After how many miles do you change your brake pads?
Posted by Helpful-Beyond167@reddit | ebikes | View on Reddit | 31 comments
I’ve got 222 miles on my Lectric XPeak 2.0, and the rear brake pad already looks like it’s halfway worn down. Is that normal? Just trying to get a sense of what others are experiencing.
chuckwolf@reddit
what are you doing to wear your pads down so fast, I have a philodo H8 with over 4000 miles on it and it's still got tons left on it's stock brake pads
Helpful-Beyond167@reddit (OP)
Nothing weird! That’s why I was a bit like, WTF? and decided to ask here. I remember never having to change them on my MTB as a kid, but I figured since this is an e-bike—with more weight and speed—that might be the reason.
Ok_Fig705@reddit
I hate this subreddit.... Why are you using rear brakes..... Do you use rear brakes on bikes for stopping..... Noooooooo
This is what happens when you guys complain about dirt bike riders and these guys take over.... Now you guys don't even know how to brake properly
Helpful-Beyond167@reddit (OP)
Dude you need to smoke one
Blunttack@reddit
Curious what you’d use brakes for… if not stopping.
Ok_Fig705@reddit
For stability the front is for stopping rear is for balance. Unfortunately spandex nerds don't understand this even though it's identical in a car and now people have forgotten how to brake properly. Sadly now everyone is ending up in the hospital because they're using their back brakes
It's a whole thing and we're de evolving when it comes to bike riding because of Reddit and the people I posted in the photo ( Also this subreddit is the blind leading the blind while on meth )
Blunttack@reddit
Well now I gotta know how the rear brake helps with balance?
Ok_Fig705@reddit
The science is above my pay grade like physics. I'm just a smooth brainer. Maybe the street bike sub knows the science behind it
stormdelta@reddit
You use the rear brakes because overdoing it on the front brake causes you to go flying. Yes, you should be using both, but the rear brake tends to get used more.
Ganjaebiker84120@reddit
I changed mine at 600 mi because it was obvious they needed it by the mushy brake levers and squeakiness. YMMV
godzillabobber@reddit
I replaced my pads at 3000 miles. I tightened the cables 3 times in that same period. Mushy brakes are usually the brake cable stretching. Squeaky may just need the pads need to be cleaned and sanded..
JasperJ@reddit
Cables do not stretch. They might slip, though.
chrispark70@reddit
Yes they do. That's why there are barrel adjusters.
JasperJ@reddit
Uh, no. That not what barrel adjusters are for. You can get wear on the housing, you can get minor wear on other parts, you can have slippage, you can even have multiple strands of the cable breaking and causing maladjustment… but one thing you will never have in bike applications is the cable stretching.
chrispark70@reddit
Cables absolutely do stretch. Not only does it stretch, it changes length from season to season. It gets longer in the summer and shorter in the winter.
JasperJ@reddit
Ahhhhh. Ya got me. You really had me going!
Aidy3663@reddit
Several thousand miles with my Shimano resin pads
eyeshitunot@reddit
Coming up on 4000 miles on my Gazelle, still on the original pads which are nowhere near needing to be replaced.
Relative-Display-676@reddit
too many variables to give definitive answer. but i think OP is using their brakes wrong relying on rear brake primarily instead of the front one. usually front brakes have greater stopping power that rear, hence better bikes have bigger rotors on the front.
richardrc@reddit
I changed mine at 5,000 miles. I slow down before I have to brake, I ride lots of flat trails, and I don't ride much at 28mph.
chadismo@reddit
I go by a visual check
stormdelta@reddit
Whenever they need replacing, which varies drastically by bike.
E.g. my main e-bike has a dd hub motor with strong regen/motor braking. I basically never have to replace the pads, just adjust the cabling occasionally, because 90% of the momentum is usually taken by the motor/battery in normal conditions. So the pads only engage in emergency/rapid stops or to take out the last 4-5mph to a stop.
godzillabobber@reddit
Just replaced mine at 3000 miles. I've had the bike for a year.
IdidntWant2come@reddit
I just inspected my stock pads on my xp 3.0. I have about 1200 miles, and they are reading 3mm. I bought new ones just to have, and they read brand new 3.5mm. Some are 3.7mm depending on brand, etc. So there's still life left in mine. But it's not like they are expensive. But I find people worry about certain things too much and others not enough. So change them if you want. But I bet people are changing out damn near new pads just because they are so thin to begin with.
Obviously, there are a lot of factors to consider. But measure them, you'll have an answer that's factual instead of eyeballing it. The tool is like 7 bucks and nice to have.
Terrorphin@reddit
bikes are usually MUCH heavier than regular bikes, and stopping from MUCH higher speeds - they go through break pads MUCH faster than regular bikes - check them at 500 and then every 250 miles.
Scuttling-Claws@reddit
If you're rear brake is wearing out first, you need to use your front more. It provides a lot more stopping power.
Rattlingplates@reddit
When they’re work out. I get about 2500 miles per change.
Miguel_Legacy@reddit
An important part in keeping break pad longevity is to clean them with alcohol then sand them down until any glaze / glossiness is removed btw. One of my bikes has over 7,000 miles on it, I don't think I've changed the pads or maybe once.
Away-Revolution2816@reddit
On one of my bikes I changed the pads because they looked thin at about 1,000 miles. I probably had another 500 left on them. The new pads weren't much thicker. I saved the old ones for a visual reference next time.
DangerousAd1731@reddit
I change mine so often it's pretty annoying. Tried different kinds of pads too. Wish we had something more motorcycle like to last a long time.
owlhead999@reddit
Depending upon the brake pad material, I’ve had to change some pads after 500 miles or so. OTOH, I’ve found good success with sintered brake pads lasting over 1,000 miles.