ATVs and UTVs have matured from crude utilitarian and agricultural equipment to high-powered sports machines easily reaching 100mph, staggering 0-60 times and unmatched off-roading capability. While engine displacement and horsepower have increased, chassis have assumed more aggressive designs and suspension setups have strengthened to take more abuse, there’s the same dedication to improving the stopping power on heavier and faster machines with uprated brakes.
Discs and brake pads have all but replaced older drum brakes, largely due to shorter braking distances, improved maneuverability at slower speeds, easier maintenance and increased longevity when quads are pushed to their limit. If your quad is missing out because of advanced wear or subpar components, consider upgrading with high-performance ATV brake pads. These will let you maintain higher speeds without risking accidents, dodge obstacles with more confidence, and ensure that when you pull the lever or press the pedal, your quad does as instructed.
Braking Basics
Disc brakes in ATVs, UTVs, and side-by-sides work much like in all other vehicles. When pulling levers or stepping on the pedal, high-pressure brake fluid in master cylinders pushes on calipers and pistons to engage brake pads against rotors. The friction of rotors and pads is what slows your quad down or brings it to a complete stop. This is effective only until the working temperature range as friction is dissipated as heat, then the parts start to lose puff.
Where quad bikes differ is that they’re also more exposed to external elements like mud and water which increase the likelihood of corrosion, and reduced contact for efficient braking, leading to advanced and uneven wear in both the friction materials lining the pads and rotor surfaces. In most cases, there’s also increased brake fade or loss of friction meaning considerably longer braking distances and serious safety issues.
Signs of Worn Brake Pads
Quality and functional brake pads then are all about control. Worn and sticky brakes compromise not only stopping but can make basic maneuvers like turns impossible. And this can render related safety systems like ABS or traction control useless. While periodically cleaning debris from pads and brake components in spirited rides through harsh terrain can bring better performance, there will be signs that you may need a brake pad replacement:
- Strange noises when applying the brakes – grinding, creaking and screeching noises result from worn pads and uneven pad wear. This emanates from the friction materials that have thinned down to the backing plates as they come in contact with the rotors. Here, you also risk damage to the rotors.
- Brake and brake pad warning lights – sensors lining the pads and the brake components ensure they are functional. Worn pads will throw up a corresponding warning light in the dash, the same way you might experience issues with the ABS or parking brake.
- Longer braking times – this is a biggie. Parts with advanced wear will considerably extend braking distances, and this is a sure way for an accident or damaging your quad.
- Spongy or soft brake feel – pedals and levers that take their time to engage, or need to be pushed further down, point to contaminated brake fluid, warped discs and thinned pads.
- Vibrations through the bars and wheel – misaligned pads, often from uneven wear, can cause shuddering and jolting easily felt through the handlebars and steering wheel.
Neglecting advanced pad wear is also a recipe for new rotors, and in some cases replacing calipers, brake lines and master cylinders, or a complete brake component overhaul that can cost you hundreds in parts and labor.
What Are Worthy Replacements?
As mentioned, periodic inspection for mud, water and debris, especially after longer rides, is the simple way to get your brakes and quad to last longer. This prevents rust buildup, increases the contact area in pads and rotors for more effective braking and prevents seizing or damage of the calipers and pistons. If your brakes as still underperforming, then inexpensive brake pad replacement should relieve most problems, Generally, there are three choices when it comes to pad materials – organic, metallic and ceramic – each with its own list of pros and cons.
Organic
Low-to-mid spec quads usually come with organic pads as stock. They’re the softest of the three options, the least expensive and marketed toward ‘normal’ use. The pads are composed of a mix of metallic fibers, glass, rubber, and in more expensive variants, Kevlar. They’re easy on the rotors, usually very quiet, sustain moderate friction and heat levels for adequate braking in most uses and provide good initial bite so offer a good brake feel. The downsides though can be off-putting for owners of bigger machines. Organic ATV brake pads will have a harder time stopping bigger and more powerful machines, spew a considerable amount of abrasive pad dust onto rotors, and wear out sooner rather than later.
Metallic Pads
Big ATV and UTV brands have recognized the performance credentials of metallic pads and are now fitting them as stock equipment. These come in two flavors – sintered or semi-metallic. Sintered pads are a mixture of metallic and ceramic fibers and resins which are exceptionally durable and can handle high friction and temperatures in harder braking. They’re what you’d want in high-speed trail runs, in races, and for improved performance in stock machines.
Semi-metallic types consist of several metals including copper, iron, steel and composite alloys with organic resins and graphite acting as fillers. They’re the recommended upgrade over organic ATV brake pads, providing even better brake feel and modulation, reduced risk of overheating or wheels locking up, and consistent performance across varying speeds and different quads. They are a bit harsher on the rotors, need time to warm up, can get noisy in harder braking and will cost more, but are worth the extra outlay.
Ceramic
Ceramic pads are the newest options on the market, consisting of a mix of ceramic and metal fibers and polymer binders and draw benefits of both metallic and organic pads. The ceramic-coated backing plates aptly handle high temperatures (more so than sintered brakes), offer excellent feel and modulation, are exceptionally quiet and are easier on the rotors with unnoticeable wear. They also need to warm up to perform their best and will be the most expensive to buy, despite the availability of numerous aftermarket brands.
Wrapping Up
To ensure proper braking at all times. switching to high-performance pads is the easiest and most cost-effective upgrade you can make to your quad. Pads come in front and rear pairs, with the fronts being bigger due to the higher force (roughly 75 per cent) they encounter. Make sure to observe proper break-in times with new pads to get them to last and work as they should. You may also want to bleed the system, change to steel-braided brake lines and use high-grade brake fluid for even better results.