Pads for mechanical brakes

custardy

burtons wrote: »

They are cable operated disc brakes. I've read some pads are noisy and some wear down quickly but I'm not worried about how quick they wear down as long as they are quiet. I will need a pad that's good at stopping down hills as my road is pretty steep.
This is the type of pads I have but they don't have any maker marks so I believe they are original.

noise as in grinding or squealing?

burtons

custardy wrote: »

noise as in grinding or squealing?

I've just read some are noisy but the don't say if it's grinding or squealing. I've had people ride past me outside my house and the brakes are squealing but I don't know if this is from the brakes being wet and dirty.

kipperman

If you are anywhere near a Decathlon, their own brand disc pads are excellent - wear well, quiet and no fade, as a trip down Mt Ventoux demonstrated.

esuhl

burtons wrote: »

I've just read some are noisy but the don't say if it's grinding or squealing. I've had people ride past me outside my house and the brakes are squealing but I don't know if this is from the brakes being wet and dirty.

Sintered pads are supposed to be the noisiest and hardest-wearing. Organic pads are quietest, but wear out faster.

However, the noise from sintered pads is more of an abrasive "ffffff" sound. It certainly doesn't bother me.

The awful screeching and squealing that you sometimes get from bike brakes is due to the discs/pads being contaminated. (Or maybe out of alignment, or damaged.)

If this happens, you should clean the rotors and pads with something like this:

https://muc-off.com/products/disc-brake-cleaner

In my experience, you need to really keep cleaning the discs/pads until wiping leaves no marks on the cloth.

Also, the pads can soak up contaminants, so if it's more than general road grime, you may need to replace the pads.

Cleaning the pads briefly reduces stopping power. The best thing to do is find a hill where you can roll down slowly, braking constantly, to "burn off" the cleaner and get the bite back.

Hope this helps :-)