Bluffer’s -GUIDE-

BRAKE PADS

1 Organic

Organic brake pads are generally made up of Kevlar, rubber and silica, bound together with resin. The relatively soft material beds in quickly, remains quiet and provides excellent initial bite, especially at low temperatures. Pad life is short though, and power fades at high temperatures or in wet, gritty conditions.

2 Sintered

Made of a mixture of metallic particles pressed together, these o er a longer lifespan and better performance in the wet than organic pads. They also conduct heat away from the braking surface more readily and so tend to fade less on long descents. They can be noisy, and often provide little power when cold.

3 Semi-metallic

A compromise between the above options, these include both metallic and organic materials. They o er more initial bite and predictable power than sintered pads, but a longer lifespan and better wet-weather performance than organic pads.

4 Ceramic

Ceramic pads are widely used in motor racing due to their superior performance at very high temperatures. They’re seldom seen on bikes, as such temperatures are only reached on very long, steep descents. Those which are available tend to be expensive and use a mix of ceramic and metallic material.