Changing disc brake pads

Disc brake pads usually last much longer than V-brake pads. The material in the disc rotor is much harder than the material in the rim, allowing the disc brake pad to be much harder as well. Were you to use the material in the disc brake pad as a rim brake, the rim would wear away in next to no time. The harder material also means that the pad can touch the rotor as the wheel spins without slowing down significantly – so you don’t have to worry about a slight rubbing noise when you spin a wheel with a disc brake.

Make sure you get the right pad for the brake; the fittings and shapes vary between makes, and between models from the same make. Take the old ones along to your bike shop for comparison if you’re not sure. Even if you know the make, the shape will vary from model to model and from year to year. After fitting, new pads need to be bedded in – they don’t work properly until you’ve braked a few times. Once you’ve got the new pads in, find somewhere you can ride the bike safely with limited braking power. Ride along slowly, haul on the brakes and bring the bike to a halt. Repeat at increasing speeds, until you’re satisfied. This may take 10 or 20 repetitions. The pads on mechanical brakes…

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