New brake pads, very slow to stop

Question

I just bought some new brake pads for my caliper brakes on a bike I am fixing up  and when I apply the brake, it takes at least 10 feet to stop no matter how hard I apply them; basically I can't get the wheels to skid even when I try.

I tried tightening the brake pads to be closer to the tire but the problem persists. Is it just the case that my bike's brake mechanism sucks? Or is this a symptom of something else?

Thanks.

Harvey Brackenbury · Accepted Answer

There are a few things to do when your brake pads aren't stopping your bike well:
-It could just be that they're new and haven't worn in yet, rub some sandpaper against the braking surface of the pad to remove the surface layer. Then use something to clean it to get off the lose rubber and grease from your hand. This can also happen on old pads with plenty of surface left, the pad can "glaze over". This hard layer can be removed in the same way.
-Your rim could have oil or grease on it. Clean the rim and the pads with hot soapy water and leave to dry naturally.

If the pads were very cheap you could just take them back if these methods don't seem like they'll work. You might as well try the washing one because you're bit altering anything and they would still take the pads back.

mihkov · Answer

I will add another answer in for my case. I've changed the break pads (same compatibility resin/organic but the new ones were more expensive than the original). My impression was very negative in the beginning, because the rear brake the new pads stops worse than the old worn brake pads. I went out to test it (burn-in) as the documentation from the shimano says:

Ride your bicycle in a flat and safe area without obstacles and
accelerate to a moderate speed.
Operate the brake lever until you slow down to walking speed.
Do this only with one brake lever at a time. Be careful when performing
this procedure. Always operate your brake lever with moderation,
especially when you burn in the front brake.
Repeat steps 1 and 2 for at least 20 times for both the front and rear
brakes.
While repeating the process, the brake force will increase.

I did this and it didn't change anything, I went to a competition where there were a lot of descending parts of the trace and there I performed the "Burn-in". After few descendings they feel fine. I do not recommend anyone to do this on descendings, but I've trusted my front brake.

Swifty · Answer

This is definitely a symptom of using modern brake compounds on a steel rim, which could be the case if you are working on a bike you are 'fixing up'. You would check the rim with a magnet and check the brake pads for the words 'for alloy', which are still commonly included on pads.
If this is the case, no matter how well you adjust the mechanism, the pads just won't grip the rim properly. You would therefore source pads intended for steel rims and fit those instead.

New brake pads, very slow to stop

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