What's your disc brake pad mileage?
#1
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What's your disc brake pad mileage?
I'm new to hydraulic discs. I've read several things here and there stating a wide range of mileage that one gets from their pads. I was just wondering how often you're replacing yours? I know it can be quite dependent on the environment your ride in. I'll be riding in dry weather on flat roads and probably never encounter rain.
Sorry if this is a rather N00b question but I'm starting from ground zero as far a disc experience goes. I guess I was just wondering if I should start to load up on pads when I see a sale on them.
Sorry if this is a rather N00b question but I'm starting from ground zero as far a disc experience goes. I guess I was just wondering if I should start to load up on pads when I see a sale on them.
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5000 plus and counting. Still on my first set. I bought pads at about 3000 just to be ready.
Wide range of values you are seeing are likely because some people are in areas with high demands for braking and others are in areas where you can just let the hammer down for the entire ride.
I also suspect some ride the brakes more on turns and others are more confident of their line and speed through the turn.
Wide range of values you are seeing are likely because some people are in areas with high demands for braking and others are in areas where you can just let the hammer down for the entire ride.
I also suspect some ride the brakes more on turns and others are more confident of their line and speed through the turn.
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Low. Under 1K. I ride lots of hills and abrasive dirt.
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I recently had to put new pads on the front of my Orbea Avant with Shimano mechanical disc brakes. I am estimating at least 6000 miles, max of 8,000. I have a new set for the rear, just have not done it yet. I live in flatland and do a lot of rural, small town riding, so braking is minimum, all pads last a long time.
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I probably go through a set of rear pads once per year, so about 6,000 miles or so. I live in a fairly flattish metro area, so it's a lot of stop & go but not a lot of hard braking for descents or the like.
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I'm new to hydraulic discs. I've read several things here and there stating a wide range of mileage that one gets from their pads. I was just wondering how often you're replacing yours? I know it can be quite dependent on the environment your ride in. I'll be riding in dry weather on flat roads and probably never encounter rain.
Sorry if this is a rather N00b question but I'm starting from ground zero as far a disc experience goes. I guess I was just wondering if I should start to load up on pads when I see a sale on them.
Sorry if this is a rather N00b question but I'm starting from ground zero as far a disc experience goes. I guess I was just wondering if I should start to load up on pads when I see a sale on them.
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Anywhere between 5,000 and 6,000km. But I ride up (and down) a LOT of hills.
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BTW... thanks for all the replies
Last edited by TakingMyTime; 08-01-22 at 04:48 PM. Reason: spelling
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4k+ at the moment on the original set. However, I do not have hills or mountains so, I expect to have 6K at a minimum
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Just changed my brakes at 3.5k miles. Im also curious about how often people change the disk.
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#14
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I have a 2015 road bike with probably 22000+ miles and just changed rotors this year at 1.4mm thickness, (1.5 mm spec min on rotor), I've propbably changed my front brake pad 3-4 times and my rear twice (I mostly use my front brake). I replace the pads by measurement (<1mm).
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I swapped one recently, a Shimano IceTech, Ultegra-level, 160mm jobber. I think that it had about 16,000 - 18,000 miles on it. This was, again, on the rear, which I tend to wear out more quickly than the front.
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Just goes to show the individual nature of it. I just replaced the front rotor on my gravel bike after 10k miles -- it was measuring less than 1.5mm thick with my caliper. Rear rotor is still at 1.6mm or so.
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I tend to go through rotors about once a year or so. I find the center-lock ones (which also have better cooling fins) seem to last longer.
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Also, changed the front caliper as I was too frustrated with its performance of it and sticky pistons - no matter what I did. Was very frustrated with it and decided to just get a new one. Only realized that there is a rebuild kit for them and its quite easy to rebuild them. Truth be told, I also snapped a mounting bolt on it with my f***up torque wrench. Lots of lessons were learned in this work.
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wonder if you sand them down every so often? Just replaced both front and back as my rear had deep grooves in it from lack of care and worn-out back brakes.
Also, changed the front caliper as I was too frustrated with its performance of it and sticky pistons - no matter what I did. Was very frustrated with it and decided to just get a new one. Only realized that there is a rebuild kit for them and its quite easy to rebuild them. Truth be told, I also snapped a mounting bolt on it with my f***up torque wrench. Lots of lessons were learned in this work.
Also, changed the front caliper as I was too frustrated with its performance of it and sticky pistons - no matter what I did. Was very frustrated with it and decided to just get a new one. Only realized that there is a rebuild kit for them and its quite easy to rebuild them. Truth be told, I also snapped a mounting bolt on it with my f***up torque wrench. Lots of lessons were learned in this work.
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Wide range of values you are seeing are likely because some people are in areas with high demands for braking and others are in areas where you can just let the hammer down for the entire ride.
I also suspect some ride the brakes more on turns and others are more confident of their line and speed through the turn.
I also suspect some ride the brakes more on turns and others are more confident of their line and speed through the turn.
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I tried it. I had a new rotor damaged by a pad that was beyond end-of-life (kid was on the bike, we were in an active wildfire zone, and no time and nowhere to stop and deal with the problem). I wanted to see if I could salvage it, as it looked a bit pitted but otherwise ok. It only made it worse.
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Still good? Having trouble finding replacement GRX brake pads for the gravel bike. I am so used to auto brake pads. These bike pads look done to me but they are not to what I assume is the warning track.
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Shimano pads were nowhere to be found (other than price-gougers) earlier in the year and I wouldn't be surprised if that was still the case. I was in dire need and ended up going with some compatible pads from Kool Stop.
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In general, if the spring clip isn't rubbing the rotor, I'm fine with it, but Shimano does have a min thickness spec out there - should be easy enough to find.
Shimano pads were nowhere to be found (other than price-gougers) earlier in the year and I wouldn't be surprised if that was still the case. I was in dire need and ended up going with some compatible pads from Kool Stop.
Shimano pads were nowhere to be found (other than price-gougers) earlier in the year and I wouldn't be surprised if that was still the case. I was in dire need and ended up going with some compatible pads from Kool Stop.
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I’m at 10,000 miles currently on the original set of pads.