Aztec Aztec2 Bicycle Brake Pads (Cantilever)

HmmmmmmLots of high marks here for these pads.Let me say to start that thirty years ago Aztec brake pads in the gray material were my favorite pads. The stopping power was phenomenal. I am not one to be leery of the front brake. I know enough to slide well back on the seat and grab lots of front brake. The following is no exaggeration : Back then, on my touring/commuting bike (((which was used heavily in rain and snow; see bellow))) I could lay into those brake pads hard enough to have the rear wheel begin to leave the ground with a commuter load of panniers and then back off and let the wheel back down onto the pavement. Lots of stopping power AND perfect control. The pads lasted for years. I never paid much attention how long because the wear rate was low and replaced them when they wore down. Soon after that ~ 1986 or so Aztec lost their way and the pads were made from black material and the stopping power was way down. Just another brake pad. I remember being seriously disappointed. I missed that high performance braking.Recently I discovered Aztec was back to making pads in gray material. I had retired the touring bike I mentioned above. I put the gray pads on my commuter mountain bike which I use only when it rains or snows.I used the pads for not even a year, about 10 months, and the pads are way worn out. This is the reason I am writing this review. The stopping power was no great shakes. Just another pad except that . . . and get this . . . the pads I replaced on that bike were THE ORIGINAL Shimano cantilever pads and had been on the bike for more than ten years with some mountain biking and years and years of commuting in the rain and snow. The new Aztec pads with NO mountain biking at all and only commuting the pads wore out in 10 months ; most of my commuter miles are on another bike when the roads are dry. No new routes or terrain changes; same old, same old commute. To use technical mechanic's lingo :THAT SUUUUUCKSI want to like these pads but have no reason to.

The pads are stiff, slim, and long. Combined with a long cantilever, these pads will fit almost any configuration. Other pad designs have unneeded rubber and rely on the thickness of the rubber to maintain stiffness; which is a waste. Extra rubber in depth does not extend the life of the pads because they usually become brittle long before the rubber wears down. Some pads tend to not leave enough clearance between the brake brackets and rims because of their bulkiness. These have very good stopping power, no squeaking, nice rubber density and good modulation.

I have purchased 6 sets of these brakes for 3 different bikes (front and rear) and will continue to buying them until they are no longer needed! Brakes are quiet, smooth, and fit the order perfectly for rim brakes on older road bikes, Mtn Bikes, Hybrids, etc.I would not purchase them for higher-end tri and road bikes. Any replacements or repairs on those bikes should be done professionally anyway.

Great product. When breaking its smooth and not squeaky. Break holds good.

Good breaks for sunny days but when it rains they don't preform as well. Easy installation and have about 500 miles on these guys and they're still going strong!

I love the price. I live where there aren't any cars so bikes are the main form of transportation. These brakes do the job. I'll have to place them maybe twice so the price is important.

Excellent replacement pads. No complaint at all, except i dont mind the squeal. It lets people know I'm behind them.

No problem with the quality of the product. They were not the correct style for my calipers but this has nothing to do with product quality.