Kool Stop MTB Mountain Bicycle Brake Shoes

These pads are amazing. I've got only a pair of them (only have rear brakes) on an old 26" mountain bike, which I did my best to clean the rim, but it's admittedly not very true any longer, and parts of the surface are anything but flat or smooth (aluminum is kind of gouged in spots). Despite all that, I've got fantastic stopping power. If the bike still had front brakes and I put these pads on, there's probably a decent chance I might end up going over the bars. I'm not a power rider or anything like that, but I'm not a small guy, and I like getting anything on wheels up to top speed when possible. Brakes are very important to me (not sure why they wouldn't be to any rider with just a smidge of sense), and I really thought I was going to have to toss this bike to get something newer with good brakes (e.g. even just basic disk brakes). Even if these pads only last me 6 months, I'll still replace them with the same thing. I've been slowly replacing all the worn out or sub-par stuff on this old bike, and these pads are just about the last thing that it needed. I'm a cheapskate who doesn't want to buy another bike any sooner than necessary, and also like that almost no one will steal the old thing I have, either! It's also cool that you can still get a quality product like this for old cantilever-style brakes. With a lot of modern products (not just or necessarily bikes), it seems like once the new thing is released, you'll eventually have a harder time maintaining the old one. ...It actually gives me some faith to pick up another older bike with cantilever-style brakes - I know I'll have good stopping power at a minimum! I just can't emphasize how great these pads are. I guess I also should include that the cables and all other hardware are all original too (e.g. 20+ yrs old), and the pads still do a great job. Typically, you have to replace all related assemblies to get something in top-notch working condition, but this is a clear exception.

I've been using these pads for my V Brake mountain bikes and they are stellar! I have a vintage 90s mountain bike that also uses cantilever brakes and decided to give the bike a refresh. As part of this I installed these pads to replace the old Shimano pads. Love them! The bike stops really well and even when it's wet and misty. This bike does a lot of urban riding and with these pads it stops really well.

The rear brake pads on my tandem ebike needed replacement. This electric bike is big and heavy, so good braking performance is essential to get it to stop. The Kool-Stop Cantilever pads were a perfect fit and work great. Quiet hard braking requires a small amount of toe-in. That means that the rear end of the pad is slightly further away from the wheel's rim than the front end of the pad. Perhaps about 1/16" (1.5mm) additional space when the brakes are at rest (not depressed). Keep in mind that these pads are specifically for bikes that have Cantilever brakes that require a smooth or ribbed post (without threads). The pad's post is slightly ribbed: 0.265 inch (6.75mm) diameter and 1.2 inch (30mm) long. If you need installation tips then head over to YouTube and watch some how-to videos. Pros: Stopping distance is good. Operation is quiet. Cons: None so far.

Buy these brakes if you like to stop. They stop in dust, water, mud, uphill, downhill, etc, etc. THEY DO NOT SQUEAL OR MAKE NOISE IF YOU KNOW HOW TO SET UP CANTALEVER BRAKES!!(unlike what previous reviewers have stated) Just thought I should mention that. Update: I used these brakes the whole summer and can still say that they are fantastic breaks. I have no problem with them at all. I will definitely buy them in the future. I have upgraded my rating to 5 stars. I only used 4 in the previous review because I had only used them once. I don't like to use 5 on a product unless the product has been time tested as well.

Running these on a 700c Bianchi bike. The back wheel has always squealed since I got it except with the black Kool Stop pads. These new MTB pads grip even better than the blacks but I am getting squeal again unless I toe in so much that the orange part barely touches. I'll have to play around with them more. I have high hopes since they do stop well. They dont have a lot of pad compared to other pads I have used but as long as they stop the bike I'll change them every year if needed.

I got these for a 1996 Bianchi Volpe overhaul. I had never messed with cantilever brakes before, but they ended up being pretty easy. I was able to get these installed in short order, and wow so they make a difference! I had to stop very quickly shortly after I put these on while riding downhill at a good speed because a bus pulled out in front of me going through an intersection, and my rear wheel instantly locked up and saved me from being flattened. Highly recommend.

Made squealing noise when braking - even after cleaning wheel. Took long time to slow bike - worse than the 25 yr old pads I took off.

Very nice and it give a nicer look in dual color (salmon and black). Easy to install an brings instructions It comes with 2 shims for adjustments (3 and 5 mm). My experience it create noise when new at the beginning. I don't like that much but the breaking is good and much better than Shimano xtr. I hope the noise would reduce or dissapear after break in.