Disc Brakes and maintence costs
#51
I have never seen fussy mechanical rim brakes...but I am not a big Sram guy. By contrast, I have a whole lot of experience with fussy mechanical and hydraulic disc brakes. A whole nother layer of complexity.
So I basically adopt a simple mantra about brakes. I would only put up with the cost and hassle of hydraulic disc brakes as I concede they are 'better'...if I lived in the mountains or very hilly terrain with a lot of descending. Otherwise, I will save my $$ and the weight and the hassle and go with rim brakes. Modern rim brakes honestly are about the lowest priority for me. Never think about them.
So I basically adopt a simple mantra about brakes. I would only put up with the cost and hassle of hydraulic disc brakes as I concede they are 'better'...if I lived in the mountains or very hilly terrain with a lot of descending. Otherwise, I will save my $$ and the weight and the hassle and go with rim brakes. Modern rim brakes honestly are about the lowest priority for me. Never think about them.
#52
dot dash
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Land of Pleasant Living
Posts: 12,569
Bikes: Shmikes
Liked 6,168 Times
in
3,320 Posts
I bought a fairly simple Fluke for my lab many years ago (with taxpayer funds). I have two cheapish ones at home—needed to get the second one for the Hall effect pincer, and a credit-card size, but totally functional, one in the tool box on the boat. I think one of mine reads capacitance.
#53
Senior Member
#54
Senior Member
I've had SRAM mechanical discs and Shimano hydraulic discs. The SRAM mechanicals were fussy. I hated them. The Shimano hydraulics -- thousands of miles on three different bikes -- have been almost maintenance free. The only maintenance has been an annual pad replacement on my gravel bike (whether needed or not, and very easy to do) at about 8,000 miles. If the brakes had been rim brakes, the maintenance costs would have been about the same. Hydraulic discs don't impose ANY additional maintenance costs in my experience. Once set up, you can pretty much forget them.
#55
Yes, no problem at all. I've never worn them down near the backing. And I live in an extremely hilly area -- base of the Cumberland Plateau / Smoky Mountains -- but I rarely have to use my brakes. Maybe that's the difference. Do you live in a city or suburb where you have to use your brakes every block or every mile? I mentally went through a 70-mile ride that I take at least once per month from my home. In those 70 miles, there are 6 stop signs and 3 stop lights. The descents are 8% to 15%, but there aren't stops at the bottom -- no reason to use brakes. When I ride gravel, I tend to steer using the rear brake, so those pads wear more quickly -- but I don't ride nearly as many miles on gravel, so those pads still last a year or two. If you live in a more congested area, you probably use your brakes a lot more times per mile than I do. (I probably average about 1 brake application for every 10 miles.)
#56
Senior Member
Yes, no problem at all. I've never worn them down near the backing. And I live in an extremely hilly area -- base of the Cumberland Plateau / Smoky Mountains -- but I rarely have to use my brakes. Maybe that's the difference. Do you live in a city or suburb where you have to use your brakes every block or every mile? I mentally went through a 70-mile ride that I take at least once per month from my home. In those 70 miles, there are 6 stop signs and 3 stop lights. The descents are 8% to 15%, but there aren't stops at the bottom -- no reason to use brakes. When I ride gravel, I tend to steer using the rear brake, so those pads wear more quickly -- but I don't ride nearly as many miles on gravel, so those pads still last a year or two. If you live in a more congested area, you probably use your brakes a lot more times per mile than I do. (I probably average about 1 brake application for every 10 miles.)
#57
Occam's Rotor
I have yet to find anyone posting here who is as extreme a case as I am, so I think you can fairly safely regard this as an upper bound.
#58
I eat carbide.
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Elgin, IL
Posts: 21,639
Bikes: Lots. Van Dessel and Squid Dealer
Liked 1,324 Times
in
569 Posts
Just like there are people who will never work on their own stuff no matter how easy we make it there are people who will always do the opposite and work on everything regardless of how hard it is. That spread across generations seems pretty consistent.
__________________
PSIMET Wheels, PSIMET Racing, PSIMET Neutral Race Support, and 11 Jackson Coffee
Podcast - YouTube Channel
Video about PSIMET Wheels
Podcast - YouTube Channel
Video about PSIMET Wheels
#59
For the record We can leave the generational bit out of this one.. Her boyfriend just doesn't like tools. I'm GenX and have made a living with tools (mechanical, electrical, plumbing, machining, and even computer based tools) my whole life. I know older people who have as well as younger people.
Just like there are people who will never work on their own stuff no matter how easy we make it there are people who will always do the opposite and work on everything regardless of how hard it is. That spread across generations seems pretty consistent.
Just like there are people who will never work on their own stuff no matter how easy we make it there are people who will always do the opposite and work on everything regardless of how hard it is. That spread across generations seems pretty consistent.
You and I are similar even though I believe I am older. Both graduate engineers that like to work with our hands. Btw, you know that many engineers can't do what you do or what I do. I have worked with countless. It is largely a DNA thing and yes does cross generational lines...but...back when I was little, we built our own stuff from scratch. I built my first minibike from a bicycle I combined with tubing and cut the base of a horizonal shaft lawnmower off with hacksaw and U clamped to the make shift frame. Wish I had a picture. It had a mercury clutch and solid wheelbarrow wheels. That was my first minibike. My second, was much more refined. I built everything. I just don't see kids doing that today. They buy stuff. They buy their first minibike or their parents do for them. My experience.
I don't know anybody in my town who can tune a bicycle as well as me. Maybe at the bike shop but they generally don't because they don't have the time...or are too busy.
I know there are some brilliant kids coming up building stuff. Don't believe kids today have the hands on experience because they don't have to and many things aren't built for service like they were back in my day.
Will leave you with a funny story you may appreciate as an example that society with its throwaway nature hasn't changed that much. 50 years ago when I was 10 years old and I walked into a lawnmower shop and asked the man behind the counter if he had a 3hp Briggs and Straton with horizontal shaft in the back room he would sell me cheap for a go kart... he looked at me carefully and said yes I do sonny and can pretty much guess what is wrong with it. 5 bucks and its yours. What is wrong with it sir?...I asked. You called adults sir back then. Flywheel key. We change a lot of engines because the fly wheel key shears and the motor loses its timing. Throwaway perfectly good engines because of a sheared flywheel key.
Years later when I was in college and home for break there was a little kid on the end of my street who couldn't get his minibike to run. I saw the kid working on it and he reminded me of me. It had a Briggs on its like many did back then. I said, well let me take a look at it. I removed the flywheel and the key was sheered but not broken. I told the kid to hand this to his Dad and go to the lawnmower shop and pick up a new 50 cent (in the day) key. He said he would. I installed it for him and the kid was back up and running.
His Dad found out about it and gave me a job while I worked myself through engineering school. What goes around comes around.
Last edited by Campag4life; 01-27-19 at 05:19 AM.
#60
member
It is highly dependent upon how much you use them. In my case, I wear through probably 4 sets of pads per year, and one set of rotors per year. So $250 in parts, and I do my own labor.
I have yet to find anyone posting here who is as extreme a case as I am, so I think you can fairly safely regard this as an upper bound.
I have yet to find anyone posting here who is as extreme a case as I am, so I think you can fairly safely regard this as an upper bound.
#61
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: TC, MN
Posts: 39,521
Bikes: R3 Disc, Haanjo
Liked 9,462 Times
in
4,673 Posts
I'm assuming that they're reaching the manufacturer's min thickness spec or close enough that it makes sense to do it on an annual schedule.
#62
Occam's Rotor
Compared to road biking at high speeds in the hills, mountain biking isn't that hard on your brakes (unless you are doing a lot of downhill racing). Also, I think the rotors are a lot larger for downhill, which means much more surface area to spread the wear around, and better heat dissipation, both of which probably contribute to longer life.
Having said that, you probably should get new rotors and pads before you think you need them.
#63
Occam's Rotor
You guys do realize that Generation X (as defined by the guy who wrote the book with that title) started as early as 1961?
I was born in 1963, and definitely identify with GenX rather than post WWII-BabyBoomers. (Their whole mind-set is very different, but I have no idea how that would extend to tool-use, which dates back to the origin of old-world primates, as well as some of Darwin's Galapagos finches.)
I was born in 1963, and definitely identify with GenX rather than post WWII-BabyBoomers. (Their whole mind-set is very different, but I have no idea how that would extend to tool-use, which dates back to the origin of old-world primates, as well as some of Darwin's Galapagos finches.)
Last edited by Cyclist0108; 01-27-19 at 12:07 PM.
#64
Occam's Rotor
Your experience is like mine. How long does your front rotor last? I'm guessing about 4000.
#65
You guys do realize that Generation X (as defined by the guy who wrote the book with that title) started as early as 1961?
I was born in 1963, and definitely identify with GenX rather than post WWII-BabyBoomers. (Their whole mind-set is very different, but I have no idea how that would extend to tool-use, which dates back to the origin of old-world primates, as well as some of Darwin's Galapagos finches.)
I was born in 1963, and definitely identify with GenX rather than post WWII-BabyBoomers. (Their whole mind-set is very different, but I have no idea how that would extend to tool-use, which dates back to the origin of old-world primates, as well as some of Darwin's Galapagos finches.)
Further, level of affluence affects capacity of junior to go out in the garage and build something. Gen X'ers by and large have been richer raised by Boomer's who have given them more stuff. If Junior is given everything, he isn't inclined to build anything.
#66
Senior Member
That's surprisingly close to what I get out of mine. Lot of hilly urban miles, and unpredictable drivers.
#67
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Annapolis, MD
Posts: 157
Bikes: BMC Teammachine SLR02 Disc, Cannondale CAAD 4
Likes: 0
Liked 16 Times
in
10 Posts
About to get my first disc bike so forgive my ignorance...curious if there is any type of aural pad-life indicator like one would find on automotive disc brakes (i.e. little metal tab that makes a horrendous noise when the pad wears away).
#68
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: USA
Posts: 2,190
Bikes: Ti, Mn Cr Ni Mo Nb, Al, C
Liked 528 Times
in
350 Posts
There is a spring catch that is made of metal but you don't want it scraping your discs as an indicator of when they need to be changed. You should check the pads periodically and change them if they get too close.
#69
Advanced Slacker
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 6,252
Bikes: Soma Fog Cutter, Surly Wednesday, Canfielld Tilt
Liked 2,571 Times
in
1,451 Posts
Sure. Just like with cars, there is a metal on metal noise that tells you that you should have already replaced your pads.
#70
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Pacific Northwest
Posts: 1,992
Bikes: Argon 18 Gallium, BH G7, Rocky Mountain Instinct C70
Liked 513 Times
in
306 Posts
They wear down. Not as fast as the pads, but they still wear thin. Once they wear thin, braking deteriorates, and there is too much play in the lever. I let them go a little bit past the Shimano recommended replacement thinness, but if you go too far, you break through the outer surface, and then things really go to hell.
#72
faster downhill
bike disc brakes operate identically to automotive disc brakes, which have proven to be very maintenance friendly and perform very efficiently.
there is no reason to bleed brakes unless the hydraulic system is opened due to leak or replacing a defective component. when is the last time you bled the brakes on your car unless the mechanic upsold you to a brake fluid flush? the brake lever pull will slowly fade as the pads wear and when they are replaced brake lever returns, same as your brakes feel better on your car when you replace the brake pads. Your cars brakes do not require bleeding when replacing pads, nor does your bike. overheating brakes can cause damage but that is extreme and unlikely and just a likely to happen with rim brakes.
there are certainly two camps and both systems work well and continue to improve with technology.
I would certainly prefer disc brakes on my loaded touring bike, rim brakes are great on a light road bike.
there is no reason to bleed brakes unless the hydraulic system is opened due to leak or replacing a defective component. when is the last time you bled the brakes on your car unless the mechanic upsold you to a brake fluid flush? the brake lever pull will slowly fade as the pads wear and when they are replaced brake lever returns, same as your brakes feel better on your car when you replace the brake pads. Your cars brakes do not require bleeding when replacing pads, nor does your bike. overheating brakes can cause damage but that is extreme and unlikely and just a likely to happen with rim brakes.
there are certainly two camps and both systems work well and continue to improve with technology.
I would certainly prefer disc brakes on my loaded touring bike, rim brakes are great on a light road bike.
#73
Full Member
bike disc brakes operate identically to automotive disc brakes, which have proven to be very maintenance friendly and perform very efficiently.
there is no reason to bleed brakes unless the hydraulic system is opened due to leak or replacing a defective component. when is the last time you bled the brakes on your car unless the mechanic upsold you to a brake fluid flush? the brake lever pull will slowly fade as the pads wear and when they are replaced brake lever returns, same as your brakes feel better on your car when you replace the brake pads. Your cars brakes do not require bleeding when replacing pads, nor does your bike. overheating brakes can cause damage but that is extreme and unlikely and just a likely to happen with rim brakes.
there are certainly two camps and both systems work well and continue to improve with technology.
I would certainly prefer disc brakes on my loaded touring bike, rim brakes are great on a light road bike.
there is no reason to bleed brakes unless the hydraulic system is opened due to leak or replacing a defective component. when is the last time you bled the brakes on your car unless the mechanic upsold you to a brake fluid flush? the brake lever pull will slowly fade as the pads wear and when they are replaced brake lever returns, same as your brakes feel better on your car when you replace the brake pads. Your cars brakes do not require bleeding when replacing pads, nor does your bike. overheating brakes can cause damage but that is extreme and unlikely and just a likely to happen with rim brakes.
there are certainly two camps and both systems work well and continue to improve with technology.
I would certainly prefer disc brakes on my loaded touring bike, rim brakes are great on a light road bike.
#74
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: USA
Posts: 2,190
Bikes: Ti, Mn Cr Ni Mo Nb, Al, C
Liked 528 Times
in
350 Posts
So if you look at the top you will see the spring clip I was talking about. If you look at the bottom right you will see the relation of the pad to the spring clip. You do not want the pad wearing down to where the spring clip comes in contact with your disc.
#75
bike disc brakes operate identically to automotive disc brakes, which have proven to be very maintenance friendly and perform very efficiently.
there is no reason to bleed brakes unless the hydraulic system is opened due to leak or replacing a defective component. when is the last time you bled the brakes on your car unless the mechanic upsold you to a brake fluid flush? the brake lever pull will slowly fade as the pads wear and when they are replaced brake lever returns, same as your brakes feel better on your car when you replace the brake pads. Your cars brakes do not require bleeding when replacing pads, nor does your bike. overheating brakes can cause damage but that is extreme and unlikely and just a likely to happen with rim brakes.
there are certainly two camps and both systems work well and continue to improve with technology.
I would certainly prefer disc brakes on my loaded touring bike, rim brakes are great on a light road bike.
there is no reason to bleed brakes unless the hydraulic system is opened due to leak or replacing a defective component. when is the last time you bled the brakes on your car unless the mechanic upsold you to a brake fluid flush? the brake lever pull will slowly fade as the pads wear and when they are replaced brake lever returns, same as your brakes feel better on your car when you replace the brake pads. Your cars brakes do not require bleeding when replacing pads, nor does your bike. overheating brakes can cause damage but that is extreme and unlikely and just a likely to happen with rim brakes.
there are certainly two camps and both systems work well and continue to improve with technology.
I would certainly prefer disc brakes on my loaded touring bike, rim brakes are great on a light road bike.