photonick

I've had kools top salmon pads on my rear brakes for awhile now and dura ace on my front brakes, i finally threw some salmon pads on my front brakes last night, WOW you really notice how sticky and supple they are when they're on the front, totally worth the money.

dtrain

+1...easily one of the "best value" upgrades available.

photonick

When I put them on the rear I noticed better stopping but nothing that blew me away but this definitely makes a difference. THe only thing I don't like about the salmon pads is that that little tip sticks out on one side, it makes it so there is more play in the brakes since the pad is essentially uneven, i guess thats what makes it so good in the wet.

mrbubbles

The little tip is designed to clear mud. Unnecessary for road cycling, I file it off.

photonick

That's a good idea, the one on the rear wore down pretty quick so i figure the same will happen on the front. I like to run my pads super close so it's kinda counter productive, my brakes with salmons feel like they have soooo much play. Do the black Kool Stops have those edges.

mrbubbles

Yes. All Kool Stop pads has it. Great idea for MTB and cyclocross rim brakes, not so much for road. My pad and rim clearance is less than a credit card. I use MTB cartridge pads for my Ultegra calipers. They fit, and they are longer and have more braking surface, I can also source the pads cheaper from my local MEC than buying it online.

I use this.
https://www.mec.ca/Products/product_d...=1215110329699

Replace the pads with these. I go for the standard black as I don't ride my nice road bike in the rain. They last 2x longer than salmon and the braking performance is marginal, even in wet weather.
https://www.mec.ca/Products/product_d...=1215110341921

photonick

Thanks for the advice but I have lots of life in the rear and the front pads are a day old so i'm going to wear through these, i'll probably take a razor blade to the tips sometime this week.

Cdy291

Make sure your wheels aren't to flexy if you are having clearance problems with the tip on the pad. If the wheels flex over far enough on a mountain descent it could end disastrous.

jpbrew814

I really didn't see that much of a difference. I'm expecting better stopping when I get my new tires installed, which generally have more to do with braking than the pads themselves.

ninja2

pad inserts are $7 pair - almost feel like sending donation to Kool Stop co.

photonick

I have very flexy wheels so i had to start running my brakes loser, when i get my EA70's i'll be able to run hem credit card tight again.

JMT114

I had the Kool Stop Salmon pads and I thought they were too soft. I never had a problem stopping, but I did not like the feel of them.

Now I have the Green Swissstop pads and I really like them. Perfect combination of feel and stopping power. They are a little more expensive than Kool Stop ($20 for a set of four if you look around), but worth it.

eric01

Do you have a picture of the ultegra brakes with the v-brake pads? I was thinking about doing this, but didn't think the road caliper would open up wide enough.

geist

It's true. They do rock. They don't last as long as the one's that come with the Mavic SSc's but they have more acute stopping power.

mrbubbles

The rim is Mavic Ksyriums.