Insights

How long do Mountain Bike Brake Discs last?

Oh yes, even records have a shelf life. But a lot depends on how much you brake. Let's delve deeper into the topic.

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December 12 2023

Details on discs and thru axle.

It could be a year or several years, it depends on how you use it, how much you brake and maintenance. The answer is definitely not forever: it's not a diamond. Like any mechanical component, it is subject to wear but giving a timescale is impossible.

WHEN TO CHANGE A MTB BRAKE DISC?

How to understand if it's time to change your MTB disc? With the naked eye it is possible to get a rough idea but only by being precise can you arrive at a definitive answer, that is, by calculating the thickness of the disc with a caliper.

THICKNESS OF MTB DISCS

The thickness of the discs is not standard but is around 2mm in the best products, up to 3mm in the most extreme models. In many discs we find engraved the minimum wear value tolerated by the product, i.e. the minimum thickness beyond which the brand does not take responsibility for any breakages (usually it is around a wear of 0,5mm from the original value).

th disc wear limit — We can read TH=1.5: this is the minimum thickness tolerated by Shimano

If we are below this value, the disc must be changed immediately to avoid risking a situation like the photo below 🙂

BENT ROTOR

If the disc is crooked and can no longer be brought into line (with the relevant tool), it must be changed. This happens either when the disc is very worn, and therefore easily loses centering once heated, or after accidental impacts (falls or other).

park tool disc halyard — The discs can be straightened with specific tools. Please remember: don't use pliers so as not to ruin it!

CONTAMINATION

However, it may happen that the disc becomes contaminated with oil or other products. It often happens that the discs make noise (“scream”) and the bike brakes little. In this case it is not necessary to replace the disc but the problem can be solved by cleaning it with Isopropyl alcohol/specific products and drying with a clean cloth.

HOW TO CLEAN MTB BRAKE DISCS

WHICH PADS TO USE?

Before choosing the new disc, read the product details carefully: if you see "Resin Pad Only" printed on the disc, it means that you will only have to use resin pads. If you use metal or sintered pads in products of this type, they can create wear or overheating problems and even ruin the disc itself.

PADS: ORGANIC, METALLIC OR CERAMIC?

FURTHER LINKS

Which brake pads to choose? Organic-Metallic-Ceramics?

Here you can find other articles dedicated to maintenance -> Heading 365myarrangement

In this article:365my arranged, Brake Discs, Brakes, Brake pads

Written by David Finetto

[email protected] I am a fan of everything that has 2 wheels: at a young age I practiced road and track cycling (Italian Allievi champion). At the age of 18 I passed into the cross country competing at national/international level as an Under23. Past Elite, I made the choice to take things more lightly from a training point of view, and my love for gravity disciplines was born, training me as an FCI MTB instructor and guide. Now I have made passion my profession by managing 2 MTB centers on the island of Elba (Bike Center Elba and Elba MTB), creating the FANTAmtb and telling in an ironic but professional way everything that revolves around MTB thanks to 365mountainbike and 365TV (YouTube'PULITI dentro BIKER fuori').