why brake pads worn out in quick time

[my.motion]

Hi Team,

My brake pads have worn out in quick time What are the main causes of brake pads wearing out in quick time? What can be done to prevent this (apart from not braking). I have shimano v-brakes. Are there any special brake pads/blocks designed mainly for electric bikes?

Your comments highly appriciated.

Regards

Motion

 

[fcurran]

Brake blocks on electric bikes will wear far quicker than on a regular push bikes for the simple reason you are travelling much faster, so to stop the bike you need to brake harder and for longer. Added to this the weight of an electric bike being heavier that a push bike, there is a lot more momentum to stop. Try coasting up to your stopping points therefore slowing down naturally and then applying the brakes more gently from further away.

You will always get quicker brake wear from electric bikes though so not much more you can do Im afraid.

Regards

FrankC

 

[HarryB]

There is not much you can do cheaply. St Johns Street Cycles sell extra thick blocks that might help V brake Thick replacement blocks Allen Key Fitting but otherwise the only other solutions are expensive.

Magura hydraulic brakes wear out more slowly than normal V brakes and the rim seems to last longer as well. Otherwise changing the rim to ceramic is another expensive solution

 

[Fecn]

The first set of blocks on my Agattu wore out super-quickly... around 250 miles... The subsequent set have done over 1500 miles and aren't worn out yet. I think the first set wore out very quickly due to mud/grit on the wheel rims. I do a lot of riding on gravel/mud and going down big steep hills, the brakes often start to make a grinding noise after a while. When I first got the bike, I used to put up with the noise, but after I got new pads, I discovered that momentarily releasing the brake lever clears out the grit/mud and the noise is gone when the brakes are reapplied - I think that's why my second set of brakes have lasted so much better. - No idea if that's the problem which hit your brakes, but that's my theory for now.

 

[Straylight]

I do a lot of riding on gravel/mud and going down big steep hills, the brakes often start to make a grinding noise after a while.

Personally I clean the rims when I hear this noise, as it preserves both the blocks and the rims, a cloth and a standard degresing kitchen cleaner does the trick. I also use these blocks: Clarks V Brake Insert Pad | Clarks | Mtb | Brakes

I find them hard wearing, and they're designed to clear the mud fast. Of course you do have to buy the brake cartridges as well, but only once I favour 'Avid Rim Wrangler 2's BTW.

 

[Fecn]

Personally I clean the rims when I hear this noise, as it preserves both the blocks and the rims, a cloth and a standard degresing kitchen cleaner does the trick.

I clean the rims every 100 miles or so using baby wipes... but the noise I get can happen after a few hundred feet of braking whether the rims have been cleaned or not. It's not been a problem since I started momentarily releasing the brakes though - I figure it was just dust/dirt building up against the leading edge of the brake pad which then tries to grind itself in between the pad and the rim. Whatever it is, letting the brakes off for a second seems to shift it.

 

[tillson]

Magura hydraulic brakes wear out more slowly than normal V brakes and the rim seems to last longer as well. Otherwise changing the rim to ceramic is another expensive solution

I'll second that. Since changing to Magura brakes I have noticed a dramatic reduction in brake block wear and the rims seem to be be untouched by them. With the Shimano V brakes I was changing the blocks every 750 miles. The Magura brakes have covered 1500 miles and still have plenty of material left on them. Admittedly all of the mileage has been during the summer and I expect wear to increase during the winter due to gritting.

 

[HarryB]

I'll second that. Since changing to Magura brakes I have noticed a dramatic reduction in brake block wear and the rims seem to be be untouched by them. With the Shimano V brakes I was changing the blocks every 750 miles. The Magura brakes have covered 1500 miles and still have plenty of material left on them. Admittedly all of the mileage has been during the summer and I expect wear to increase during the winter due to gritting.

My Magura pads would last about 2000 miles - so far with the V brakes (on the rears) I am on my fourth set at 2000 miles - I had a new rim as well. I only wish I could find a way of fitting the Maguras on my Cytronex.