Brake pads also wear out faster when stopping quickly over a shorter distance instead of allowing a more gradual stop over a farther distance. The more you weigh, the more stopping power is needed to slow you down. In a similar vein, a rider's weight and braking style makes a big difference on how fast their brake pads wear out. The amount of friction required to stop a descending cyclist is far greater. This will sound straightforward, but if you do the majority of your training on flat ground, your brake pads will last longer than for someone who trains in a hilly area. Alcohol is a great way to clean dirty rims.Įlevation gain is another thing to keep in mind. If this is the case, be sure to remove any debris from your pads/surfaces once you return home from every ride or before you head out for your next ride. For example, if you live in an area with wet conditions, it's common for dirt and grime to stick to your rims and discs, which wear through your pads faster. Weather can change how often you should check (and replace) your pads. As mentioned above, always check your brake pads at least once a month to see if they need to be replaced. Things to Keep in Mindīoth rim and disc brakes wear at different rates depending on the conditions and task at hand. Replace when there's just over 1mm left-if you let it go too far, you run the risk of the metal behind the pad rubbing directly on the metal disc. Over time these pads will wear out, and at this point you'll notice you'll have to squeeze the lever a bit more to get the same stopping power. Notice when your brakes are new, there's less play in the brake lever. Disc brakes aren't without their flaws though-they're generally heavier and the pads wear out faster than rim brake pads (and can make some pretty terrible noises if not aligned properly).ĭisc brake pad thicknesses can vary, but generally they're about 4mm thick when new. Disc Brakesĭisc brakes have many advantages over rim brakes, including better performance in inclement weather and the ability to feather the brakes more precisely. Also, if you notice uneven wear, adjust where the pad makes contact with the rim or re-center the caliper so it applies even pressure on both sides. Simply monitor the depth of this tread, and once it's shallow (or nonexistent), it's time to replace. Most rim brake pads have some sort of "tread" that can be used to determine wear.
Despite this switch, the majority of bikes on the road today still feature rim brakes, and monitoring your brake pads couldn't be easier. With most Tour de France teams opting for bikes equipped with disc brakes, it seems rim brakes are going the way of newspapers and compact discs. So how can you tell when you need to replace your brake pads? Rim brakes and disc brakes have different criteria, but it's important to monitor wear on a monthly basis to not only prevent damage to your rotors or rims but guarantee maximum stopping power as well.
0 kommentar(er)
