Good brake pads have better stopping power, and could save your life, but cost more.

Do you guys use the good stuff or the generic stuff on your commuters?

Brake pads, even good ones, are cheap. I can buy a set of crappy pads for $5 or a set of kool-stops for $20. Add in that the cheaper ones will have to replaced more often, and you're maybe saving $10. Woot.

I kept the OEMs on until they wore out, and then I bought KS pads. The difference is noticeable.

I'm kinda picky about what pads I put on my bike; ever since I found out how much better ceramics make my discs work, I kinda insist on them.

On the front, I use disc brakes, and I find the $6 generic asian ones from eBay brake exactly the same as geniune Avid (at $18 a set) and last just as long too.

On the back, I use Nashbar shoes with replaceable pads. New pads are $2.99 a pair when they're on sale, and they work very well even when wet. Not quite Koolstop Salmons, but very close and they wear longer than Koolstops do.

I use the "expensive" ones - the koolstop salmons. It's like the other poster said - what, I lost $10 for better stopping that's quieter and probably lasts longer?

I don't use generic brake pads on my bike. Not because of stopping power but because of rim wear. The Kool Stop pads I use (Salmon colored) are very gentle to the rims (besides having excellent modulation and stopping power in the wet). The problem with generic brake pads is that some of them are veritable "rim eaters", and even if one finds a good generic OEM brake pad, they are often hard to find and buy again when needed. Kool Stop salmon colored pads have delivered the same consistent quality to me for years; I don't have research brake pads or worry about whether the OEM flavour of the day is good or not, I just buy another set of Kool Stops of proven quality.

One winter some years ago, I ran out of KS pads, but since I had some generic pads laying around so I just replaced the rear pads with those. A couple of months later I discovered that my wet/sludgy winter commuting had made the generic brake pads wear a deep groove in my rear rim, while my front rim was like new.

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Regards

Kool-Stop salmons are all I use -- I like the feel of those pads. Used to be hard to find, but not anymore.

In wet weather it really makes a difference. I also use the Kool Stop Supra . They are just a little noisy.

I run kool-stops on both my commuters. Eagle 2 dual compounds on the Cannondale and Salmon Continentals on the Motobecane. I must say I'm a fan, I just hate that there isn't a dealer in Idaho. Sucks having to place an internet order and pay shipping everytime I need to replace brake pads.

Started using VO Squeal-Free pads on my bike since the brakes kept squealing like a banshee.

Amazingly quiet. Work well in the wet weather. They're cheap too at $5.00/pair. I throw them in with other parts I order from them to spread out the cost of shipping.

I use Shimano Ultegra brake pads... they have a better "wet weather" reputation than the Tiagra ones... and Dura Ace are very expensive.

I've never used Kool Stops, but need to buy new brake pads soon so I'll take the "Kool Aid"

... oh but this DOES NOT mean I want a LHT and B17!!! (hihi jk)

I just put a set of Kool Stop MTB dual compounds (salmon/black) on and the difference over the OEM shimano stuff is impressive.. They squealed like crazy for the first couple good stops though

I've drunk the Kool-Stop-Ade too.

I put on Kool Stop salmons when I needed new pads last fall. Quite a difference from the ones on the bike when I got it. I'll be using them again.

Just to add a dissenting opinion - I added a set of kool stop salmon pads to my commuter road bike, and I found they made *less* noise, oddly enough, than the stock pads the bike came with. And no squealing at all.

It's just one opinion, but that's how it went for me.

Yeah they seem to have quieted down now, just for the first few good stops they were really loud.. Hopefully they stay quiet hahaha

EDIT: I take that back, they're squeaking again

My Kool stop Continentals screeched for a while when they were new. After about a week of use they have been completely silent.

I ordered a set of VO non-squeal pads just in case the kool stops don't stfu pretty soon here.

I have a similar experience with the Continentals on my Motobecane. They were quiet when I put them on, but then a week later I changed wheelsets and re-adjusted the brakes. I scared people with the squeal on them then! After a week or so of commuting they've broken in and are pretty quiet.

I just installed new ones last weekend, and they squeak a little in certain conditions, but not much, and definitely not a squeal. If yours are squealing, it probably means they're not toed-in properly.

Setting them with more toe-in was the first thing I tried. Didn't help though.

spwelton doesn't stand for Seth Welton, formally of Canton Ohio does it?

Edit: just saw sean in your sig.... my bad

haha nope not related to my knowledge either

I use Kool Stops on my bikes with rim brakes. I got a bunch of the MTB salmon pads when they we AEBike's deal of the day a while back, so I've got those on one bike. On another bike, I'm using the Tectonics. I haven't had squeal problems with either.

KS Salmon V-brake inserts are $7.00 a pair with my club discount. $14.00 to replace everything all around? I'm not going to complain about that price.