Disc pads for bicycles have been around since 2002 and selecting the right compound for your needs is not only wise but essential for numerous reasons. EBC offer three grades of pad compound.
Green Pads
Green EBC Bicycle Brake Pads are a high-quality resin organic formulation popular for its zero disc wear producing an excellent all round replacement pad for pleasure riding, cross country and trekking especially on nonhardened discs which many actually are. If in doubt always use a "resin" pad to protect your discs.
This pad is the perfect choice due to the low abrasion features, long lifetime, and excellent stopping power.
- For trekking, cross country use or riding for leisure
- Great all round pad
- Softer pad compound for better stopping power
- Low disc abrasion features
- Can be used on non-hardened or hardened discs
- Long life and excellent stopping power
- This is a resin pad
If In Doubt Go For EBC Green
If you’re not sure what to choose, specify Green compound. Good lifetime and stopping power. All EBC bicycle pads are made using magnetic stainless steel backing plates. For systems using a magnet for pad retraction these are ideal but for all bike systems the benefit of a stainless steel backing plate is self evident.
For all systems which use a spring clip for pad retraction, EBC includes new improved strength retraction springs. Many bicycle brake rotors are and have the words "Resin pad only" on them. It is critical that when you see this marking that you use a pad similar to EBC Green which is very low in its rotor abrasion features.
Gold Pads
These "USA made" sintered copper pads will last longer and brake stronger than anything you can buy. Do not use these on discs marked resin pad as such discs will be unhardened steel and these pads could damage soft materials. Supplied with uprated springs in spring based systems.
It is commonly accepted that sintered copper alloy brake pads last several times longer than organic pads.
These comments still ring true in the bicycle brake pad market. Best applied only to hardened rotors the sintered pad option is great for dirt, dust, water splash and contaminated riding due to its higher mechanical strength and in all forms of use lasts many times longer than resin pads.
Sintered pads do tend to generate a little more heat, so in downhill use where a hydraulic system (Cable systems are okay) is used, a metal stand-off pipe will be a great option behind the caliper to avoid hose ballooning. In normal flat or varied riding, this is not an issue and these pads just keep on lasting and lasting.
- Most powerful braking of any pad material
- Massive lifetime pad for hardened discs only
- Sintered copper construction
- Great for long life cross country use
- Not recommended for downhill racing
Three Grades
Unless you are riding a bike where the discs are marked "Resin pad only" meaning the rotors are unhardened and likely to suffer bad scoring if using sintered pads, then the best value for money and long life is the Gold range of EBC sintered brake pads.
With a higher friction rating than anything out there EBC sintered gold grade bicycle pads will last longer and brake stronger than anything you can buy. Made in the USA and a high-quality pad used as original equipment by the worlds greatest names in bicycle brakes, these pads are great value for money and for the everyday bike rider, these are the choice to make.
Red Pads
These Red grade EBC Bicycle Brake Pads are also a resin base to protect your rotors but with extra high Red grade is also very low abrasion and can therefore be used on all types of rotors, hardened or unhardened without rotor damage. The high friction and better heat fade resistance makes the red grade better for downhill and faster riding but monitor for wear carefully. If the longest life is required, go for the sintered pad option.
Supplied with heavy duty retraction springs in spring based systems.
- High friction pad for downhill riding
- Low rotor damage and minimal heat transfer
- Shorter lifetime but greater performance
- Minimum heat transfer to hydraulics
- Can be used on or hardened discs
- This is a resin pad
Extra High Friction
In considering which pads to use for downhill work it is essential to understand your own brake system. Some hydraulic systems, such as those made by Magura use fluid lines made from nylon or plastic and can be prone to softening and swell if overheated.
For this reason Magura and others are not too keen on using pads in their systems that generate too much heat such as sintered pads. If Downhill if your riding sport EBC red bicycle grade brake pads will be a great choice, lifetime being quite short but great brakes, low rotor damage and minimal heat transfer into the bikes hydraulics is to be considered. If you down intend to make Alpine downhill riding or racing your daily buzz, sintered pads have significant benefits and lets face it, before every one of EBC that races downhill there are 5000 that want value for money, long pad life and do not race downhill, lets read the next section about sintered brakes for bicycle disc systems.
Compatibility
- Hope Tech 3 V4
- Hope Tech 4 V4
- Trickstuff Maxima











