Sat here sore all over because of a set of superstar brake pads that failed on me - pad material came away from the backing, sending me over the edge of a drop.
A bit of google research shows this to be a pretty well known problem with their pads, and one that's been around for a long time, but they're still selling a dangerously faulty product. Can only assume they don't give a shit about their customers.
Biscuit anyone?
*Puts kettle on*
EDIT: Not much information given, such as when did you purchase them, they had a bad batch like 4 years ago.
Is this a problem with all of their pads (organic/kelvlar/sintered) or just one particular type?
It would be good if someone persued fruit legally for some consequential loss as a result of one of these failures, I think.
I'm guessing from the reaction it's a fairly well trodden subject on here? Apologies if I'm going over old ground.
This thread is nothing without pictures.....
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Don't have the pads/bike handy to post any, unfortunately.
SS Kevlars - best pads I've ever used.
I've brought biccies - don't be greedy!
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I was looking to buy new pads soon, never had a problem with SS ones, making me think twice now though!!!!
I use 525 brakes - anyone had those pads fail?
i have had that happen with hope and avid pads.
@DaveyBoyWonder - I was using the Kevlar ones, I found the pads very good too, right up to the point where I suddenly had no brake at all, because the pad material had fallen out.
FFS though BOTH PADS at once!!!!!!!!!!
That is not just the odd failure
does this mean I can drag the old pic out?
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Oddly, that's the second picture of a woman with an octopus on her head I've seen this week. That's considerably more worksafe than the first one.
Superstar (avid) pads are great, had mine for ****ing ages.
honourablegeorge, when did you buy them?
I remember them having a bad batch 4 years ago (possibly 3)
Can only assume they don't give a shit about their customers.
If you give them a call/email, I'm sure they'll replace them free of charge.
If you give them a call/email, I'm sure they'll [b]replace[/b] them free of charge.
Yeah, that sounds like a good idea!
And my Superstar Avid copies never even fitted in the calipers.
I'm now using the more reliable EBC or Clarks versions in me Julies.
Pretty sure I don't want replacements, Milkie. If they ever answer the phone, I'll be looking for a refund, and an answer to the question I asked above.
Did you fit them with a rock?
[img] http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSLYMkhnLt4LueY3HMVH2rmc_ijPcTM6EdgBJVg80sOaNJyrAws [/img]
Hon. George - I think, given most experiences on this subject, you will be disappointed on both counts.
I always go for Goodridge pads. You get what you pay for.
Old pads I had delaminated (talking a few years ago) - I have SS kevlars on bought 1 year ago and they are fab and still going (but nearly spent) - are these old pads/stock and as above what type as my Juicy Kevlars are faultless!
And my Superstar Avid copies never even fitted in the calipers.
Not had a problem myself! However is this a recent trend as I bought mine 1 year ago?
You get what you pay for
This isn't always true.......
For the record i've had superstar pads for over three years and never had this issue.
an answer to the question I asked above.
There was an issue about four years ago with a bad batch of brake pads. The issue has long since been ressolved - although there are those that aren't happy with the resolution - Superstar identified the faulty batches and discarded them. Those that returned pads got a refund or replacements from a non-affected batch.
As already been posted it's not a failure exclusive to Superstar and other makes are liable to failing apart.
Personally, I've had a pair of Avid pads delaminate as well as a Superstar pair.
And my Superstar Avid copies never even fitted in the calipers.
mine are ace.. sintered for winter and doing the business..
(maybe I should write advertising slogans for use in 90s superbike magazines... hmm)
p.s. on a side note magura dont warranty their brakes if you use any other make of pad
p.s. on a side note magura dont warranty their brakes if you use any other make of pad
Erm how would they prove it?
Superstar pads work fine for me. Other brands come apart too, if you google for that too you might find that too if that is your method.
Having seen the way a lot of people seem to put their wheels in, as in repeatedly shoving the wheel in to get the rotor past into the gap between the pads rather than gently guiding it in, I'm surprised the trails aren't littered with bodies.
Superstar pads are the nuts and are cheap used them for ages and I trust them completely. Pads sometimes go and all makes do it.
On mountain bikes sometimes things break put some new pads in and have a nice cuppa.
5 pairs of disc brakes running various flavours of SS pads and nary a problem over 4 years of doing so.
Given how many they sell having a few go wrong isn't surprising. FWIW I've have branded formula and avid pads delaminate, collapse, etc. A bit of perspective needed maybe?
@DaveyBoyWonder - I was using the Kevlar ones, I found the pads very good too, right up to the point where I suddenly had no brake at all, because the pad material had fallen out.
To be honest, if mine fell apart now I'd not be bothered. First set lasted me a week of Alpine riding in Verbier which I thought was pretty good. Fitted another set just after I got back and crazily they've lasted 2 winters and all last summer. Still got a fair bit of life in them too. Can't quite believe how long they're lasting!
My SS pads stop me perfectly well, on both bikes they are fitted to.
No complaints 🙂
Hmmm...
honourablegeorge - Member
I've got Saints on two bikes, and the Superstar Red pads (dual something or whatever) are very good.Posted 3 months ago #
😉
I'm happy to add to the fact that I've had multiple sets of superstar pads on 2 bikes for 4+ years and never had the problem, doesn't mean there wasn't/isn't one though. Those pads look severely rusty behind the friction material. I do wonder how many people put their bike back wet and expect all to be well when they next ride it. That said, how much can you be expected to clean and dry after each ride and how much is that unavoidable?
FWIW I've had other MAJOR manufacturers pads literally crumble in my fingers because they were left wet and the mettalic component in the friction material crumbled.
I had a problem with two sets that didnt stop well, sent them back and they were replaced free of charge. Also got some sweets in the box. Seemed like a good service to me.
All parts can fail, some companies deal with it in different ways.
I've used SS pads all through the octopus era up 'til now, never had a failure.
Seem good to me, and as they wind certain people up to the point of internet arson that's even gooderer 😆
There was an issue about four years ago with a bad batch of brake pads. The issue has long since been ressolved - although there are those that aren't happy with the resolution - Superstar identified the faulty batches and discarded them. Those that returned pads got a refund or replacements from a non-affected batch.
Maybe. I bought mine in 2009 BTW.
And my Superstar Avid copies never even fitted in the calipers.mine are ace.. sintered for winter and doing the business..
Not had a problem myself! However is this a recent trend as I bought mine 1 year ago?
Yunki & Foxy, I'll slip my non-fitting avid copies into my bag and the first one of you I come across on Dartmoor or at Haldon gets them 😉
Those pads look severely rusty behind the friction material
Yeah, probably because they were not bonded on properly, or something!
I'm surprised the trails aren't littered with bodies.
They are after I've ridden down them whatever brand of brake pads I'm wearing 😉
@Gary - Like I said again above, the pads were very good in terms of performace/feel, until they failed.
I have just had two sets of pads rust so badly that they jammed in the calipers front and back and also one set of pads where the material came of the back plate after 3 months of light use.
I am not buying them again, for now I've applied a small amount of grease to the back and sides and will see how it goes.
Any suggestions on a suitable replacement brand?
Been using them for 3-4 years now. I think i came across them just after the 'pad fail epidemic' that gave SSC notoriety.
I've done 3 trips to Spain with them, used them in various races, through dry dusty conditions, wet Thetford grinding paste & never had a problem.
Last April I put a set in & they lasted me up to July when I went to Spain for a week with Ciclo Montana. They survived that week & only needed replacing for the D2D in October!
Yeah, probably because they were not bonded on properly, or something!
or maybe they were put away wet in winter, the water froze and the gap opened, allowing more water to get in and so on. over a few months theres not enough pad gripping the material and blam, it pulls off.
I've had Hope pads fail in the same way, but no problems so far with SS - just seems some batches are better than others.
I thought the bad batches were recalled or an offer was made to exchange them?
The other cheap brakepad company I have used is discobrakes although If I've been ordering other stuff like grips at the sametime I've gone back to superstar as there's nothing in the price.
Been using them for a while now with no problems, the grips also seem to be good.
The lowdown on pads is that for a start there are only 3 manufacturers of pads worldwide, one being Shimano, the other two being taiwanese companies, one of which superstar use.
The wrond formula of glue was used about 4 yrs back and where possible they were recalled, but not all had batch numbers on so all the companies affected did the good thing and offered free replacements.
Winter wet weather kills all pads if they get rusty which is only to be expected.
If you want your pads to last there is one simple rule to follow and a couple of things that you can do to make them last longer.
Firstly never put a new set in in mid winter on a cold wet ride and expect them to last, they wont.
If you want them to last get them glowing (alpine descents) in the summer and then swap them for another set and repeat. The heat generated causes them to bond and harden, so do this to stock up pads for winter use and they will last longer.
Alternatively, bake them in the oven before use!
It all boils down to the heat they are initially baked at, cheaper ones get less heat for less time, fibrax being the worst culprit for being tight.
Lastly, always carry a spare set as you never know when you need them!
Hope that helps
My main issue with SS pads is the sizing of the backing plates-the damn things are a right pain the rear as they seem to be very inconsistent, one set will fit, the next will not and you always have to bleed of some brake fluid from a new system to fit them in too (again think its the thickness of the bqacking plate more than the depth of the braking material. Had at least one set fail big time on first ride out having been properly bedded in and other sets just disintergrate in one ride.
Other cheap suppiers of pad have had similar problems (cannot think of the company that was selling them but they were red backed ceramic pads, similar quality and price.
I now always stick to the premiuim or OEM pads, they last longer are more consistent in size and fit and in value for money terms in my opinion are better value per set to say three sets of cheap ones.
As for baking them in the oven, one company cures them fully (cant remember wich one but if you spend ten minutes doing it properly on the bike with discs cleaned with meths before hand there is no need to wsste your gas/electric.
I must say that I also had some magura julie pads (OEM) that got trashed by those rotors-dont rate them at all as they also induce a lot of fork vibration and think that the wave edge is partly what damages the pads.
bland - MemberThe lowdown on pads is that for a start there are only 3 manufacturers of pads worldwide, one being Shimano, the other two being taiwanese companies, one of which superstar use.
I think EBC, Fibrax, Carbon Lorraine and several others may disagree with you.......
Just to clarify, the pads that I have had issues with have been since the new year, so not the older faulty batch!
There seems to be a suggestion in some of these posts that disc brake pads need to be kept away from water, cold and muck and generally smothered with heaps of (impractial) TLC or they'll fail miserably.
It's a good job then that car disc brake pads, which are left out 365 days a year in all classes of cold, wet & dirty conditions seem to manage all right, which is just as well considering the complications that might arise from a couple of tonnes of fast moving metal suddenly losing the ability to be brought to a halt.
I have to conclude then, that unless you only ride your bike on a Sunday morning in the dry and then totaly strip, clean and rebuild it afterwards, disc brakes should be avoided 'cos they're not fit for purpose 😉
I have to conclude then, that unless you only ride your bike on a Sunday morning in the dry and then totaly strip, clean and rebuild it afterwards, disc brakes should be avoided 'cos they're not fit for purpose
you go by that and the rest of us will carry on as before then!
Similar problems in car pads resulted in trading standards investigating...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-10846035
3 manufacturers and all in Japan and Tiawan?
There's at least one major one in the Peak Pistrict!
And your average garrage used to be capable of sticking new linings on without them failing.
And your average garrage used to be capable of sticking new linings on without them failing.
on a car the wheel isn't regularly removed and refitted by shoving the rotor back in and waggling it about until it finds the gap between the pads.
I've been running Superstar pads for years. Never a problem. Their kevlar pads are ace
I think you need to bear in mind just how popular the things are, that exagerrates the failure rate- talk of a recall doesn't make much sense if the reported failures are at all representative.
Never had it myself... OTOH I did have the entire friction material drop off an OEM Shimano pad, also had a Disco one tear up and lose big chunks of its surface. I've seen pics of a Hope OEM and an Avid one that did the same. As far as I can tell it's just something that happens sometimes to pads.
(though, they definately do have a fitting issue with some Avids, due to the thickness of the paint, very easy to sort but still needless and annoying. Some of my XT ones were tight as well, though that's easier to deal with. Still, in my experience the kevlars are the best allround pads out there.)