How e-bike disc brakes wear and what makers say
Disc brake pads and rotors wear out, get dirty and sometimes squeal. These notes explain the parts, the wear signs and the terms in plain English, and they point you to the maker's own pages for the exact figures.
Brake notes
How E-Bike Disc Brakes WorkThe parts of a bicycle disc brake, from lever to rotor, and what each one does when you squeeze the lever.
Hydraulic and Mechanical Disc Brakes ComparedHow cable (mechanical) and fluid (hydraulic) disc brakes differ, and a simple way to tell which kind your e-bike has.
How to Tell When Brake Pads Are WornSigns that disc brake pads are worn or contaminated, the general thickness guide from Park Tool, and why your own maker's figure comes first.
Organic, Sintered and Other Brake Pad TypesWhat makers say about organic, sintered (metallic) and semi-metallic disc brake pads, and why switching types can mean a new rotor.
Bedding In New Pads and RotorsWhat bedding in means, why makers ask for it after new pads or rotors, and where to find the steps for your own brake.
Rotor Wear and Minimum ThicknessHow a worn disc brake rotor is spotted, what Park Tool says about measuring it, and why the maker's own minimum figure decides when to replace it.
Rotor Sizes and Mounting TypesWhat rotor diameter means, the common bicycle rotor sizes, and how six-bolt and Center Lock mounts differ.
Why Disc Brakes Squeal and How Makers Say to Clean ThemCommon causes of disc brake squeal and contamination, with what Park Tool, SRAM and iFixit say, and why your own maker's manual comes first.