When I was regularly using and working on bikes w/ Mafac brakes in the 70's (I rode a Peugeot and the shop sold Gitane), I remember there were all black pads that had an almost concentric swirl pattern on the individual bumps, and what I thought of as original equipment pads that looked like they'd been made out of old tires. There was a cottony thread running through them and they seemed to wear longer than the all black ones. The rims, often steel, had a shorter profile and the brake pads would wrap around them as they wore. I'd trim them with an x-acto to get them back to shape. And yep, just about impossible to get the squeal out even toe'd in dramatically. I still keep a set in the bins, and I'm sure they'll find their way onto another bike. After all they do seem to work at least as well as any old GB Coureur's I've used. And this set has what is still CR period Mathausers, even if not period for the bike they'll go on. And yes, the Mathausers squeal too. Does anyone ever see those pads made out of old tires come up on e-bay?
Happy trails,
Dan Artley in Parkton, MD
Date: Fri, 28 Nov 2008 21:32:48 -0500 From: Harvey Sachs <hmsachs(AT)verizon.net> Subject: Aftermarket Mafac pads, was Re: [CR]Mafac Brake Shoes Needed
Mike's post evoked memories of some peculiar black, molded, plastic pads
for Mafacs Way Back When. In my mind's eye, I can still see the very fine foam structure, I think. What I can't remember is why we hated them
so much. Were they the super-squealers?
harvey sachs
mcLean va.