kool stop make a Mafac pad for the original holders?

So what could be the cause of my pads moving around? Do I need to carry a wrench with me to adjust them after every 50 miles? I'm using Mafac racer levers with stock hoods. I'm pondering using the Cane Creek campy copy lever. Those hoods look a lot more comfortable than the Mafac hoods.

Are you using kools-stops that are 1 piece with the post? And when you say they move around do you mean rotate in the holders?

I find Mafac racers very hard to set up really well since the amount of torque you need to put on the pad nuts to prevent the above often screws up the adjustments. Are you sure you are doing up the nuts tightly enough?

For squeal, careful toe-in adjustment (using the factory authorized Big Cresent Wrench) works wonders....

I have Diacompe GS levers with my Mafacs with full hoods and they work fine....

Mark

The Kool Stops that are made for Campagnolo NR/SR will fit the Mafac holders but they're too short.
http://inlinethumb17.webshots.com/13...600x600Q85.jpg

I'm using some old Tektro levers on one of my bikes with Mafacs and I wish I could find some more.
http://inlinethumb13.webshots.com/28...600x600Q85.jpg

You just need to tighten that nut really tight while pushing the opposite direction on the shoe to keep it from moving. You can move the spring out of the way.

+1 to really cranking them down. I had a Kool Stop Supra 2 pad work its self loose and fall off never to be seen again on a long ride. Now I carry a spare.

Dirtdrop, that is one gorgeous PR-10!

My UO-8 has a Mafac in front and a Peugeot-labeled Weinmann in back, and both seem to work well, albeit squeakily, with the respective KoolStop salmon pads.