Gravel brake pads

19 products

How to choose gravel brake pads

Dust, mud and long descents on tracks: gravel riding wears brake pads faster than road riding. SRAM, Shimano, Galfer, Clarks and TRP cover the calipers fitted to almost all gravel bikes.

Which pads for my calipers?

  • Gravel calipers most often use the road shapes : Shimano L03A and L05A, SRAM Flat Mount.
  • Check the reference engraved on the caliper rather than relying on the bike model.
  • On mechanical brakes (TRP, Clarks), the shape may differ: check on a case-by-case basis.

Organic or metallic?

  • Organic : immediate bite and quiet in dry conditions, but rapid wear on abrasive tracks.
  • Metallic : much more durable in mud and on rocky terrain, slightly noisier.
  • Semi-metallic : the compromise for mixed road and track use.
  • Check for the wording Resin Pad Only on your rotors before switching to metallic pads.

Should you carry spares on a long ride?

On a bikepacking trip or raid, a spare set of brake pads weighs only a few dozen grams and can be changed without special tools. On a muddy route, brake pads can wear out in a single day.

See also: Gravel tyres · Road brake pads · Complete gravel brakes