Brake block/caliper compatibilty and carbon rims

[Andrew G]

I have Campag Mirage calipers on my new TT bike as they are cheap, a nice black finish and you hardly need brakes on a TT.

I have also got some Planet-X 50s for it and want to debut the whole shebang next Saturday.

The problem is that Chorus blocks (with replaceable pads) don't fit Mirage calipers (different spacers which can't be inter-changed - I tried).

I want to sort this asap so can anyone tell me if Shimano Dura-Ace blocks will fit Campag mirage calipers please? I know Jon uses Dura-Ace pads on his carbon rims so will be okay at least to start with and if I don't like them I can I can switch the pads to Swiss Stop later. I've been told that the Mirage blocks won't be good for the health of my carbon rims.

Shimano / Campag....yada, yada, yada . I'd be very grateful for help on this one before phoning the shop.

Thanks,

Andrew.

[jon avery]

Ha Ha Mr Green Using Campag and Shimano in the same sentance what wil happen next? Norwood and Addiscombe being one?

[Andrew G]

Okay well I was "reliably" informed that I could fit Dura Ace blocks in my Mirage calipers. I wanted to do this as you can use Dura Ace pads on carbon rims but not Campag as they become juddery(sp?) apparently. I tried to get some Swiss Stop inserts for my Chorus blocks but nowhere seems to have any in stock.

You can't!

They do fit, with a bit of bastardisation, in Chorus calipers. I switched the Chorus calipers off my race bike for the Mirage calipers on my TT bike, not a problem as I had a spare set of Mirage and was thinking of putting them on the race bike anyway as I wouldn't have the problems with the Campag replaceable pads (a pig to fit), and being black they look nicer on the bike.

So with the Chorus calipers on the TT bike I managed to fit the Dura Ace pads but had to use the spacer washers off the Chorus blocks.

All in a bit of a faff. Quick run up and down the road before the light disappeared and it seems to be okay and I could stop. We'll find out for sure on Saturday though when I can finally get to use the TT bike.

For the record as I'm sure the Shimano army will have enjoyed my problems, I don't think there is a problem with either the Shimano or Campag brakes or that in a normal situation it matters what you have. With dual pivot calipers they are both more than good enough to stop you without any problems. My first proper bike had Xenon (bottom of the range) on it and the brakes worked perfectly throughout their life.

I will admit that not being able to switch blocks between the Campag range of brakes is weird, and I don't know what the Shimano situation on this is.

[Ian A4size]

Andrew, i managed to get out on the steed tonight for about 1 and a half hours.

When i got the wheels from butlers, they came with the carbon friendly blocks.
They slid nicely into the centaur calipers that i had lying about.

[Andrew G]

Mine didn't come with blocks as I'd got them 2nd hand.

I'd hoped to use the Mirage calipers as being black they'd stealth in with the frame nicely. I asked about re pads and the word on da street is, Dura Ace fine (Jon said they can be a little bit grabby sometimes), Koolstop (black, Salmon is the carbon one but is too soft and picks up grit to ruin the rims) good but can squeal a bit if you brake hard, Swiss Stop probably the best (yellow).

Realistically in a TT braking isn't a big issue so as long as I can slow down without putting my feet down I'm happy.

[Jon H]

I was using standard Dura-Ace pads on carbon rims when I had those Oval side-pull callipers that fit behind the fork. The pads were fine most of the time except if it was very wet, when it took a while to stop. But the callipers were a bit crap and prone to stripping threads, so I changed them for a set of Record callipers with standard pads (only because the Record comes in black). The Record pads are OK for general slowing down duty and seem better the DA in the wet, but do get a bit grabby at low speeds when you're coming to a halt. When I get round to it I'll change them for some carbon-specific pads.

[Elliot M]

[quote="Andrew G"]...Koolstop (black, Salmon is the carbon one but is too soft and picks up grit to ruin the rims) good but can squeal a bit if you brake hard...

[Ivor]

[quote="Elliot M"]Think green are for carbon?

[Elliot M]

you may be right.

and little Vans shoes for BMX of course

[img]http://www.koolstop.com/brakes/vans.gif[/img]

[Grahame]

[quote="Elliot M"]you may be right.

and little Vans shoes for BMX of course

[img]http://www.koolstop.com/brakes/vans.gif[/img]

[quote="Elliot M"]and little Vans shoes for BMX of course

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

I have the proper campag carbon blocks that came with my Boras, which if anything are too good in the dry, with a little pressure on the lever locking the wheel, but not as good in the wet.

Bought some aftermarket replacements from Ribble for my TT bike that are great in the wet, but not so good in the dry

[-Adam-]

[quote="mrP(Boonen)VT"]Bought some aftermarket replacements from Ribble for my TT bike that are great in the wet, but not so good in the dry

[quote="-Adam-"][quote="mrP(Boonen)VT"]Bought some aftermarket replacements from Ribble for my TT bike that are great in the wet, but not so good in the dry

[quote="mrP(Boonen)VT"][quote="-Adam-"][quote="mrP(Boonen)VT"]Bought some aftermarket replacements from Ribble for my TT bike that are great in the wet, but not so good in the dry