How To Replace Brake Pads On An Ebike #arielrider, by Quincy Sandbank on YouTube. 3 min 25 s.
- Video length
- 3 min 25 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 10
What you need
Steps
Set the bike on a stand, or turn it upside down on a clean level surface, so the wheel with the worn pads is off the ground and you can spin it freely.
Check the new pads match your caliper and pad compound, then lay out your Allen keys, pliers, alcohol, rag and gloves within reach.
Loosen the axle nuts or quick-release and lift the wheel out. On a hub-motor ebike, unplug the motor cable first if it runs through the frame near the axle.
Pull the retaining pin or split clip out of the caliper, then slide the old pads and the spring or spreader out of the caliper body.
Push the pistons back into the caliper with a clean plastic tire lever, working them in slowly and evenly so you do not crack a piston.
Wipe the rotor and the inside of the caliper with isopropyl alcohol on a clean rag and let them dry. Keep your bare fingers off the rotor surface.
Slide the new pads in with the spring or spreader between them, refit the retaining pin or clip, and check both pads sit square in the caliper.
Refit the wheel and tighten the axle to the torque in your manual. Spin the wheel and check the rotor runs centred in the caliper slot without rubbing.
Squeeze the lever a few times to set the pads. If the rotor still rubs, loosen the caliper bolts, hold the lever on, and retighten so the caliper centres itself.
Bed the brakes in a safe open area with 10 to 15 moderate stops from about 15 km/h, letting them cool between stops, before you ride normally.
Tips and common mistakes
Never squeeze the brake lever with the wheel out and the pads removed, or the pistons can pop out and spill fluid.
Greasy fingerprints ruin new pads, so wear nitrile gloves and keep oil and chain lube well away from the rotor.
Replace pads once the friction material is down to about 1 mm, before the metal backing starts scoring the rotor.
If the lever still feels spongy after new pads, the system likely needs a bleed rather than more adjustment.
Questions
How often should I change ebike brake pads?
Check them every few hundred kilometres, and more often if you ride in wet or hilly conditions. Ebikes are heavier and faster than normal bikes, so pads wear quicker than you might expect.
Do I need to bleed the brakes when changing pads?
No. Pushing the pistons back and fitting new pads does not open the hydraulic system. Bleed only if the lever feels soft or the pads will not retract.
Can I reuse the old spring clip and rotor?
The rotor can usually stay if it is above the minimum thickness stamped on the spider and not deeply scored. Replace the spring or spreader if it is bent, since a weak spring causes pad rub.
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.
