HELP!...I have a chip in my carbon brake surface![Pic]

Triathlon Forum
1

I just bought a Dura Ace 50mm Carbon front wheel on fleabay and found a chip in the brake track.
Is the wheel okay to ride?
or is there anything I can do to salvage the wheel?

I brake primarily with my front wheel, but will only be using it as a race wheel.

Any advice would be helpful.
Pic:
http://i44.tinypic.com/efwyc.jpg

2

It’s all good don’t worry.

3

Hi,
It is likely ok for use, but that could also be the result of an impact with a hole in the road…the pad wear looks a bit odd to the side of the chip. still, unless it gives very pulsodic (my new made up word for a rythmic pulse :slight_smile: braking action, it is ok.

Ride On
TP

4

Personally, I wouldn’t ride the wheel. It’s difficult to tell the size of the external damage from the picture, but it’s clear that there is damage to the composite structure. Unfortunately you have no way of knowing how much of the structural integrity is compromised. While you may only be using it for racing, you are taking a gamble that the next pothole you hit isn’t going to finish off the wheel.

Either way, it’s your decision to make

5

Cracked carbon scares me. I wouldn’t ride the wheel…you’re gambling your neck that it’s fine from a structural standpoint.

I’d go after the guy with the paypal/ebay resolution center for not disclosing this.

It’s probably fine, but paranoid carbon people like myself might as well chime in with our paranoia.

6

In my opinion you have grounds to return this wheel for a refund since the seller did not disclose it in the auction. Why worry about the safety of it if you don’t have to?

7

X2
Structural integrity may be compromised, you never know
.

8

No go. It’s busted

Since it is on the brake track, it will just get worse and worse. Return it.

9

looks like it’s deep inside cracked … not only the coating but it’s craked over at least 8 mm … so about 1/5 of the total profile.
2 scenarios :

  1. the best one : the crack will extend to the zone (if not already there) of contact with the tubular, damage it … and get flat.
  2. the worst case : the crack extend in heavy ponctual load, and brake the wheel … resulting to a crash !
    We see some wheels like this one, and some clients want to have it repaired, which is possible. But integrity will never be the same.
    Better return the wheel to the previous owner. Sorry !
10

I’d send it back to the seller with a flea in his ear… it’s damaged goods, he should not have been selling it.
A chip isn’t a big issue but this looks more like a crack to me. I wouldn’t ride it.

11

Hi,
It is likely ok for use, but that could also be the result of an impact with a hole in the road…the pad wear looks a bit odd to the side of the chip. still, unless it gives very pulsodic (my new made up word for a rythmic pulse :slight_smile: braking action, it is ok.

 Pulsating - Just not good enough anymore. :D :D :D

John

12

Send 'em back! I have chips like those in my Zipp’s… only thing is I am the one that put them there, and I know exactly how it happened… I used them as tubular cross wheels. I heard them crack as I hit roots!!

Don’t get me wrong, it’s my own fault, but my point is simply that those chips didn’t get there because grit got into the brake pads, you know?