Carbon brake tracks

[Kamil]

Hi there

While I was riding yesterday the front brake started jumping, when I got home I saw those marks on the rim, also the front caliper was full of dust.
No clue why that is, I use brake pads for carbon rims and I checked there was nothing in the brake pads that could cause that and the wheel runs true.

Is that the wheel finished now or can I fix it somehow, e.g. with sandpaper?

I'd appreciate any advice, thanks.

[alcatraz]

Are they residue or grooves in the carbon?

What do you mean by jumping brakes?

Dust is more of a cork pad poblem. You're using the more synthetic compound pads so I'd expect less or no dust.

You can try to clean a section of the brake track with some hot soapy water and the scotchbrite side of a sponge. See if the marks disappear or not.

[Kamil]

They are actual grooves in the rim so I don't think just washing them would solve the problem, do you think it's ok to try with some fine sandpaper?
The braking wasnt smooth and I could feel those grooves, that's what I meant.

By the way the rear is totally fine, smooth rim, no dust.

[kode54]

Need more information....

Are your wheels old and have lots of miles on them?
What's the wheel brand?
Using same brand brake pads?

[nickf]

You shouldn't have to sand anything. If it's some sort of contamination then try acetone to clean it of. If not then you might have just worn through the brake track. Wheels no matter the material do wear out over time. Just might be the end of the road for those rims.

[Kamil]

They're FFWD F2R tubular, I bought them 2nd hand but were in good condition, smooth brake tracks.
First ride on those wheels and this happened with the front rim. So it's not gradual wear, rather, before ride perfectly smooth, after ride they look wrecked.

I use those pads:
https://www.wiggle.co.uk/lifeline-perfo ... lsrc=aw.ds

[Kamil]

They're FFWD F2R tubular, I bought them 2nd hand but were in good condition, smooth brake tracks.
First ride on those wheels and this happened with the front rim. So it's not gradual wear, rather, before ride perfectly smooth, after ride they look wrecked.

I use those pads:
https://www.wiggle.co.uk/lifeline-perfo ... lsrc=aw.ds

[alcatraz]

Carbon fiber should be a lot harder than those brake pads so try to wash the marks away first maybe.

Could you take a better picture too please? I'm sure someone here can help if they can see better.

By jumping brakes do you mean that you're getting a shuddering sensation with noise? Maybe toeing in the pads and ensuring the brake arms aren't loose with play can help with that.

Also if the brake pads are old you might want to sand them a little to get fresh pad material out.

[Kamil]

Here are some close ups of the rims, these marks are all over on both sides. I gave them a wash but of course th eonly thing that came off was the blue marks left by brake pads.

Brake pads were brand new and I've got same ones on the rear, there was no marks or dust at all on the rear.
You can imagine how braking would feel like on a surface like that, no particularly loud noise though.

I can imagine one plausible explanation, if some piece of metal or other crap got in the pads but then when I got home and checked it there was nothing.

[Steve Curtis]

Are you using carbon specific brake pads. That last picture looks rough as hell.

[Kamil]

Yeah, of couse, these ones: LifeLine Performance Carbon Road Brake Inserts

[Orlok]

Are these carbon wheels original FastForward or bad Chinese quality.?

[poulhansen]

Maybe the previuos owner used some kind of filler, to cover up that damage and your ride turned that filler into dust. Plausible, if it was the first ride after buying.

[Kamil]

As far as I'm aware they're original.
Anyways, do you think there's any chance I could save this rim?

[alcatraz]

It does appear that those rims are toast. Had that been a clincher it would likely have been dangerous to ride.

How many km have these wheels done?

Do you consider yourself to have good braking habits? No dragging, etc.

Are you a heavy guy descending steep declines regularly?

Most chinese noname rims look a lot better than these. So I don't think it's a matter of branded or not.