Replace Worn Brake Pads

Don’t wait for that scraping sound. Here are the signs your brake pads are worn and step-by-step instructions on how to replace them.

- By Jim Langley

Time: 30 minutes

Shop Cost: R50 (labour only)

DIY difficulty: 2 out of 5

You will need

* Allen keys
* Flat screwdriver
* Pliers
* Water-pump pliers (optional)
* Isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol
* Replacement brake pads

LOOSEN the set screw with a screwdriver or the fixing bolt with an Allen key, then push the pad to slide it out of its holder. No screw or bolt? Pull out the pad with pliers or pry it out with a flat screwdriver. For direct-pull brakes, remove the pins with pliers, then slide out the pads.

TURN your brake-cable adjustment barrel clockwise until it’s fully screwed in.

SLIDE the new pad on, according to the directional marks. replace any screw, bolt, or pin you removed, or use water-pump pliers to push the pad into the holder. To ease a tight fit, wet the pad with isopropyl alcohol–it reduces friction and evaporates quickly.

Work on one brake at a time so you always have an intact brake to reference.

Signs Your Pads Are Worn

You Hear: A gritty, scraping sound. The metal of the brake shoe is hitting the rim.
You See: The grooves in the pad have all but disappeared.
You Feel: A stickiness when you brake. Your pad is worn unevenly and may be catching under the rim.

5 Reasons Your Brake Pads Wear Quickly

1. Wet and muddy conditions invite grit to become embedded in your pads. Use a pointy object to pick debris from the rubber.
2. Your rims are dirty. Clean them with alcohol and a mildly abrasive kitchen sponge.
3. You ride the brakes on descents. Chill out and ease up.
4. Your rim is damaged or your wheel is out of true.
5. They grip better when slightly worn, thus reducing wear on rims, which cost more to replace.