Brake system

Choosing brake components

The pad compound decides how your brakes feel and how much they ask of the rest of the system. <strong>Ceramic</strong> pads run quiet, throw off little dust and last a long time — the default for daily commuting. <strong>Semi-metallic</strong> pads bite harder and shed heat better under load, at the cost of more dust and noise.

Replace or resurface rotors alongside pads when the rotor has dropped below the minimum thickness stamped on its hat, or when it is scored, grooved or you feel a pulse through the pedal. Fresh pads on a worn rotor will not bed evenly.

The <strong>wear indicator</strong> is the small spring-steel tab on the pad. When friction material wears to roughly 2–3 mm, it squeals on light braking — order pads before the backing plate reaches the rotor.

1. 1
   Match the compound to how you driveCommuting → ceramic. Towing, hills or spirited driving → semi-metallic.
2. 2
   Replace by axle, in pairsNever mix a fresh pad with a worn one across the same axle.
3. 3
   Measure rotor thicknessCompare against the minimum stamped on the rotor; resurface or replace below it.
4. 4
   Confirm fitment to your exact trimRotor diameter can change with engine and package — they are not interchangeable.
5. 5
   Bed the pads in20–30 moderate stops from ~60 km/h to lay an even transfer layer.