Oil on brake disc or pads: What can I do and what really helps?

Just spray oil on the chain and ride off. That’s what many people think and forget that the brake disc is in the immediate vicinity. But is oil on the brake discs really a problem? A resounding YES! Even touching them with greasy fingers can reduce the braking effect. If you are lucky, you will notice it before it happens and can clean the discs with alcohol. Otherwise, the brake pads may become saturated with oil and lose their braking effect almost completely. In this case, replacement is unavoidable.

Tip: Chain oil from a tube or dosing bottle saves oil and does not spray half! Always spray below the chain stays in the direction of travel!

What can I do if my brake discs are oily?

Can I hot-brake my brake pads?

Tests have shown that hot braking does not restore braking performance, and if it does it is only slight!

Can I burn out my brake pads?

Unfortunately, burning out the brake pads with alcohol, for example, does not produce satisfactory results! Oily brake pads should be replaced.

Can I sand my brake pads?

Grinding down the brake pads can improve the braking performance minimally. However, they should be replaced to regain full braking power.

Conclusion: If your brake pads are oily, you will lose braking power. Replacing the pads is unavoidable. It is best to rub the brake discs with cleaning alcohol to remove grease residues without leaving any residue.

Brake pads: Organic or metal

Metallic or sintered brake pads are mainly used on downhill bikes where maximum braking power is required. For all other bike models, resin or organic brake pads are the right choice.

Advantages and disadvantages of disc brake pads

Material	Advantages	Disadvantages
Metal or sintered	Braking power, low wear, heat resistant	strong heat transfer, noise generation
Resin or organic	Metering, heat shielding, low noise level	higher wear
semi-metallic	quiet, low wear

After fitting, the brake pads should be braked in. Approx. 30 full brake applications at 30 km/h are the best way to break in the brake pads and grind off all production residues from the pads.