\u00a9 2021 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. By stacking 3 business cards you can create a makeshift feeler gauge that is approximately 1mm. This article has been viewed 7,419 times. First, remember to close the quick-release on the brake caliper to bring the pads closer to the rim, and check that the brake shoe is properly positioned. If you haven’t replaced your pads in a couple of years then it is a good idea to get some new ones. Tools: Needle-nose pliers, flat head screwdriver, or hex wrench (usually three-millimeter). $8.99 $ 8. Tools you need to replace disc brake pads. Different brands may use different styles of pads, so they’re often not interchangeable. 2. Pads that have been overheated can harden the surface and become less effective at efficiently stopping the motorcycle; the telltale sign is a squealing sound and reduced performance. By using our site, you agree to our. Let’s start with the most obvious way to find out whether a brake pad is still usable. That will depend on how often you ride, what the terrain is like where you ride, and what conditions you ride in. Huckleberry Bicycles specializes in servicing, repairing, and custom building road, cross, gravel, touring, folding, and e-bikes. What’s also important is knowing when to change your brake pads. If the pads were too high on the rim, move them down until they’re centered. Take the new pad and check the directional arrow and the right/left indicator on it. If you have disc brakes in the rear you can do damage to the discs if you wait too long. Check the top of the pad for brake direction indicator (there are lefts and rights). Some systems use magnets instead. If you’ve got sintered, metal pads, you may not need to change them as often as you do with organic, resin pads. Step 3 - … A cotter pin looks kind of like a bobby pin. Follow these steps below to adjust your Calliper brake pads: Center your brakes. Changing them out takes just 10 to 15 minutes, without much in the way of specialized tools. If the pad is properly aligned and the system is dragging, check your barrel adjusters, just above the caliper. If your bike only has brakes on … 2. Worn brake pads can be dangerous, and lead to accidents. If you like how your brakes perform, you’ll want to stick with the same material as your existing pads. Place your bike in a repair stand and remove the wheel. Replace the wheel, close the caliper and then use the barrel adjuster to set the pad position relative to the rim. Unthread it, but don’t remove entirely—just back it out enough that you can start to wiggle the pad in the shoe. Skin oils will contaminate disc brake pads and cause noisy braking with decreased power. All in all, I will also check out my brake pads using this guide. There are two main classes of brakes: rim brakes and disc brakes. Give the wheel a good turn so it continues spinning freely and locate the small rotor plate. When replacing pads, note that they come in two different materials: resin/organic or metallic. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. You’ll often see a small set screw on the side of the brake shoe. There may not be enough room between the wheel and pads (which will be the case if you have adjusted the cable tension along the way) so you will need to adjust your brakes to provide a little more space. Brake pad replacement is a common service for rim caliper braking systems. Most of your braking is done with the front wheels, so the rears see very little action comparatively. Disc brake pads should be replaced before they are worn this thin. When your wheel is on the bike, the caliper goes over the disc. Step One: To change your brake pad, remove your old brake pad properly. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. I have roughly done about 1000 miles in last 6 months. If you can’t pull the pads right out, try pushing them inwards to release the spring mechanism before you pull them out. Tools you need; Caliper Brakes; Follow these steps below to adjust your Calliper brake pads: Disc Brakes ; V – Brakes. Disc brake pads come with about 3 to 4 mm of compound on the pad. You’ll see two (or sometimes four) flattish cylinders inside, sometimes with a stubby post in the center. This is generally when you’re down to 30% of the pads life. New brake pads will have more tread than your worn pads, as a result the distance between your wheel and the pad will change when they are replaced. Taking the time to learn how to change brake pads is something every dirt bike owner should do. Tools: Flashlight, Vernier calipers for measuring rotor width (disc only). Brake and gear cables are not interchangeable with each other. Brake pads usually have an “R” or “L” on them to indicate which side of the bike they go on, as well as an arrow to show which direction is the front. Gouges and grooves are signs of some foreign material in the pad. Open the quick-release skewer. Wear. On mechanical disc brakes, one brake pad sits right next to the motor and the other pad moves and squeezes it all together. It should go without saying, but to use a thin gear cable for a brake could have disastrous consequences. Take the wheel to a shop for inspection if you're concerned. While you keep using the pads, they lose their efficiency and material too early and easily. If so, you can use this instead of the old pin if you prefer. Wear. Subscribe to our What You Missed newsletter for the top headlines from the outdoor world, in your inbox six days a week. Use the flashlight to inspect the inside of the caliper. Spin the wheel. It’s OK (preferable, even) to have the front of the pad touch the rim slightly before the rear. Inspecting the amount of pad material that’s left on your brake pads should be a regular part of your bike maintenance routine, but well-worn pads are not the only ones that should be replaced. How To Change Road Bike Brake Pads. Watch the video and follow the steps below to learn how to perform a brake pad replacement on your bike. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Always renew brake pads in complete sets (e.g. If the barrel adjuster is fully backed off and it’s still too tight, you may need to adjust brake cable tension at the cable fixing bolt on the caliper. This will also improve your braking power. How often will your pads need to be replaced? Many disc brake pads are held in place by a horizontal screw or bolt. We’ve rounded up the best brake pads for cycling on road bikes with rim brakes. When we pulled apart my friend’s bike later, we found the braking material worn down to the shoe, creating dangerous metal-on-metal action.