Maintenance
Brake Pads and Discs: Reading Wear Before It Becomes a Problem
Brakes give you warning signs long before they actually fail — most riders just don't know what to look for until a squeal forces the issue.
1. Reading pad wear properly
- Most pads have a groove or wear indicator cut into the material — when it disappears, the pad is at its limit
- Check pad thickness through the caliper visually every 1,000km, not just when something feels off
- Uneven wear (one pad thinner than the other) usually points to a sticking caliper pin, not just normal use
2. What discs are actually telling you
- Light scoring is normal; deep grooves you can feel with a fingernail mean it's time to check disc thickness against spec
- Warping shows up as a pulsing feeling through the lever, not just reduced stopping power
- Discoloration (bluish tint) suggests the disc has been overheated — worth having checked even if it still stops fine
A brake squeal is the easy warning to catch — a slowly softening lever feel is the one riders miss.
3. Fluid and feel matter as much as the pads
- Spongy lever feel usually means air in the line or fluid overdue for a change, not worn pads
- Brake fluid absorbs moisture over time even in a sealed system — follow the manufacturer's change interval, not just "when it feels off"
- A lever that sinks slowly under constant pressure signals a seal issue — get this checked, don't ride on it
Quick check routine
- Visual pad thickness check every 1,000km
- Disc surface felt by hand for grooving during a chain check
- Lever feel noted — any change from "normal" is worth investigating immediately
- Brake fluid changed on the manufacturer's schedule
None of this requires a workshop — five minutes of looking and feeling catches almost every brake issue before it becomes a genuine safety problem.