Bike Brake Pad Wear: How Often Should You Replace Them in Bangladesh?
A high-quality braking system is crucial to motorcycle rider safety. Brake pads are among the most important components of a bike's braking system. Damaged brake pads are one of the main causes of motorcycle accidents. Brake pads wear out with regular use. A poor environment, poor conditions, and weather further reduce the durability of brake pads. Many people may wonder how often brake pads should be replaced in Bangladesh.
On the roads of Bangladesh, brake pads wear out quickly due to frequent braking, dust and sand, uneven roads, muddy roads, aggressive riding, etc. In addition, the pads wear out quickly, especially when the bike carries an extra load and is not cleaned regularly. Therefore, it is important to understand the care, maintenance, and replacement times for brake pads. This blog discusses the causes of brake pad wear on bikes and provides a detailed idea of how often brake pads should be replaced in Bangladesh.
How often should bike brake pads be changed in Bangladesh?
A motorcycle's braking system consists of two rotors and brake pads that create friction when the brakes are applied, helping slow and stop the bike. A high-quality brake pad can last more than 20,000 kilometers in good weather. However, according to the advice of experienced bikers and service centers in Bangladesh, brake pads should generally be changed every 5,000-7,000 km or 1.5-2 years. Using fake or low-quality pads will wear them out even sooner.
How often you should change your motorcycle brake pads in Bangladesh depends on the type of road you drive on and how frequently you use them. If you drive regularly in city traffic, a high-quality brake pad can last 7,000 to 8,000 kilometers. It can provide good service for 10,000-12,000 kilometers on the highway.
Why do motorcycle brake pads wear out quickly in the context of Bangladesh?
In Bangladesh, road dust and mud easily get between the brake pads, rotors, and discs during the rainy season. If not cleaned regularly, they start to wear out the pads like tissue paper. In Bangladesh, you have to brake frequently due to traffic jams and speed breakers, so brake pads wear out quickly from excessive use. The uneven roads of Bangladesh are also one of the reasons for brake pad wear out. Even if you drive on regular dirt roads, off-road, or hilly roads, the brake pads will wear out sooner than expected.
Dust, dirt, and water reduce the effectiveness of brake pads. In addition, many people in the country earn money through ride-sharing services, leading to excessive bike use and premature wear on brake pads. With regular use of worn-out pads, the iron plate inside the pad directly rubs against the rotor. As a result, the disc plate is damaged, and its price is much higher than that of the brake pad.
Signs of brake pad wear
1. Unusual noise when braking
If you hear a squeaking or metallic grinding sound when you apply the brakes, it means the friction-resistance layer of the pad has deteriorated. Brake pads have metal tabs, and when the pads wear out, they make a noise as they rub against the disc. Unusual noise is an early sign of pad wear. The pads should be changed as soon as you notice this sign.
2. If the visible layer on the top of the brake pads becomes thin
The pads can be seen inside the motorcycle brake caliper. The friction material in these pads is usually 5-8 mm thick. If this thickness is 2-3 mm, it is time to change the pads.
3. If braking performance feels abnormal
If the brakes do not respond immediately when you apply the brakes, if there is vibration, if there is a burning smell, or if you have to apply too much pressure on the brake lever, it is time to change the pads. Usually, when brake pads wear unevenly, vibration is felt when braking.
How to increase the durability of brake pads
Final Thought
It is important for the rider's safety to understand the care and replacement of motorcycle brake pads. The number of smooth roads in Bangladesh is very small. Riding a bike with worn brake pads on uneven and trafficked roads is very risky. Also, it is normal for bike brake pads to wear out quickly in dusty and congested environments.
If there is abnormal noise during braking, vibration, if more pressure is required on the brake lever, or if the pad thickness is significantly reduced, the brake pads should be changed. If the brake pads wear out, the braking power decreases, and the risk of accidents increases. If the motorbike slips when the brakes are suddenly applied, the risk of accidents increases manifold. Therefore, the brake pads should be inspected regularly and replaced if worn.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How often should motorcycle brake pads be changed in Bangladesh?
According to the advice of experienced bikers and service centers in Bangladesh, brake pads should generally be replaced every 5,000-7,000 km or every 1.5-2 years.
2. What are the signs that you need to change the brake pads?
If you hear an unusual noise when pressing the brakes, if the visible layer on the brake pads becomes thin, if there is vibration, if there is a burning smell, or if you have to put too much pressure on the brake lever, you will know that it is time to change the pads.
3. Why do brake pads wear out quickly in Bangladesh?
In Bangladesh, road dust and mud easily get between the brake pads, rotors, and discs during the rainy season. If not cleaned regularly, they start to wear out the pads like a piece of paper. In Bangladesh, you have to brake frequently due to traffic jams and speed breakers, so brake pads wear out quickly with heavy use.
4. Do brake pads wear out quickly in the rainy season?
Yes. Mud, soil, and water reduce the effectiveness of brake pads.
5. What will be the harm of using cheap brake pads?
If you use cheap or low-quality pads, the disc plate wears out quickly, and the brakes do not hold properly. As a result, the disc plate is damaged, and its price is much higher than that of the brake pad.
