BRAKE PADS

Finding the right replacement brake pad can be a little daunting. They all kind of look the same, right? Well, we are here to help. We have created three easy steps to help you choose the right brake pads for your needs.

Want to skip ahead? Use the links below:

• STEP ONE: Identify your brake pad 
• STEP TWO: Select your pad material 
• STEP THREE: Installation

STEP ONE: Identify your brake pad 

Your brake system will require a specific SRAM or AVID brake pad for fitment and operation. For fitment and safety, the correct brake pad must be selected for your brakes. As there can be an overlap between systems, please use the document below to find the right shape. 

We have listed a few ways to identify your brake pad.  Our latest Disc Brake Pad Identification is below, where you can hold your pad up to confirm the shape. Or, if you are unsure of your brake model, review the serial number identification procedures to identify your specific brake.

Using the brake pad chart

The brake pad identification chart above makes it easy to find the brake pads you need based on your existing brake pads in the system. Simply match your pad shape to find the specific part numbers and review the pad compounds to best decide on what compound will work best for you.

Serial Number 

Don't have your old pads, or still not 100% sure? You can also use the information from the serial number on your product to help with brake pad selection and spare parts. To locate your serial number, use our Component Serial Numbers location guide. Serial numbers are located on the brake caliper as pictured below.  Looking up the serial numbers on our SRAM Service Website will link you to the model and specific service manuals for your part.

Simply enter your serial number into our service website.

A) SMALL BRAKE PADS

Small brake pads are used on our MTB and road two-piston brake calipers. The brake systems that the small pads cover are:

• Level Stealth 2P Ultimate (A1) 2023+, Level Stealth 2P Silver (A1) 2023+, Level Stealth 2P Bronze (2023+)
• RED AXS  2 piece calipers (D1) 2020+, Force AXS (D1/D2) 2020+, Rival AXS (D1) 2020+, Apex D1 (2023+)
• Level (2 piece calipers) B1 (2020+)

The following pad compounds are offered:

• Quiet | Organic Black | 00.5318.024.001 (OEM Road Pad Compound) 
• Quiet Lightweight | Organic Aluminium | 00.5315.035.020
• Quiet/Powerful | Organic Grey | 00.5315.035.031 (OEM MTB Pad Compound) 
• Heavy Duty | Sintered Copper | 00.5315.035.010

Want to learn more about pad compounds? Scroll down to step 2

**OEM - Original Equipment Manufacturer - This is the brake pad that will come in your brakes from new.

B) SMALL ASYMMETRIC BRAKE PADS

Small Asymmetric brake pads were designed specifically for our monoblock or one-piece calipers that were used from 2012-2018 in SRAM 22 HRD Mechanical groupsets, 2017-2019 on SRAM Level and RED AXS brake calipers. The nature of the offset pin entry is from the one-piece design of the caliper. 

Small Asymmetric caliper models include:

• 2017-2019 SRAM Level Ultimate (A1)
• 2017-2019 SRAM Level TLM (A1)
• 2017-2019 SRAM Red eTap HRD (A1) 
• 2019-2020 SRAM Red eTap AXS (A1) 
• 2012 - 2018 SRAM Red, Force, Rival 22 (A1-B1)

The following compounds are offered: 

• Quiet | Organic Black | 00.5318.010.002 (OEM Road Brake pad)
• Quiet Lightweight | Organic Aluminium | 00.5318.010.003
• Heavy Duty | Sintered Copper | 00.5318.010.004 

Want to learn more about pad compounds? Scroll down to step 2

**OEM - Original Equipment Manufacturer - This is the brake pad that will come in your brakes from new.

C) MEDIUM BRAKE PADS

Medium brake pads are exclusive to our mountain bike line of brakes and cover the aggressive cross-country rider up to all mountain riders.

The brake models that they cover is:

• Level Stealth 4P Ultimate (A1) 2023+, Level Stealth 4P Silver (A1) 2023+, Level Stealth 4P Bronze (A1) 2023+
• G2 R, RS, RSC, Ultimate (A1) 2020+ 
• Guide R, RS, RSC, Ultimate (A1 & B1) 2015-2020 
• Avid Trail

The medium pads offer an extra brake compound to some of our other offerings. The following compounds are offered: 

• Quiet | Organic Black | 00.5318.003.004 
• Quiet Lightweight | Organic Aluminium | 00.5318.003.003
• Quiet/Powerful | Organic Grey | 00.5318.003.006 (OEM Level Stealth 4p / G2 brake pad)
• Heavy Duty | Sintered Copper | 00.5318.003.005 (OEM Guide brake pad)

Want to learn more about pad compounds? Scroll down to step 2

**OEM - Original Equipment Manufacturer - This is the brake pad that will come in your brakes from new.

D) Large Brake Pads 

Large brake pads are dedicated to our heaviest-duty brakes, mostly seen on enduro, downhill, or e-bikes. The models that the large pads cover are:

• CODE Stealth Ultimate (A1) 2023+, CODE Stealth Silver (A1) 2023+, Code Stealth Bronze (2023+)
• DB8 (A1) 2021+ 
• Code R (B1) , RS (B1) or RSC (A1) 2018+
• Guide RE (A1) / G2 RE(A1) 2018+ 

Our large pads come in three compounds options (which we discuss further down in the article)

• Quiet | Organic Black | 00.5315.023.030 (OEM DB8 compound)
• Quiet Lightweight | Organic Aluminium | 00.5315.023.020
•  Heavy Duty | Sintered Copper | 00.5315.023.010 (OEM CODE & Guide RE Pad compound)

Want to learn more about pad compounds? Scroll down to step 2

**OEM - Original Equipment Manufacturer - This is the brake pad that will come in your brakes from new.

STEP TWO: Select Your Pad Material

Want the pad material you had before? Then we won't bore you with the below information, don't fix something that isn't broken. We have some information below if you want to learn more or change combinations. 

The main point to remember with changing disc brake compounds is that you will need to replace your rotor for optimal brake performance. We will discuss this further down. 

Available Pad Compounds 

Each pad compound will have a different colored backing plate. This makes identification easier for riders. The table below will assist in your selection, and further down in the article, we will discuss what these all mean in the coming paragraphs.

WANTING TO CHANGE COMPOUND?

Now, if you are looking at changing up those brake pads, we can help explain what a new compound will perform like on the road or trail. The pad compound relates to the material that contacts the rotor. Compounds generally come in two flavors:

• Sintered: Pad material contains pieces of metal within the compound
• Organic: Pad material contains various organic materials (non-metallic)

Pad compound change and rotors

During the bed-in process of hydraulic disc brakes, a thin layer of brake pad material is transferred onto the rotor. This friction between the two surfaces enables powerful braking. When changing brake pad compounds, it is crucial to replace the rotors as well to achieve optimal performance with your hydraulic disc brakes. Below is a table indicating which combinations of brake pad compounds and rotors require replacement for the best results. 

STEP THREE: Installation

Once you have determined the correct shape and compound, it is time to install the new brake pads. Below are direct links to our brake pad installation video and break bed-in. Be sure to review the Disc Brake Pad Replacement User Manual for complete instructions, but we also have some careful considerations below;

• Oil from your hands can contaminate surfaces. Don't touch the braking surface of the pad or the rotor, as oil from your hands can contaminate the pad and reduce the braking performance. 
• Don't forget to push your pistons back!  Your old brake pads here are your friend, so don't throw them out. Use the old pads and a flathead screwdriver or tire lever to help push the pistons back into the caliper. This will reduce any risk of damage to the pistons as the pads will protect them. As your pads wear out, the piston advances to maintain the same lever feel. If you don't push the pistons back into the caliper, it will be very difficult to install the new pads and even harder to install the wheel with the rotor. If you get the wheel in, the lever will have limited throw.
• Make sure you replace the pad retention pin and e-clip. Forgetting to install the pin would result in the pads coming out of the caliper when you need them most. The e-clip is a necessary secondary safety measure critical for rider safety.
• You will need to perform a piston advance before you ride. The SRAM disc brake and shifter manual will run you through the use of pad spacers and the steps to advance your piston with pads installed to the desired location for optimal lever feel. This can be found in our MTB Disc Brakes and Shifters User Manual
• Brake bed-in is critical for new brake systems, pads, and rotors. Bed-in is a quick but critical process that ensures you get the best performance out of your brake system. Skipping this step can lead to poor performance, noise, and inconsistent braking. Check out the Bed-In Process video below: