Replacing Shimano B01S Brake Pads, by First Timers Cycling on YouTube. 8 min 37 s.
- Video length
- 8 min 37 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Put the bike in a stand or turn it upside down. Remove the wheel for the brake you are working on so you can reach the caliper easily.
Find the small split pin running through the caliper and pads. Straighten its bent end with needle-nose pliers, then pull the pin out.
Slide the old pads and the pad spring out of the caliper from the bottom. Keep them to compare against the new pads.
Clean the caliper and the exposed piston edges with isopropyl alcohol on a rag. Wear gloves and keep the fluid off your skin.
Push the pistons back into the caliper with a plastic tire lever or a clean flat screwdriver. Keep the tool flat so you do not damage the piston face.
Clip the new pads onto the pad spring, matching the arrow direction to the old set. Handle the pad surface only by its edges.
Slide the pads and spring into the caliper as one unit and push until the holes line up. Feed the split pin through and bend the end over.
Refit the wheel and squeeze the brake lever a few times until the pads touch the rotor. Spin the wheel and check the rotor runs centred with no rub.
Bed the brakes in by riding and braking firmly from a moderate speed several times. Let them cool between pulls.
Tips and common mistakes
Never touch the rotor or pad surfaces with greasy fingers, as oil causes squealing and weak braking.
Do not squeeze the lever with the wheel and pads removed, or the pistons can push out of the caliper.
Replace pads once the friction material is down to about 0.5 mm, before the metal backing hits the rotor.
If a pad rubs after fitting, loosen the caliper bolts, hold the brake on, and retighten so it self-centres.
Questions
How do I know when my B01S pads need replacing?
Look at the friction material through the top of the caliper. Once it is down to around 0.5 mm, or the lever feels like it pulls closer to the bar, fit new pads.
Can I fit metal pads instead of resin ones?
You can if the pad shape matches your caliper, but resin pads are quieter and cheaper. Metal pads last longer in wet, gritty conditions but wear rotors faster.
Why do my new brakes squeal?
Usually the rotor or pads are contaminated with oil, or the pads have not been bedded in yet. Clean the rotor with isopropyl alcohol and repeat the bedding-in rides.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
