Are NOS brake pads any good? Age harden?

[RadNomad]

Would a 20 year old set of cantilever brake blocks/pads work properly? As good as the day they were made, or would they be rock hard and useless?

It's pretty easy to find NOS brakes from the '90s but i can't help wondering how they would perform compared with something manufactured recently.

Reason i'm asking is that i'm considering buying some. Anyone had some experience on this topic please? Thanks!

 

[Raging_Bulls]

I have a set of NIB M900 pads, waiting for a bike to go on. TBH I have more confidence in the modern generic ones I currently have on my canti-equipped bikes.
IMO you just can't trust ageing rubber. It hardens or it cracks, or it suddenly and completely desintegrates when you put some stress on it. Neither of those options is good, especially when you're talking about tyres or brakes.

 

[lewisfoto]

I have NOS brake pads on two road bikes and one MTB without any issues. I think that by the 90s the compounds that pads were made from was pretty good. BTW the NOS pads on one of my road bikes is closer to 40-years-old, although that bike sees little action.


Steven

 

[legrandefromage]

I chucked on a set of 30 year old NOS Shimano 600 cantilevers on my road bike and they were fine. I also chucked on a set of XT pads on my GT, they have been fine and have been on there some 5 years themselves.

Sunlight - UV - is the killer of pads and tyres so unless they've been in a shop window for decades the majority should be fine.


And anyway, how do you know the age of what you have been buying. Unless theres a manufacture code on the products you think are brand new?

- a mate came over with a set of wheels he bought 'brand new' until I pointed out the manufacture date of four years ago...

 

[dazzawazza]

The NOS XTR M70R pads I've used performed well...

Do temperature variations cause any issues over time?
I have a few sets of pads stored in a box in the loft that can get very warm in the summer.

 

[Pyro Tim]

using NOS M737 block on my 94 Axis. Work a treat

 

[minor_LEGEND]

Its not just the age, but the conditions of storage etc, something thats been in a box for 15 years is likely to be more usefull than some 10 year old pads being used, wet, hot/cold etc.

Be cautious & know the potential short comings.

 

[xerxes]

Why would you want to use NOS brake blocks? I can understand wanting to use period correct major components to preserve the look of an older bicycle, but "disposable" parts like tyres, grips, chains, jockey wheels and brake blocks?

 

[legrandefromage]

NOS brake blocks with XTR on them make you ride faster.

fact.

 

[Pyro Tim]

NOS brake blocks with XTR on them make you ride faster.

fact.

Well, they make you slow faster, as do those that say XT on them