Disc brakes: changing brake pads

Brake pads must be changed if they’ve worn down to less than a third of their original thickness, so replace them if you only have 0.5mm or less of compound left on the backing pad. You will also need to replace them if they have become contaminated. This could be the result of brake fluid leak, careless lubrication of the drivechain or other environmental factors.

Bedding in brand new brake pads is vital. If you skip this task you’ll find that you suffer both poor braking and vanishing disc pads. New pads need to be ’cooked’ to remove chemical residues left over from manufacture and harden the braking surface. You do this by braking to heat up the pad, then allowing it to cool, and repeating until the braking performance improves, so find yourself somewhere that you can ride safely without having particularly sharp brakes (ie not a busy A-road or a steep descent). Then ride along slowly, before braking until you’ve nearly come to halt. Repeat this process until the braking performance improves; it’s not unusual for it to take ten to twenty cycles. Be aware that the braking performance will improve suddenly so…

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