Kool Stop Brake Pads

[J.R.]

Anyone here ever purchase Kool Stop KS-D296 Disc Brake Pads? Replacing my Avid Elixir pads and I want aluminum backed organic pads. Organic pads stop a little better and are quieter than metallic pads, but don't last near as long.

 

[Tara D.]

I haven't , but I'm always for the product that lasts longer!

 

[Ann M.]

Avid also has aluminum backed disc pads and the are organic composition. Agreed; in my shop customers prefer them; however, they have to understand that any oil on the pad ruins it...not quiet anymore.

 

[EbikeR2]

Anyone here ever purchase Kool Stop KS-D296 Disc Brake Pads? Replacing my Avid Elixir pads and I want aluminum backed organic pads. Organic pads stop a little better and are quieter than metallic pads, but don't last near as long.

How often do you replace pads? Guess it depends a lot on how and where you ride but curious....

 

[J.R.]

How often do you replace pads? Guess it depends a lot on how and where you ride but curious....

Well you nailed the question! I thought about offering numbers, but chose not to because they are crazy numbers. Since you asked... 75% of my riding is off road on rural rail trail and since I commute 34+ miles round trip, I know where to slow and stop, so I prepare for it and let the hub slow me to save battery power, not pad wear. I have 3 stop signs, 10 rail crossings each way and no traffic signals. Many days I have to brake for more wild animals than cars (very rural). I also rely heavily on the front brake, since most of your stopping power from speed is in the front brake.

So with the legalese done, I got more than 5000 miles in 10 months on my Avid Elixir metallic pads. That in my opinion is crazy! I went through the winter hoping the brakes would last, I checked monthly. Not only did they last when I went to change out my studded tires in early spring after 3000 miles, the pads had plenty of meat left.

I read accounts here and elsewhere of ebike disk brake pads lasting 1000-2000 miles, but pushing 6k! It must come down to materials and riding style. I hesitated with the numbers because I don't want to give the impression to others they can forget about their pads for 5k miles. I don't feel that's very common.

I replaced the pads with organic compound pads, they give a little better stopping power, but more important they never squeal wet, dry or dirty. I still had miles left in the old pads, but I got my money out of them and I wanted to replace the brake fluid and bleed the lines. I like the Kool Stop pads, I've used their pads and shoes on other bikes and knew they would be quality. If they last 3-4k, I'll be very happy.

 

[EbikeR2]

Well you nailed the question! I thought about offering numbers, but chose not to because they are crazy numbers. Since you asked... 75% of my riding is off road on rural rail trail and since I commute 34+ miles round trip, I know where to slow and stop, so I prepare for it and let the hub slow me to save battery power, not pad wear. I have 3 stop signs, 10 rail crossings each way and no traffic signals. Many days I have to brake for more wild animals than cars (very rural). I also rely heavily on the front brake, since most of your stopping power from speed is in the front brake.

So with the legalese done, I got more than 5000 miles in 10 months on my Avid Elixir metallic pads. That in my opinion is crazy! I went through the winter hoping the brakes would last, I checked monthly. Not only did they last when I went to change out my studded tires in early spring after 3000 miles, the pads had plenty of meat left.

I read accounts here and elsewhere of ebike disk brake pads lasting 1000-2000 miles, but pushing 6k! It must come down to materials and riding style. I hesitated with the numbers because I don't want to give the impression to others they can forget about their pads for 5k miles. I don't feel that's very common.

I replaced the pads with organic compound pads, they give a little better stopping power, but more important they never squeal wet, dry or dirty. I still had miles left in the old pads, but I got my money out of them and I wanted to replace the brake fluid and bleed the lines. I like the Kool Stop pads, I've used their pads and shoes on other bikes and knew they would be quality. If they last 3-4k, I'll be very happy.

Wow that was detailed! Are you an engineer by chance? Great stuff.

 

[J.R.]

Wow that was detailed! Are you an engineer by chance? Great stuff.

Yes, I've been anal retentive for many, many years

 

[MLB]

Yes, I've been anal retentive for many, many years

LOL, you sound like me. My car/truck brakes last 60,000+ miles.