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seeking decent and inexpensive brake shoes

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seeking decent and inexpensive brake shoes

Old 06-23-11, 10:06 AM
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seeking decent and inexpensive brake shoes

I bought a card of about 24 brake shoes (brake pads) from Niagara. They were cheap, for sure, but they don't work so well. I install brake shoes on a lot of bikes, and I'm not going for Kool Stop on every bike. What's inexpensive and also works. I'm leery of Pyramid and Sunlite. Are Jagwire OK?

Here are Niagara's offerings, sorted by price.
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Old 06-23-11, 10:11 AM
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I've used the Jagwire X caliper pads. They stop well, but wear out FAST and leave lots of black dust on the bike.

The Jagwire X-Age pads in your link look decent enough to give a whirl.
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Old 06-24-11, 07:05 AM
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OK, I'll try them. Maybe that's the least I can spend to get non-crap.

The Pyramid and Sunlite brands are spotty. Some stuff is good, some is not.

I gather Jagwire doesn't put any crap out. True?
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Old 06-24-11, 02:57 PM
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I recommend Kool-stop.
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Old 06-24-11, 03:12 PM
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I've also used the Jagwire X-calipers. I think they're great for as cheap as they are. I think I paid $1.50 per pair. You normally have to buy an entire card, but there are sellers that break them up.

Niagra's offerings are not properly sorted by price in your link. Fifty Dia Compe shoes for $59.20 is not the most expensive on that page.
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Old 06-24-11, 03:17 PM
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Originally Posted by Diegomayra
I recommend Kool-stop.
Not inexpensive.
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Old 06-24-11, 08:50 PM
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What's expensive these days? The VO pads run from $5 to $12. Izzat cheap?
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Old 06-25-11, 12:17 PM
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Originally Posted by XR2
What's expensive these days? The VO pads run from $5 to $12. Izzat cheap?
Not if you are doing lower level flips. The Niagara ones are 80 cents a pair.

My basic rule of thumb is any new part needs to be at least as good as the original OEM part. On mid grade or higher, I will upgrade from original with better cables and housings.

Last edited by wrk101; 06-25-11 at 12:24 PM.
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Old 06-25-11, 12:31 PM
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It's hard to say anything good about cheap brake shoes, but I have two sets of dia-compe pads on a bike and I have nothing bad to say about them.

For the record: The last precipitation I remember here was snow...
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Old 06-25-11, 12:42 PM
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Originally Posted by Grand Bois
Not inexpensive.
But its the only way to go......for a keeper bike that is.
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Old 06-26-11, 03:56 PM
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Bill, which 80 cent shoes? And they're OK?
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Old 06-26-11, 03:58 PM
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Originally Posted by noglider
Bill, which 80 cent shoes? And they're OK?
80 cents a set is the card you referred to, $9 for 12 pairs. They are OK, nothing great for sure.

Personally, I like the Jagwire X pad ones better, for about 90 cents a pair ($18.40 for 20 pair at Niagara). So I would go with those instead. Somewhat interesting, you will see those same Jagwires selling for around $5 for a single pair all over the web.

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Old 06-26-11, 04:02 PM
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Ok maybe I'll try the sunlite x pads.

Thanks.
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Old 06-26-11, 04:12 PM
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Tom, I edited my note quite a bit. The Jagwire X are the same cost as the Sunlite, so might as well go with the Jagwire.
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Old 06-26-11, 04:44 PM
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I'm sure I've been using the Jagwire X pads and have been hapy with them. I buy them as needed in unmarked packaging from the LBS.
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Old 06-27-11, 12:57 AM
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I put a couple pair of the Sunlite X Pads on my primary bike last year. I had to crimp the body around the pad, but after doing that, they've been fine. They're just now getting close to wearing out, and they're not too bad when wet.
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Old 06-27-11, 05:33 AM
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I bought a box of these over the winter and have been using them for repairs on other folks bikes. Not cheap, but at about $6 for a set of four, not bad. While I've not ridden with any yet, no one has complained, so I guess they are fine.

Box of 50 Cane Creek Brake Blocks from Loose Screws

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Old 06-28-11, 08:35 AM
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Jagwire it is, then. Thanks. Thank you, too, Pastor Bob. Loose Screws is a cool company. Thank goodness for them, carrying weird stuff.
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