Getting the right pad, which is harder than it should be
Brake pads are not universal, and the naming does not help. A SRAM pad is cut for a specific caliper family — Level, Elixir, DB, Guide, G2, Code, Motive — and a 2-piston pad will not fit a 4-piston caliper.
The reliable way to identify yours is the caliper body itself: the model name is usually printed on the outside. Failing that, take the old pads out and bring them with you. Two minutes at the counter beats buying the wrong set twice.
Resin or metal, and what the difference feels like
This is the choice people agonise over, and it comes down to how you ride.
Resin (organic) pads are quieter, bite well from cold, and are gentler on the rotor. They fade sooner under sustained heat and wear faster in the wet. For road riding and general trail use, they are usually the nicer pad to live with.
Sintered metal pads handle heat far better and last much longer in grit and water. They take a moment longer to come up to temperature, they are noisier, and they wear rotors faster.
If you ride long descents — and living here, you probably do — metal is worth the noise. Chapman's Peak and the descent off the back of Silvermine put real heat through a brake.
Rotors, and the numbers on them
Rotor diameter changes braking power: a bigger rotor is a longer lever. Going up a size is a legitimate upgrade if you find yourself hauling on the levers, provided your frame, fork and caliper mounts allow it.
The other specification is the fitting — 6-bolt or Centerlock. They are not interchangeable without an adapter, and it is worth checking before ordering.
Common questions
Why are my new brakes noisy?
New pads need bedding in — a series of firm stops from moderate speed to transfer an even layer of pad material onto the rotor. Do that before your first descent, not during it. Contamination is the other cause: oil, chain lube or degreaser on a rotor is very difficult to undo.
Do you fit these?
Yes, and hydraulic work is the part most worth handing over — a hose replacement needs a proper bleed afterwards. See SRAM hose kits, or book the workshop.
Brand-specific ranges: SRAM pads and SRAM rotors. Or come and see us at our shop in Hout Bay and we will just sort it.
