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Everyone should have disk brakes, but I don't. My bike uses a rim brake system: Linear pull brakes, otherwise called V-brakes, which are easier to change than the older cantilever system, but still annoying. Switching to a cartridge brake system in December has made my V-brakes, more-or-less, hassle-free. Every bike store should sell cartridge brake shoes and pads; lots of different companies make them. I've read they are available for cantilever brakes also, though I've only seen them for V-brakes.

What's so good about cartridge brakes?

• Install, and adjust, the metal shoes only once.


• Replace only the pads -- much cheaper.


• Very quick to install new pads: Old pads slide out, new pads slide in.


• Rarely any need to readjust the metal shoes.


• No chance of gouging rims when pads wear down.

What's not so good!

• Inserting the tiny fixing pin which locks the pads onto the shoes can be fiddly.


• May lock you into buying one brand -- not all pads fit all shoes.

The first time you will buy a cartridge shoe and pad set. The complete brake shoe and pad is adjusted as normal. The only difference is that you may never have to do it again.

Today I installed new pads

Removal of the old pads is pretty much just like installing, but backwards. I pull the fixing pins out carefully so I can have spares to reuse, like today.

[caption id="attachment_2509" align="alignnone" width="497"] Only $2.50 CAN per set -- good deal, but I didn't notice in the store that one of the fixing pins had fallen out![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2510" align="alignnone" width="497"] Blurry photo doesn't show that install direction is clearly embossed on the inside face of the pad -- hard to do it wrong. You can see the channel for the fixing pin.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2512" align="alignnone" width="497"] The metal shoe only accepts the pad from one end. The slightly curved pad slides in easily. Make sure it's pushed all the way in.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2514" align="alignnone" width="497"] Oh. The camera can focus! Here's the little fixing pin held by needle nose pliers -- the only tool you need.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2515" align="alignnone" width="497"] Firmly hold the U end of the pin and gently insert it into the hole on the top side of the metal shoe, and push the pin straight into the hole. It's a bit tricky because I leave the wheel on, so the forks are in the way.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2516" align="alignnone" width="497"] The orientation of the pin is sort of self-evident when you do it. It's designed to snap into place.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2517" align="alignnone" width="497"] I reused one of the old pins on the other side.[/caption]

MEC V-Brake Shoe / Pad assembly ►