Brake Pad Quickie

ib23
ib23 Posts: 25
edited April 2010 in MTB workshop & tech
How do I tell if my brake pads are organic or sintered???

I have Shimano SLX brakes and the pads are the ones which came with the bike when new.

Comments

  • peter413
    peter413 Posts: 4,909
    I think they are organic since Shimano brakes use mineral oil and apparantly need to use organic pads (thats what Deore's say on them anyway)
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  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,673
    backing pad colour.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
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  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,673
    this PDF might also help.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • BG2000
    BG2000 Posts: 517
    I think my XT brakes use the same pads as SLX, and they came with sintered pads from new.

    I've since purchased organic ones, and the difference seems to be what looks like tiny flecks of metal in the sintered version.
  • stubs
    stubs Posts: 5,001
    Black plate = organic
    Gold plate = sintered
    Fig rolls: proof that god loves cyclists and that she wants us to do another lap
  • Northwind
    Northwind Posts: 14,675
    peter413 wrote:
    I think they are organic since Shimano brakes use mineral oil and apparantly need to use organic pads (thats what Deore's say on them anyway)

    XT comes with sintered.
    Uncompromising extremist
  • peter413
    peter413 Posts: 4,909
    Northwind wrote:
    peter413 wrote:
    I think they are organic since Shimano brakes use mineral oil and apparantly need to use organic pads (thats what Deore's say on them anyway)

    XT comes with sintered.

    I thought it would be strange that you could only use organic pads with mineral oil since they use that in their DH brakes and anyway, dad ignored it and got kevlar pads instead and hasn't had a single problem except that they were better than mine until I got my M4 :(
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  • ib23
    ib23 Posts: 25
    I've removed the pads and they're black with "resin" stamped on them...am I right in thinking they're organic?

    Also, any tips for cleaning them? I read in another post that swarfega original could be used?
  • Dirtydog11
    Dirtydog11 Posts: 1,621
    ib23 wrote:
    I've removed the pads and they're black with "resin" stamped on them...am I right in thinking they're organic?

    Also, any tips for cleaning them? I read in another post that swarfega original could be used?

    Organic/resin = same thing. You shouldn't really have to clean them but if needs must, use a disc specific cleaner, something like muck off, or IPA isopropyl alcohol which can be bought from your local chemists.
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