Everything you need know about e-bike brakes
Brakes are the most critical component of an electrical bicycle, so knowing a few things about them will ensure you have an enjoyable and safe experience for the user. It’s also crucial to keep an eye out for any changes in the noise of your brakes, such as squeaking or grinding.
If this is the case, you should take the bike to your local shop and have a bike technician inspect it. If you catch it early, the fix will be much easier than if it persists, and you have to change a rotor rather than simply a pad, for example. It will cost you a lot of money and time. Here’s all you need to know about electric bike brakes, as well as some essential maintenance advice.
New electric bikes use mechanical or hydraulic brake systems instead of the caliper brakes that earlier bikes used to have. Disc brakes are comparable to automotive brakes in the sense that rotors are linked to the wheel hubs. When you apply a brake lever, it initiates (through cable or hydraulic pressure) a system that contacts the pads, causing them to tighten against the rotor and provide stopping power.
Why Should You Get Your Brakes Inspected Regularly?
The pads, like car brakes, wear out over time. (If you reside in a mountainous location or an urban area where you stop frequently, they will wear out faster.) As a result, it’s a good idea to inspect them regularly, and the good news is that it’s straightforward to accomplish.
Metal, disc-shaped rotors are located in the center of both your front and rear tires, and each is placed in the grooves of the braking mechanisms. To get a good look, you may need to use a flashlight. At least 1.5mm of braking material should be present on either side of the rotor – roughly the thickness of two business cards. If they are less, it is time to visit your local bike repair and have them replaced.
You’ll see red dials on the brake mechanisms on both the front and rear tires for mechanical disc brakes, and these are useful for making micro-adjustments to your brake pads. The brake pads are adjusted closer to the rotor by turning clockwise red dials.
This eliminates the need to depress the brake levers back to the handlebars for the pads to engage. There should be a 1.5mm gap between the rotor and the brake pads on either side. Again, you’ll want to make sure there’s enough brake pad material to engage.
When it comes to electric bike maintenance, it’s critical to understand when the mechanical disc brakes need to be replaced.
Photo by Luca Beani on Unsplash
How To Know When Your Bike Needs Maintenance?
It’s always a good idea to inspect your electric bike’s braking system frequently, including before each ride, and to get your bike serviced regularly. As a result, there are some warning signals to check for that suggest your electric bike’s disc brakes need to be changed or serviced:
- When you apply the brake, you will hear squeaking or a sharp metal sound.
- When braking, it takes longer to come to a complete stop.
- To stop, you must apply more significant pressure to the lever of the brake.
- When braking, the brake lever tends to stick a little bit.
Suppose your electric bike is exhibiting any of the symptoms listed above. In that case, you can inspect the various components of the brake assembly to determine the source of the problem. Often, you can repair or replace a component of an assembly rather than replacing the brake system entirely.
Mechanical disc brakes are part of your vehicles that you must adequately maintain. They are the most common types of cycle brakes. Part of your bike’s braking system will wear down over time. This does not imply that you must replace the complete system. Inspect each necessary competence and keep it up to date.
Like automotive brake pads, electric bike brake pads will wear out over time. Checking the brake pads is an excellent place to start if you have any problems with your bike’s braking system. We hope that this article solved all your questions related to e-bike brakes.
Cover Photo by Himiway Bikes on Unsplash
About the Author
Bibhuranjan Editorial Officer, technofaq.org I'm an avid tech enthusiast at heart. I like to mug up on new and exciting developments on science and tech and have a deep love for PC gaming. Other hobbies include writing blog posts, music and DIY projects.
