Thorn Cycles Forum

Technical => Wheels, Tyres and Brakes => Topic started by: Matt2matt2002 on January 25, 2018, 11:07:28 am

Title: Swisstops at 6,000 miles
Post by: Matt2matt2002 on January 25, 2018, 11:07:28 am
I am preparing my Raven for its next tour and was about to fit new Swisstops.
Anyone any thoughts on the attached pictures showing the pad in situ after 6,000 miles against a new uninstalled pad?

Perhaps I'm premature in thinking I should make the replacement now?
Plenty of life left?

No fading or reluctance stop.

Thanks folks.
Title: Re: Swisstops at 6,000 miles
Post by: geocycle on January 25, 2018, 11:53:12 am
I got double that mileage out of mine!  I don't see the point in changing them unless they stop performing or start damaging the rims.  Think of the weight saving....

I've now got swissstops on the back and ordinary koolstops on the front since I swapped the CSS rim to a standard one.  The ordinary blocks wear so quickly in comparison. TBH I preferred having the CSS rim as braking performance has not noticeably changed and I seem to be making a lot more adjustments to the brakes than before.
Title: Re: Swisstops at 6,000 miles
Post by: Matt2matt2002 on January 25, 2018, 12:13:03 pm
Thanks geo.
Do the pictures show the wear OK?
I've not yet worn down the 'V' sections.
Title: Re: Swisstops at 6,000 miles
Post by: PH on January 25, 2018, 01:37:25 pm
Plenty of life left in them, here's one I took off recently, probably 10,000 miles, I was probably a bit cautious looks like it would have been fine for a while more, it was working fine.

Title: Re: Swisstops at 6,000 miles
Post by: mickeg on January 25, 2018, 03:05:49 pm
I just bring one set of extra pads with me when I leave for a trip in case I need them later.

The photo shows the pads I took off my bike after my Pacific Coast trip, in that case I decided that they were due for replacement when I got home.  But if I had to I could have changed the pads on one wheel during the trip.  My pads are obviously not the blue Swisstop pads, my pads wore faster as they were not the extra hard pads for use on a CSS rim.

I think you have a lot of life left on them.  I think you should keep using yours, but bring a spare set along in case you need them later. 
Title: Re: Swisstops at 6,000 miles
Post by: Pavel on January 25, 2018, 03:15:57 pm
Wow.  With technology like that, with part mileage such as that - no wonder we are being forced to disk brakes! :D
Title: Re: Swisstops at 6,000 miles
Post by: PH on January 25, 2018, 04:37:38 pm

The photo shows the pads I took off my bike after my Pacific Coast trip, in that case I decided that they were due for replacement when I got home. 
:o You win!!! i don't think I've ever been brave enough to let my wear so low, though of course there's no reason not to.
Title: Re: Swisstops at 6,000 miles
Post by: StuntPilot on January 25, 2018, 06:56:15 pm
Plenty life left in the Swisstops Matt! When they get to mickeg's level then I would start to worry!
Title: Re: Swisstops at 6,000 miles
Post by: jags on January 25, 2018, 08:38:18 pm
Matt buy a new set of  blocks good man. ;)
Title: Re: Swisstops at 6,000 miles
Post by: martinf on January 25, 2018, 08:50:53 pm
I recently noticed a grating sound from the front brake on my old bike I use for survey work.

This has standard alloy rims and Aztec brake pads, that work quite well and (normally) are fairly kind to rims.

Inspection showed that one of the pads had worn down to the metal.

Time for replacement pads.

And soon time to check the rims, mud and sand picked up on survey work means rim wear is more than on my other bikes.
Title: Re: Swisstops at 6,000 miles
Post by: JimK on January 26, 2018, 03:18:33 pm
I have about 18,000 miles on my blue Swisstops. They're getting a bit thin. I plan to change them this year.
Title: Re: Swisstops at 6,000 miles
Post by: Donerol on January 26, 2018, 11:21:26 pm
That's amazing! How many rims have they got through?
Title: Re: Swisstops at 6,000 miles
Post by: il padrone on July 27, 2018, 12:58:25 am
They're not worn.

I finally replaced my first set of Swisstops at 24,000 kms. Second set is now at 17,000 kms.