Brakes are one of the most important safety components on any mountain bike or road bike. That’s why it’s essential to check their condition regularly and keep them in optimal condition. They not only play a key role in safety, but also improve the handling and control of your bike, optimizing its performance and improving your times on routes.
Mastering braking technique will allow you to improve your time through curves, descend more controlled on passes, and, in the case of mountain biking, even increase your speed on technical descents. To achieve this, your brakes must be in perfect condition, both on asphalt roads and on more challenging mountain terrain.
That’s why performing basic brake maintenance, like the one we propose below, will prevent them from losing power or suffering breakdowns, ensuring optimal performance during your training sessions and competitions.
Basic inspection of bicycle brakes in 5 steps
Currently, most bikes on the market are equipped with disc brakes, whether mechanical (without brake fluid) or hydraulic (with it). Bikes with rim or pad brakes are now only sold for road bikes or very low-end mountain bikes. Therefore, we will focus at first on disc brakes due to their greater use in cycling today. However, later we will give you some specific guidelines for maintaining pad brakes. We can divide the inspection of a disc brake system (either front or rear) into five steps, considering the parts or components that make it up and their general functioning. Remember to perform this check approximately every month, although this interval may be shortened or extended depending on how often you use your bike.
Brake levers
Start by checking the condition of the levers. To do this, visually inspect the lever and the reservoir cap (if they are hydraulic) to verify that there are no oil leaks. You can also take the opportunity to check that the reach of the lever is correct, that is, the distance between it and the handlebar. This distance or reach can be adjusted closer or farther by a set screw next to the lever on Shimano mountain bike brakes, such as the Deore XT or SLX, and SRAM, Shimano, or Campagnolo road brakes. Although on the latter, the road ones, the screw is generally a small nut located on the superior or side part of the lever.
Cabling
The second element you should check in the brakes is the cables or hoses, which connect the lever to the brake calipers. Check their condition at the point where they connect to the lever or the caliper, making sure the housing is not worn out or bent. This can cause irregular braking behavior, loss of power, and fluid leaks. Any damage should be repaired by replacing the cables with new ones.
Brake Calipers
Continue the brake inspection towards the wheel with the calipers. You must make sure they are in good condition, clean, and have no oil leaks inside. Also, remove the brake pads and check that their thickness is not less than 0.5 mm. Otherwise, they will need to be replaced due to wear.
Discs
Finish checking your disc brakes by inspecting the condition of the discs themselves. If you see a blue, brown, or rainbow-colored line on their surface, it means they have overheated due to very extreme use or that the pads are worn out. Also check the thickness of the disc, which should not be less than 1.5 mm, although each model has a minimum thickness that ranges between 1.5 and 2 mm. Less than this measurement indicates wear and they will need to be replaced.
Braking Power
A loss of braking power can be identified by low lever tension, a late engagement point in braking, or the early onset of fatigue after several or successive or long-duration brakings. The first two cases are usually related to a lack of cable tension in mechanical brakes or air entering the hydraulic system, although they can also be due to poor condition of the hoses or the disc. The third problem, however, is almost always related to worn or contaminated pads, which will need to be replaced.
When to Bleed Your Disc Brakes
Bleeding your hydraulic brake system once a year will ensure they work properly, have the best possible feel, and do not lose power. Bleeding is the removal of used or worn brake fluid (usually mineral oil, although brands like SRAM use synthetic fluid that delays overheating) and replacing it with new fluid. Annual bleeding can be used as a general guideline. But if you use your brakes intensively, such as frequently descending mountain passes on the road or practicing enduro or downhill MTB, we recommend bleeding every six months or so. However, if you notice a loss of power or feel when braking, you should perform an emergency replacement.
And what if my brakes are rim brakes?
The inspection and maintenance of rim brakes is in principle simpler than that of disc brakes, although they tend to wear out or become misaligned more quickly. Frequently check, above all, that the brake bridge is centered, as well as the brake pads. Also, check the wear of the pads. All of them have several vertical grooves that serve to drain water. If these have disappeared and the surface of the pad is already completely flat, they need to be replaced. Otherwise, you will lose power and braking efficiency and wear down the braking surface of the rim more quickly. The latter will need to be replaced if it is damaged or very worn (the surface becomes concave), which is a much greater expense than changing the pads. Specifically, the braking surface of the rim is one of the areas that must always be kept clean so that braking efficiency is optimal and its wear is delayed. After each ride, clean it with water and soap or with a special rim cleaner. This has a special composition that also protects and repels dirt for future rides.
How much does a brake inspection cost?
Unlike other bicycle components such as the drivetrain, wheels, or suspension systems, brake inspection, bleeding, or replacement of parts does not entail such a large expense. For example, bleeding disc brakes at a mechanic's workshop is usually no more than 40 euros, including both front and rear. As for the pads, a set ranges between 8 and 15 euros for entry-level and mid-range brakes, both for mountain bikes and road bikes. Replacement parts for rim brakes are even more economical. Worn pads from mid-range Shimano brakes can be replaced for no more than 10 euros per pair. SRAM replacements usually have a higher price, although they range between 10 and 20 euros per pair. Always keep in mind that it is better to have a timely inspection and replacement, following the recommended intervals, than to wait for the components to wear out completely or break. It is possible that the worn part, whether it is a pad, shoe, or cable, has damaged other components and the repair increases its cost or a total replacement of the brakes is necessary. Or even of the entire wheel in the case of rim brakes.