Replace Brakes?

[MadUsa1]

Right, I've just ordered some new discs and pads from k-tec...

Thing is, how do I know that my existing discs need changing? Pads is pretty obvious of course (change when there's only a couple mm left of brake pad) but how do you tell with discs?

 

[Henry]

visually, there's a minimum thickness to check for (about 22mm) and you need to check for cracks and excessive scoring/ridging

 

[MadUsa1]

ok, cheers for the advice, anything else I need to check for?

 

[rich_1989]

if you want top brakeing power, changing disks at same time is always good as the old disk will have its groves that the old pads fit into wher as the surface covered by the old pads will fit to the serface of the old disks, so when you put new pads on old disks they will not sit on the whole serface of the disk untill they have warn into the groves, which can really reduce the life of the pads, so new pads on new disks = perfect!

 

[Fletcher]

if you want top brakeing power, changing disks at same time is always good as the old disk will have its groves that the old pads fit into wher as the surface covered by the old pads will fit to the serface of the old disks, so when you put new pads on old disks they will not sit on the whole serface of the disk untill they have warn into the groves, which can really reduce the life of the pads, so new pads on new disks = perfect!

I'd change both too.

 

[Henry]

ok, cheers for the advice, anything else I need to check for?

whilst you've got the wheels off, i'd just quickly check for evidence of any fluid leaks from the caliper piston seal/bleed nipple/hose/pipe and check the slider boots for condition/location

not much you can do to check the brakes really