Brake Pad Recommendations

[Zoglug]

Morning all,

Currently looking to sort out my On One 456 so i can get out and enjoy this weather. A combination of things meant it has been stuck in the loft since early this year and as such, i have let myself down and haven't even managed to bivi out this year!

The first thing i need to pick up some new brake pads and wondered what people recommended? I was considering grabbing some from Superstar Components, but after doing a quick search here and finding the thread on brands you wouldn't buy, they don't appear to be highly recommended. The brakes will be replaced in due course (currently got Avid Elixir 5's) so i don't really want to spend a small fortune on pads, just something to get me through the summer months until i can afford to replace them.

Any advice would be great! Cheers.

[Bearbonesnorm]

IMO* SS pads are fine, they might not offer the highest levels of friction but they work fine. If you're going to be changing brakes anyway, then I wouldn't be buying anything else.

I'm sure there were issues in the early days but given the amount they sell I'm sure it was only a very small percentage ... people are very good at shouting when they're unhappy but not so loud when they are

*other people may have differing opinions.

[Zippy]

I use superstar pads and rate them fine, specially for the price, I always bulk buy in packs of 4 pairs. The early ones didn't have the mechanical bond and some pads fell to pieces, but that was like 5 years ago when that was happening. I've never had an issue and been quite pleased with them, ranging from uses round trail centres, bear bones 200 type riding and XC racing.

[Chew]

Superstar here as well. No issues and work as well as any others (as well as any avid brakes work)

[johnnystorm]

Satisfied SS user here as well. At the price I don't mind chucking them if they start looking a bit ropey.

[Ray Young]

Disco Brakes sintered pads on my avid elixir r, very happy with price/performance.

[Ian]

You can put me into the disgruntled SS customer category after the pad material sheered off front and rear at the same time
That is going back a while mind, but what got me as much as anything was that when I contacted SS the guy was such a knob about it...

For balance, I have also just had some Clarks pads shed the material off one side, though this happened at low speed and I'm not entirely convinced it wasn't as a result of a ham-fisted fitting of the rear wheel in hurry that contributed. Still, the pads themselves squealed like an absolute bar steward throughout the Highland Trail, so I won't be using them again anyway

In my experience, you buy branded pads, they don't fall apart and don't squeal at you like some demented banshee.

[Dan_K]

I've got SS pads on my 29er. They work but are so noisy! Not always a bad thing though when you're approaching a group of walkers...