Help with disc brakes

[Twizit]

Just in the process of a relatively cheap upgrade of my v-brakes to hydraulic discs.

Managed to find some cheapish LX callipers that come complete with sintered pads. However, I need six bolt rotors and these come with centre lock, so I also ordered some Deore six bolt rotors, with a view to selling off the centre lock rotors elsewhere.

However, on checking the Deore rotors, they have printed on them "for use with Resin pads only"... grrrrr nothing in the description about this when I bought them

Question being - can I just say sod it and use the sintered pads anyway, or do I now need to buy resin pads as well

I know what I'm tempted to do

, but wouldn't mind a second opinion or two

 

[Ticktockmy]

Most sintered pads are designed specifically for use on stainless disks, which is typically a harder material in general than other machined steel rotors. Likewise most sintered pads are more effictive in wet conditions

 

[hotmetal]

I'm not an expert but it seems to me the choice is between spending money now on resin pads or more money later on replacement discs. Sintered pads will presumably munch the discs quicker. However they'll probably stop you quicker too.


Found this, which may add info. It doesn't answer your question specifically - compatibility - but does compare organic v sintered systems.
http://www.pinkbike.com/news/brake-pad-information-2009.html

 

[Cubist]

I'm not an expert but it seems to me the choice is between spending money now on resin pads or more money later on replacement discs. Sintered pads will presumably munch the discs quicker. However they'll probably stop you quicker too.


Found this, which may add info. It doesn't answer your question specifically - compatibility - but does compare organic v sintered systems.
http://www.pinkbike....ation-2009.html

I sometimes struggle with the idea that wearing the discs out is a bad thing.

Spend five minutes on ebay and you will find replacement rotors for about a tenner each. You can get aftermarket budget pads for about a fiver, and spend as much as twenty quid on original manufacturer's pads. Which needs replacing more often? That's right, the more expensive item!!!!

So, my personal conclusion is that if your riding conditions (eg wet and muddy) warrant the extra stopping power of sintered pads, then go for it. Even if they do increase rotor wear, hey, they cost four pints of beer to replace. Stopping you quickly and safely has never seemed so cheap!!

 

[Angelfishsolo]

I would agree 100%. I swapped both of my rotors and sets of pads for around £35. Bargain

I sometimes struggle with the idea that wearing the discs out is a bad thing.

Spend five minutes on ebay and you will find replacement rotors for about a tenner each. You can get aftermarket budget pads for about a fiver, and spend as much as twenty quid on original manufacturer's pads. Which needs replacing more often? That's right, the more expensive item!!!!

So, my personal conclusion is that if your riding conditions (eg wet and muddy) warrant the extra stopping power of sintered pads, then go for it. Even if they do increase rotor wear, hey, they cost four pints of beer to replace. Stopping you quickly and safely has never seemed so cheap!!

 

[hotmetal]

That is a fair point. Although my Magura rotors are about £35 each RRP as I found out when I bent one
I only made the point because the OP sounded like they were bothered about the cost of buying new bits.

Personally I'd go with whichever gave me the best performance and if it means a bit of extra disc wear, so be it.
ASSUMING
that the only problem with using sintered pads on Deore rotors is accelerated disc wear. It may possibly be some sort of safety thing (though I can't really see that being the case, but then there's all those liability lawyers so Shimano might be extra cautious).

On my motorbike I wouldn't dream of using organic pads, I use EBC HH sintered pads which are known to be a bit hard on discs but they really work. And motorbike discs are like £400 a pair (one wheel).

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Ouch!!!!!!!!!!

And motorbike discs are like £400 each.

 

[hotmetal]

D'oh! You quoted me as I was correcting it! Yeah, actually, some front discs for some bikes are £400 each. I meant the cost of a pair of front discs. Like you say, ouch! Still, well worth while using decent kit for braking. I don't generally worry about the cost of things like brakes, tyres etc if there is a noticeable safety benefit for the £££. Wrong area to skimp on. On a mountainbike, it's still a safety issue upto a point, but not in the same way as a 1 litre motorbike!

 

[MacB]

Following a tip elsewhere, and being me and wanting spare pads in each saddle pack, I ordered a pack of 4 pairs of sintered for the Avid BB7s from here:-

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/International-Bike-Disc-Brake-Pads?_rdc=1

£22.99 with free postage

I'm with Cubist on this one I just assumed that the rotors would wear out and I don't think 160mm rotors for BB7s are expensive.

 

[MacB]

Thinking on it, how do you know when to replace a rotor?

 

[hotmetal]

Good question. I knew I had to replace mine when it resembled a Pringle after heavy contact with a rock…
In terms of wear limit, I don't know of any being stated, even in the Shimano instructions.

I think it amounts to "does it look a lot thinner where the pads contact?" or if the braking surface of the rotor is so scored or unevenly worn that new pads won't work effectively. Maybe there's a Cytech-qualified mech who can tell us the official word.

 

[Twizit]

Cheers for all the replies.

I'm not so bothered by having to pay out to replace bits - it's cycling and it's a fact of life that stuff will wear out. I guess I just wanted to check there were no silly reasons that meant sintered pads wouldn't work well with a Deore rotor.

There weren't any that I could fathom - other than wearing out the rotor more quickly - hence asking on here in case I was missing something

Given the rotors were about £12 each I'm not going to lose a lot of sleep if they wear out too quickly.

Hotmetal - I'm with you on the motorbike front - about £180 a pop for mine. How do I know? Disc lock left in place.... set off, thump, fall over.... one bent brake lever and a wobbly rotor - DOH!

 

[abo]

Look for lipping I guess like you do on a car?

 

[Cubist]

I'd say when they warp 'cos they've got too thin.

 

[Globalti]

Just use sintered and stop worrying; they will squeak a bit and won't brake as well as a softer pad but you won't notice extra wear on the disc. They will however last three times longer than a standard pad.`