Ma shlom cha?
I find in setting up old brakes that the cables inhibit performance more than the pads. I think old beat up cables flex rather than compress, and "steal" force from the caliper. Drag and crud in the cable also steal force. The GS caliper is basically similar to that of the Record, and should be about as rigid. I borrowed a friend's old Trek with full GS, and I improved brake function by lubing his cables and rinsing out some of the crud. Not as good as I'd hope with good new lined cable housings, however.
So pay good attention to the cables. Why should you start off with crummy brake cables compromising your driving safety in crowded Eretz Yisrael, just because you saved some money on an Italian Mystery bike? Enjoy the vintage bike, but make it safe.
After you get the cables right (includeing properly dressed and ferruled ends, BTW!!), then you can see if the calipers pivit freely and return to where they are supposed to. After that is rectified as needed (disasemble, clean, lube, reassemble) you can play with different pads. I'm finding old Campy and Dura-ace pads still work pretty well if they're in a good mechanism.
You have a lot to gain by going through this - improved safety!
Ken Freeman Ann Arbor, MI USA
-----Original Message----- From: classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org [mailto:classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org] On Behalf Of Amir Avitzur Sent: Monday, October 23, 2006 2:00 AM To: Classicrendezvous Subject: [CR]Campy Gran Sport Brakes - any good ???
I put some Campy Gran Sport Brakes on my Italian Mystery bike.
They look good but couldn't stop much. So I switched over to Kool Stop pads. Now they stop a bit better, but I would not trust them in an emergency.
No such problem with old Mafacs or old Shimano side pulls.
What gives?
Amir Avitzur
R"G, Israel