Super long brake life

[withiniswithout]

About 4,000 KM ago I changed the changed and upgraded the brake rotors with a set of Shimano SM-RT66, replacing the original Shimano SM-RT56S rotors. Since the new rotors, the front brakes have not been changed, and the rear brakes have 1,200 KM on them. Today the shop looked at them and said they have about 30% left, a bit less in the front. In the past I was changing the brakes about every three months. I ride up and down steep hills constantly, often with weight in the rear basket or towing a trailer.

I'm not complaining, just wondering if this is what others are typically getting from hydraulic disc pads.

 

[fooferdoggie]

2000 to 4000 miles. metallic pads will last longer. ceramic pads even longer.

 

[withiniswithout]

2000 to 4000 miles. metallic pads will last longer. ceramic pads even longer.

The old rotors were only designed to be used with resin pads. The upgraded rotors accept semi-metallic. Thanks for the reply, this tells me it's normal and I might get another 2,000 KM out of the front pads. It just felt odd after having to change them so frequently, and when I look at the pads they seem very thin.

 

[fooferdoggie]

you should see the wear on our e tandem that thing eats brake pads for lunch. but we ride a lot of steep hills I mean really steep.

 

[mschwett]

brake pad life really depends on hills more than anything. on level ground it’s hard to wear quality pads and rotors in thousands of miles or less. of course a very heavy e-bike accelerated to 20+ and stopped quickly over and over again will wear brakes, but nothing like a braking decent on a big hill.

the life ought to be measured in feet descended, not miles!

 

[fooferdoggie]

Yes your supposed to brake has hard as needed then let up to keep the sped under control. but my wife is not as brave as she used to be and to keep the tandem at 25mph on long decent I have to use one brake at a time keeping the speed steady. at 400# our tandem would scream down hills.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

About 4,000 KM ago I changed the changed and upgraded the brake rotors with a set of Shimano SM-RT66, replacing the original Shimano SM-RT56S rotors. Since the new rotors, the front brakes have not been changed, and the rear brakes have 1,200 KM on them. Today the shop looked at them and said they have about 30% left, a bit less in the front. In the past I was changing the brakes about every three months. I ride up and down steep hills constantly, often with weight in the rear basket or towing a trailer.

I'm not complaining, just wondering if this is what others are typically getting from hydraulic disc pads.

I get far more than 4,000 km from the brake pads on my heavy Vado with the SM-RT66 rotors as long as I'm riding on the flat (less if mountain riding is involved). It is over 8,000 km for my lightweight Vado ridden in the plains.

 

[PedalUma]

Yes, I use modulation on descents. I want air to flow with time to cool. I also don't want to hit a rusted barbed wire fence at high speed, so I take it slow down hill. I ride discs, both hydraulic and mechanical, and rim brakes, and coaster brakes on my eBikes. Each are different and I like them all when properly maintained. A rim brake has 700c of leverage, a disc may have only 180c, or 25% of the mechanical leverage advantage and they add rotational weight. It is like digging with a short handled shovel. If lubed and adjusted properly with premium housing, cables, and long MTB pads, rim brakes are very nice.

 

[Chargeride]

I don't want to sound like Mr hyperbole, but I get less than a 100 miles out of my pads.
I did a set in one ride last year and it was only 25 miles

 

[Stefan Mikes]

WTF is this member talking about.

AI, if you ask me

 

[Chargeride]

Do you remember to grease your rotors?

No, I glue sandpaper to them, doesn't everyone.