Tell us the proper mechanism to replace disc brake pads. You can also upgrade your brake pads if you aren’t satisfied with the different materials best suited to other conditions. As of now, Paul Norman’s competition is closed, ending on the 20th May edition of the World Cycling Tour de France show us how the pads function and what you need for your bike’s disc brakes . We reveal the type of brake pad  when it’s all ready to get replaced. 

No matter whether hydraulic or mechanical, disc brakes function the same way. Two pads are pressed against the rotor to slow or stop your bike.

Like most things in cycling, Disc brake pads are a simple, consumable component found in various options.

You should regularly check for pad wear on your bike since your pads will get worn over time.

Changing or upgrading your brake pads is also an option if you’re not happy with the braking performance since different pads are suited to other driving conditions.

Would you mind telling me what disc brake pads you need for your bike? The following provides an overview of disc brake pads, including how they work, when they get replaced, and what materials are available.

Disc brake pads: how do they work?

As the name implies, disc brake pads are comprised of a braking material block, the brake lever attached to a metal backing plate. As a result of the metal plate, the brake surface is structurally rigid and does not move when the brake caliper is applied, which means it has a durability.

The disc pads on a bike are pushed against the ceramic spinning rotor by pistons in the calipers attached to the wheel hub.

The different types of disc brakes, such as the shimano disc brake pads, use magnetic pistons and pads in place of springs to prevent the pads from rattling when the brake is off.

During friction between the pad and brake rotor, heat is generated, and the brake pad’s layer of braking material is slowly worn down.

Some brakes come with metal plates to help remove heat from the brake and, in some cases, fins or other features to speed up the dissipation of heat.

In long-term hard braking, the pads can transfer enough heat to the caliper to boil the hydraulic fluid in the pistons, resulting in brake fade and affecting brake effectiveness.

Disc brake pads should be replaced when they wear out, Agree?

As a general rule of thumb, your disc brake pads should be replaced when their thickness has decreased to 1.5mm or less.

The amount of time it takes to happen depends on your riding style and the weather conditions, and the material used in your brakes.

Conditions such as wet and dirty will wear pads much faster than dry ones – you might even need to take a spare set on highly long rides and swap them halfway through. When you’re riding in dry conditions, your pads are likely to last much longer.

Extreme mountain biking, such as downhill mountain biking, will wear the pads more rapidly than leisurely cross-country mountain biking or general road biking.

The pads can also wear unevenly if they are not aligned correctly with the rotor – or when they are not in use, they could rub the rotor. Disc brake alignment and silence are covered in a separate article, replacing disc brake pads.

It’s essential to avoid metal-on-metal contact between the pad’s support and the rotor when it comes to pad wear since this will reduce braking performance and quickly damage the rotor.

For your bike, what disc brake pads do you need?

Do you know that brake pads wear? So, which types of pads are suitable?  Shimano brakes pads are made from various materials, so there’s more to selecting a pad than that. It would help if you chose the right option based on the riding you do and according to your brake levers. 

The following discusses the advantages and disadvantages of each type of pad: organic, sintered or semi-metallic also suited as the mountain bike brake pads. 

Disc brake pads made from organic materials

Kevlar, rubber, metal brake pads and silica make up organic disc brake pads, bound together with a resin. These are not metallic brake pads nor they contain any semi-metallic compound such as copper.

The organic pads are perfect for people who dislike the sound of noisy metal brake pads and who are concerned about their riding conditions. These are the quietest option and are also known as resin pads. Furthermore, you don’t have to warm up these brakes before they start working correctly. You can get any types of disc pad at mtb or the local bike shop.

Due to the organic compound, the mountain bike brake pads is more effectively insulated from the caliper, so that fewer rays are transferred to the brake fluid, though they are more prone to fading when braking for long periods. So if you are not satisfied with the current break pads, replace disc brake pads. 

You will also need to change your pads more frequently with an organic pad than with other options. It is complicated to ride in dirty or wet conditions, and the pads may glaze over, so reconditioning may be necessary for the mountain bike brake pads. 

If you live somewhere relatively flat and don’t ride technical descents with lots of braking, brake pads organic are a good option for summer use on road bikes with disc brakes or XC mountain bikes. Well their is a personal preference stored when choosing the modulation disc brakes. 

Disc brake pads that are sintered

A sintered pad, the bike brake pads is made from pressed together metallic particles or metal pads.

Since they can handle dirt and moisture better than organic pads, they should last longer for the rear brake. 

The metal content of sinter brake pads may transfer more heat to the brake fluid in the caliper than an organic brake pad, but they should still perform well at higher temperatures.

However, sintered brake pads require a long time to warm up before they begin to perform at their best, and they are also likely to make a lot more noise for the mountain bike brake pads despite working as a heat management. 

It is a good idea to use sintered disc brake pads if you enjoy extreme riding activities, such as downhill or enduro mountain biking, or if you ride in muddy conditions often.

Semi-metallic disc brake pads

The benefits of organic brake pads and sintered brake pads are combined with semi-metallic pads. But before that you need to understand the brake systems. 

Their composition is organic, and metal particles make them more durable as the metallic pads. 

On long descents, organic pads offer superior ultimate stopping power paired with quicker warm-up than sintered pads.

In addition to glazing, these pads are often the most expensive option. Organic pads are also less quiet.

For road and mountain bike riders, they’re an excellent choice since they’ll perform well in wet or dry conditions without sacrificing too much durability.

The use of different pad compounds when replacing disc brake pads

Rather than just replacing like with like, it might be worth experimenting with pads and pad compositions. You might choose organic pads for the summer because they are more powerful and quieter, and for the winter, you might opt for sintered pads because they are more durable.

It’s also possible to mix-and-match disc brake pads, putting a sintered or semi-metallic pad on the back and an organic pad on the front.

Although it is more durable, the organic front pad will wear out more quickly. It is not as crucial for your rear brakes to stop, and your front ones and the longer-lasting, weather-resistant pads should perform better.

As part of changing the pad compound, you should also change the brake rotors since the new pads won’t grip the layer of material laid down by the previous pads.

It won’t be a catastrophe to keep the same rotors – the new pads take longer to adjust for the mountain bike brake pads.

Other factors to take into account for the brake pads bike

Furthermore, a braking surface pad’s backing material is worth considering. In some cases, you won’t have a choice between alloy or steel backing plates, but the former saves a few grams and sometimes offers better heat dissipation.

Most notable are the titanium-backed pads when talking about the type of brakes. These brake pads wear but not totally as compared to any ordinary disc pads.

Disc brake pads with built-in cooling fins have also become increasingly common and is the best choice. Every disc pad is claimed to improve braking performance by using airflow to disperse heat rapidly when taking a good time riding experience in the mountain or gravel trails or in any adventureous space. 

If you are sure about replacing disc brake pads or the bmx brake pads, do connect with us as we have large array of metal brake pads, caliper brake pads, organic brake pads suitable for your mountain bike.