Changing the brake pads on a bike

Optimal braking is essential for safe riding, and brake performance - which is largely dependent on the condition of the brake pads - must be faultless. 
It is therefore important to inform you about the service life of the brake pads, how often they should be changed and how to check for wear before explaining how to replace them.

As you can imagine, these parameters depend to a large extent on how you use your bike.

This is because the brake pads on a bike you use for trail riding or city cycling and those on a downhill bike, where the brakes are under extreme stress, will logically not wear out at the same rate.

So in MTB, depending on your riding, the life of the brake pads varies from a few days to several months. Weather conditions also play a role in the premature wear of your brake pads. You brake more often in the rain, and dirt and mud tend to get stuck on various bike parts, so your brake pads are sure to be in need of replacing more regularly in bad weather. The type of brake (disc, drum, etc.), or the choice of brake pad materials, also has some influence on the life and replacement frequency of the brake pads.

One last thing: if you are an experienced mountain biker and prefer to leave the mechanical maintenance of your bike to a professional, we recommend that you have your brakes and your entire MTB checked in a workshop once a year.

When it comes to inspecting your bike, nothing tops paying attention to what you feel, hear or see as you ride! You're the one who is riding, so it's you who will know. So if your ears pick up an unpleasant squeaking sound when braking, or your braking feels less effective and powerful, there's a very good chance that your brake pads are damaged. Of course, you should not delay in changing them, because with a worn and unreplaced bike part, you run the risk of damaging the mechanics of other parts of your bike. It goes without saying that it's also a matter of your safety.

To check the wear on your brake pads, you'll need to remove them and measure their thickness. If it is less than 1 mm your brake pads need to be replaced. Additionally, there are other indicators that can tell you that your brake pads need to be replaced. For example, this is the case when on visual inspection they look very worn, or if their state leaves somewhat to be desired (dirt, grease, brake fluid, etc.)

There are three types of brake pads:

● organic or resin version,
● metallic version,
● and the semi-metallic version. 

If you use disc brakes, be aware that some discs are only compatible with a certain type of brake pad. We recommend that you first check which type of brake pads your disc brakes are compatible with, or ask a specialist at one of our stores or workshops.

Organic/resin brake pads are the most common. They are mainly used on road, MTB and city bikes. They offer fast braking (even when cold), sharpness and bite, but wear more quickly. At high temperatures, they tend to be a little less efficient.

Compared with resin brake pads, metallic brake pads provide braking that is more ramped (gradual), ideal in rainy weather. Metallic brake pads are well suited to MTB enduro and downhill, during which the brakes are used more frequently and aggressively. Indeed, braking is optimal once they have warmed up. You'll need to make one or two descents to take full advantage of their braking power. Finally, although they are more durable than resin pads because they are stronger, metal pads are also slightly more expensive.

It is a compromise, a mix between resin and metal. The aim is to combine the best of both materials: effective cold and hot braking. Be aware that, as with any compromise, the efficiency is slightly lower when cold compared to organic pads and when hot compared to metal pads. However, this proves to be a wise choice for mixed courses on which the brakes do not always stay hot.

Check out Nicolas' tips on how to choose your disc brakes. 

🔧 To replace your worn brake pads with a new pair, you will need:

● a workshop stand (not compulsory)
● a brake cleaner
● a pair of gloves,
● a clean and dry cloth,
● a set of Allen keys
● a pair of flat pliers (for some brake models)

... and a little patience ;) !

To change your bike's brake pads, place it on a workshop stand, or turn it over and place it on the saddle.
Then remove the wheel by unscrewing the wheel axle. If you find the latter difficult to unscrew, In this case, use a degreaser to free it up.

Move the pistons slightly apart from each other using a pad spreader (a large flathead screwdriver will do). You can then loosen the safety pin using a pair of pliers or the Allen key depending on your brake model. Lastly, remove the brake pads. Don't forget the return spring that holds them in place and pushes the pads against the brake pistons. Note however that the spring is not required such as models with magnetised pistons.

Before replacing your brake pads, we recommend that you clean the braking system of your MTB with a clean, dry cloth and brake cleaner (brake cleaner is an aggressive product, so we recommend that you wear gloves). Make sure to thoroughly clean the rotors, pistons and callipers.The entire braking system must be completely clean and dry.

To fit your new brake pads, you simply need to do the reverse of what you just did.

► To begin with, gently push the pistons apart using a pad spreader or flat screwdriver, being careful not to damage the pistons, then position the return spring between the two pads (for some models, especially vented pads, care must be taken to respect the position of the pads: one is stamped right and the other left).
► Then slide this assembly into the bracket slot, and replace the pin.

All that's left is for you to put your wheel back on and spin it without applying the brakes to make sure that the brake pads don't rub against the rotor. If they do touch that means the caliper alignment needs to be re-adjusted.

Don't forget to break in your new brake pads for optimal braking. We advise you to brake between 20 and 30 times at medium speed, without blocking the wheel to achieve this.

Looking for a video tutorial on how to change the brake pads on hydraulic disc brakes? Click here! ⤵️

What you need to know about bedding-in your brakes
Alternate between your front and rear brakes at each step; this helps ensure the pads and discs (rotors) are properly ventilated between each braking action. For best results this should be done with the rider's weight on the bike. The goal is to create a uniform braking surface between the disc and the pads.
Apply the brakes gradually, for two reasons. Firstly, so that the pads are in contact with both the pad holders and the rotor (disc), creating a shared interface. Secondly, to gradually warm up the pads and the rotor (disc).

💡 We strongly recommend following the bed-in steps to the letter.

Before you start the bed-in process:
- If you're not replacing the brake pad shoes: in this case, cleaning the disc (rotor) with a degreasing agent made for that purpose, or an isopropyl alcohol based cleaning fluid, and a clean cloth, should be sufficient.
- If you are changing the pad holders (i.e., switching from semi-metallic to organic pads): in that case, we strongly recommend also replacing the disc (rotor).
The entire process should take around 30 minutes and require a bit of effort (good practice for your rides💪) in order to do the bed-in correctly and have effective braking.
If you need to replace both your front and rear disc brake pads, we recommend alternating between the front and rear brakes as you perform the following three steps. This will keep the pads from overheating.

What you need
- put on your usual protective gear (i.e., helmet)
- attach your bike computer or GPS to the bike
- pick a location that is safe (riding in a straight line, a dead-end street, park, car park, etc.)
- the ground should be flat and dry to avoid water or mud splashing onto the brakes. This is important to ensure your brakes are properly bed-in.  

Step by Step Procedure
STEP 1: RIDE THE BIKE AT 15KM/H
Ride the bike until you reach a speed of 15 km/h
Apply a single brake until you slow down to 5 km/h without stopping.
Release the brake and ride for another 20-30 meters to ensure the disc and caliper are properly ventilated.
Repeat 10 times, alternating between the front and rear brakes.

Step 2: RIDE THE BIKE AT 20KM/H
Ride the bike until you reach a speed of 20 km/h
Apply a single brake until you slow down to 5 km/h without stopping.
Release the brake and ride for another 20-30 meters to ensure the disc and caliper are properly ventilated.
Repeat 10 times, alternating between the front and rear brakes.

Step 3: RIDE THE BIKE AT 25KM/H
Ride the bike until you reach a speed of 25 km/h
Apply a single brake until you slow down to 5 km/h without stopping.
Release the brake and ride for another 20-30 meters to ensure the disc and caliper are properly ventilated.
Repeat 10 times, alternating between the front and rear brakes.

If you see a rainbow pattern on your discs and find that your braking is less effective (squeaking or other abnormal noises, poor braking, etc.), this means that your brake pads are "frozen" (pads have overheated and have a smooth and shiny surface). In this case, please take your bike to the nearest Decathlon Workshop.

To help your brake pads last longer, we recommend avoiding skidding or braking too roughly. We also recommend cleaning your brake callipers after riding in the rain, or through mud or dust.

⚠️ Also, if you decide to replace your brake pads right after a ride, make sure that your brake rotors (discs) have sufficiently cooled down so you don't burn your fingers.

Does your child also ride a mountain bike? In this article we explain how to care for their brakes.

For some, the operation may seem rather simple, but for others it may not seem so, and this is understandable, especially when you realise how important an efficient and reliable braking system is.
So if you prefer to go to a professional to replace your brake pads, you should expect to pay around 40 Euros, provided that this is the only adjustment needed on your bike.

👍 Need a hand? Visit the nearest Decathlon workshop, or one of our partner bike shops, or call one of our partners who will make a home visit.