Zipp 404 non cork brake pads

[cawright1375]

Do any of you that run Zipp 404 carbon clinchers use the non cork Zipp rubber brake pads that are made for carbon wheels/ rims? I swapped out the cork for these because of the corks abysmal braking power in the rain. I actually accelerated at first rather than slowing one morning. These rubber brake pads are made by Zipp and designed to work with carbon rims, they are however, really noisy, like seriously noisy. They are loud enough that my wife was able to hear me apply them going down our driveway (steep) while my 10 month old son wailed in her ear as he saw me leaving - she was inside the house btw.

I'm guessing that over time, as they are broken in, the sound will diminish, but I am curious if so, how long will it take?

And as a secondary question, are all cork brake pads equal in stopping power? I used to have a set of Bontrager Aeoleus (sp?) 50 mm deep section aero wheels. The Bontrager branded cork pads had much better stopping power in the rain and thus I wonder if all are not created equal.

 

[Bustedknuckle]

Do any of you that run Zipp 404 carbon clinchers use the non cork Zipp rubber brake pads that are made for carbon wheels/ rims? I swapped out the cork for these because of the corks abysmal braking power in the rain. I actually accelerated at first rather than slowing one morning. These rubber brake pads are made by Zipp and designed to work with carbon rims, they are however, really noisy, like seriously noisy. They are loud enough that my wife was able to hear me apply them going down our driveway (steep) while my 10 month old son wailed in her ear as he saw me leaving - she was inside the house btw.

I'm guessing that over time, as they are broken in, the sound will diminish, but I am curious if so, how long will it take?

And as a secondary question, are all cork brake pads equal in stopping power? I used to have a set of Bontrager Aeoleus (sp?) 50 mm deep section aero wheels. The Bontrager branded cork pads had much better stopping power in the rain and thus I wonder if all are not created equal.

Yellow Swissstop

 

[GreasyMonkey]

Do any of you that run Zipp 404 carbon clinchers use the non cork Zipp rubber brake pads that are made for carbon wheels/ rims? I swapped out the cork for these because of the corks abysmal braking power in the rain. I actually accelerated at first rather than slowing one morning. These rubber brake pads are made by Zipp and designed to work with carbon rims, they are however, really noisy, like seriously noisy. They are loud enough that my wife was able to hear me apply them going down our driveway (steep) while my 10 month old son wailed in her ear as he saw me leaving - she was inside the house btw.

I'm guessing that over time, as they are broken in, the sound will diminish, but I am curious if so, how long will it take?

And as a secondary question, are all cork brake pads equal in stopping power? I used to have a set of Bontrager Aeoleus (sp?) 50 mm deep section aero wheels. The Bontrager branded cork pads had much better stopping power in the rain and thus I wonder if all are not created equal.

Zipp non-cork compound pads, FRIGHTFULLY EXPENSIVE, no better or worse than KoolStop Carbon Black's. The latter were 1/4 of the price of Zipps and have worked well in wet or dry.

 

[Notso Swift]

I actually accelerated at first rather than slowing one morning.

Cool you have just defied the laws of physics

As above Swisstop Yellows

 

[Oldman]

Do any of you that run Zipp 404 carbon clinchers use the non cork Zipp rubber brake pads that are made for carbon wheels/ rims? I swapped out the cork for these because of the corks abysmal braking power in the rain. I actually accelerated at first rather than slowing one morning. These rubber brake pads are made by Zipp and designed to work with carbon rims, they are however, really noisy, like seriously noisy. They are loud enough that my wife was able to hear me apply them going down our driveway (steep) while my 10 month old son wailed in her ear as he saw me leaving - she was inside the house btw.

I'm guessing that over time, as they are broken in, the sound will diminish, but I am curious if so, how long will it take?

And as a secondary question, are all cork brake pads equal in stopping power? I used to have a set of Bontrager Aeoleus (sp?) 50 mm deep section aero wheels. The Bontrager branded cork pads had much better stopping power in the rain and thus I wonder if all are not created equal.

Normal rubber DuraAce pads seem to work fine on standard 404's. The Dura Ace carbon pads seem less responsive.

 

[cawright1375]

Cool you have just defied the laws of physics

As above Swisstop Yellows

Have I? Excellent, if only it had happened while in High School I might have enjoyed my physics class that much more.

I'd heard of the swiss stop pads, not sure I can remember where, and asked about them when getting the wheels, but was told that Zipp these, yada, yada, yada...

I will say this for the brakes, when coming to an intersection, especially after descending a hill, you won't worry about being noticed. The sound alone will garner you all sorts of odd looks.

 

[ontheroaddave]

I agree with BustedKnuckle. Yellow Swissstops are what I use (I run 404 tubulars) and I have no problems with them. Have yet to try the carbon blocks you tried but, from the sounds of it, I should keep my distance!

Did you use the with aluminum rims as well? Maybe inspect the pads for any bits of that?

 

[cawright1375]

This wasn't my first dance with carbon rims. I know well enough to not use the same pads on aluminum as on carbon.

I'll pick up the swiss stop pads and see how they work out.

Thanks

 

[k_gibbo]

I have the yellow swiss stop and they have good breaking power, with almost no noise. This is my first set and I do wonder about durability, they seem quite soft....

 

[cawright1375]

Problem solved! I called a few LBS this morning to see if any carried the Swiss Stop pads. The second shop Papa Wheelies provided me with the probable cause and solution to the noise issue. The pads need to be tilted inwards at the front just a smidge. The bike was a recent purchase and built up at the LBS where I purchased it, not the aforementioned shop. The mechanic did not adjust the pad housing properly and I never noticed anything with the cork pads.

Tonight I ought to be able to make the adjustment and hopefully find out this weekend if the problem is fixed. It isn't anything I would have thought of or thought to mention because I'd have thought it would have been done during the build.