Brake pads

Shimano L05A remblokken met veer

Shimano L05A resin brake pads with spring, sold singly. These are the finned pads for better heat dissipation.

What you get

Shimano L05A
Resin
With spring

Why different brake pads?

Brake pads are a wear part. They consist of a metal backing plate with a layer of friction material. When that layer is down to about 1 mm, it is time to replace them. Go further and the metal plate touches the disc and damages it.

For disc brakes you choose between resin (organic), metal (sintered) and semi-metallic. Resin is quiet and bites softly, but wears faster and copes less well with heat. Metal lasts much longer, brakes well in the wet and on long descents, but squeals more easily and wears the disc more. Semi-metallic sits in between.

The right type depends on where you ride. On the road in dry weather, resin works well. For gravel, mountain biking, rain and long mountain descents, metal or semi-metallic is the better pick. On an e-bike or with a heavier rider the heat builds higher, and metal often suits better.

Each caliper has its own pad shape, so choose the model made for your caliper. New pads need bedding in: about 20 to 30 stops from a moderate speed, without coming to a full halt, so the pad material transfers onto the disc.

Types of brake pad compared

Resin, semi-metallic and metal differ in noise, wear and behaviour in the wet and in the heat. The values are guidelines.

Type	Noise	Wear	Wet weather	Heat
Resin (organic)	Quiet	Wears faster, kind to the disc	Good, but wears faster in mud	Can fade on long descents
Semi-metallic	Moderate, sometimes a light squeal	Medium	Good	Good
Metal (sintered)	Squeals more easily, especially wet	Wears slowly, disc wears more	Very good	Very good, passes on more heat
Finned pads	As the pad material	As the pad material	As the pad material	Shed heat better, not in every caliper

A general guide. Brands and compounds differ, so follow the manufacturer’s data.

Choose it if

Your brakes take L05A pads
You ride long descents and want heat dissipation
Your pads are worn down to about 1 mm of friction material.
Your brake squeals, feels weak or responds poorly after a wet ride.

Choose something else if

Your brakes use another pad model like B05S
Your pads are contaminated with oil or lube. Cleaning rarely helps, so replace them.
You do not know which model fits your caliper. Check the marking on the caliper or the manual first.

How to fit brake pads

Check the wear
Look at the friction material through the caliper. At about 1 mm or less, replace the pads. Always do both pads in the same caliper.
Remove the wheel and old pads
Take the wheel off. Remove the retaining pin or clip and slide the pads and spring out of the caliper.
Push the pistons back
Push the pistons back gently with a plastic tyre lever or a dedicated tool. Keep clear of the disc.
Fit the new pads
Put the spring and new pads into the caliper without touching the friction material with your fingers, and secure them with the pin or clip.
Refit the wheel and bed in
Refit the wheel, squeeze the lever a few times until it feels firm and check the disc spins freely. Then bed in with about 20 to 30 stops from a moderate speed.

Good to know

Quantity is 1 piece: confirm you get a full pair
Check the pad shape in your caliper
Oil, lube or cleaner on pads or disc cuts braking power and causes squealing. Contaminated pads usually need replacing, and the disc is cleaned with brake cleaner.
Always replace the pads in one caliper together. Uneven pads wear at an angle.
Check the disc too. A minimum thickness is marked on it, often around 1.5 mm. If it is thinner or warped, replace it.
A soft lever after fitting points to air in the line or a piston that did not retract properly. Have the brake checked or bled.

What you get

Why different brake pads?

Types of brake pad compared

Choose it if

Choose something else if

How to fit brake pads

Check the wear

Remove the wheel and old pads

Push the pistons back

Fit the new pads

Refit the wheel and bed in

Good to know

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