Brake pads: how to know before it is too late

The warning your brakes give you before they fail

Brakes do not usually fail all at once. They warn you. The problem is most riders do not know what to listen and look for until they hear metal grinding on metal, and by then the cheap pad replacement has turned into a pad plus rotor job.

Brake pads are a wear item. Every stop shaves off a little material. Ride them to nothing and the metal backing plate grinds your rotor, which can mean a warped or scored disc and a much bigger bill.

Your brakes are not the place to gamble. A set of pads is one of the cheapest parts on your bike. A rotor is not, and your stopping distance is priceless.

The signs your pads are done

Watch and listen for these.

• A high pitched squeal or screech when you brake. Many pads have a wear indicator that squeals on purpose to warn you.
• Grinding or a metallic scraping. This is metal on metal. Stop riding and fix it now.
• Longer stopping distance or a spongy, weak lever or pedal.
• Vibration or pulsing through the lever, which can mean a warped rotor.
• Visibly thin pads. Less than about 2 to 3 mm of friction material left means it is time.

How to check them yourself in five minutes

1. 01Look at the caliper. On most bikes you can see the pads through a gap or by peering in from the side.
2. 02Estimate the remaining friction material, the soft pad part pressed against the rotor. New pads are usually 4 to 5 mm or more. At roughly 2 mm, replace them. At 1 mm or with the metal backing showing, do not ride.
3. 03Look for a wear groove or line on the pad. When the groove disappears, the pad is worn out.
4. 04Check both pads in each caliper. They can wear unevenly if a caliper piston is sticking.
5. 05While you are there, glance at the rotor. Deep grooves, a lip on the edge, or a blue tint from heat are all signs it needs attention.

Do not forget the rear brake. Riders often run rear pads down to nothing because they barely notice the wear.

Do not ignore the brake fluid

Pads get the attention, but fluid matters too. Brake fluid absorbs moisture over time, which lowers its boiling point and makes the lever feel soft, especially after hard stops. Most manufacturers recommend a fluid change every two years. If your fluid looks dark instead of clear gold, it is overdue.

A firm lever and clean fluid are as important as fresh pads. Soft, dark fluid is a sign your braking system needs service even if the pads look fine.

Get them checked before the season

Pads are easy to overlook because they fail slowly. A quick inspection at the start of riding season, and again mid season if you ride a lot, catches problems while they are still cheap.

If your brakes squeal, grind, or feel soft, do not wait. Our garage inspects pads, rotors, and fluid and can replace worn parts the same day. Book at our service shop or pick up pads and fluid in the store.