Rant about Serafas Brake pads.....
 

so i needed a set of replacement pads for my Bianchi. I picked up a set of serfas pads at my lbs for about 15 bucks give or take. The sad part is that was all they carried. They seemed to work well dry...at least better than my old worn pads.

Today i rode 40 miles in my brand new verdizeen SE (sp?) tires in the pouring rain. Granted the stopping power of the pads was completely worthless. It was wet. I get that.

So.....i start to notice that the white labels are turning black on my sidewalls as if they are covered in a heavy grease. I stop.....find out that my entire rim braking surface is covered with this black greasy goop. It si running down my fork legs......up on my downtube.....all over my spokes and completely covering my new tires.

Looks like the pads just completely broke down the instant they got wet and proceeded to gunk up the entire wheel, frame and fork.

what a pita!

Has anyone ever seen this happen? I figured these things are rubber just like all other pads. I guess i was wrong and they are made out of satans butter perhaps?

WEll the rest of my day will consist of cleaning everything with Rubbing alcohol and likely spending another $20 or so on better pads at a different shop.

These wheels are just your standard older 6 speed araya 700c aluminum rims. Anyone have any recomendations on replacement pads?

I just have Ultegra pads against my Mavic MA40 rims and they work fine. They were like $12 @ the LBS.

Braking is one of those things you don't skimp on. I understand that was all they had, but run, don't walk right now to pick up some Kool Stop salmons. Wicked stopping power.

Scale, I too have made the same mistake. Unfortunately, I'm still using these ******** brakes.

my mistake i guess. I was actually impressed at the dry stopping power of these pads. I was not happy at the 15+ dollar bill i had to to pay for the pads but it is the only shop really close to my house. They never have anything im after. Come to think of it ...i was in there last week and they didnt have any park grease in stock :) How are you a bike shop and run out of park grease.

Anyway.....I didnt brake much on the ride at all that i can remember but i did have to grab them a few times.

Funny you suggest the kool stop salmons.....that is what im running in the rear right now. I had a set of used pads in the parts bin so those went on the rear. Ill be going to get some front ones here very shortly when i get time. Cleaning up that crap was a mess. Complete waste of time and money

You have to buy the kool stop holders if you don't have shimano (or whatever) holders right? I have serfas specific ones.

I can't find any of the big online retailers that are selling the pads+holders.

For your shopping pleasure.

What type of Serfas pads are they? I've got a set of orange and black ones in my spares drawer just in case. Regardless, SwissStop is the way to go.

just black....no colors. Not sure the model. Package is long gone. SwissStop you say? Havent heard of those.

anyone have any good or bad experiences with JagWire pads?

i want the kool stops but i cant find them locally with the holders and i dont think my crappy serfas holders will accept them. The pades can be removed from them but not sure they will fit.