Man, changing brake pads scared me at first. I mean, brakes are life or death on a bike, right? Last week my rear brake started making this awful grinding noise. Sounded like a coffee can full of rocks every time I stopped. Knew it was time to stop ignoring it.

Picking Those Damn Pads
Went online shopping – holy cow, so many choices! Saw like five billion brands: EBC, Brembo, some weird Chinese names. Prices jumped from $20 to $120. Got totally confused until I remembered Jimbo’s advice at the bike shop last month. Pulled out his crumpled note:
- Avoid the cheapest ceramic ones – eat rotors alive
- Stick with organic/semi-metallic for daily riding
- No sintered pads unless I’m doing track days
Ended up grabbing EBC organics for my old Suzuki. Package claimed “smooth engagement & low rotor wear.” Hope so.
Tools From Hell’s Garage
Thought I had all tools. Nope. Dug through my disaster garage:
- Had: Ratchet set, tire jack, WD-40
- Forgot: C-clamp, brake piston tool
- Made Do: Used Channel locks and prayed
Safety stuff matters though. Wore gloves and safety goggles – last time metal dust got in my eye, my wife didn’t speak to me for three days.
Actual Sweaty Wrenching
First step? Bike on center stand, rear wheel dangling. Sprayed WD-40 on caliper bolts – those suckers haven’t moved since Obama was president. Leaned all my weight into that wrench until one bolt FINALLY cracked loose.

Then the embarrassing part:
Squeezed pistons back first with ChannelLocks (didn’t know better). Fluid overflowed everywhere! Overflowed like my kid’s bubble bath last week. Wiped it fast – fluid eats paint real good. Later learned you’re supposed to OPEN BLEEDER VALVE FIRST. Duh.
Lined up pads with all them metal clips facing inward? Outward? Checked YouTube on my phone with greasy fingers 4 times. Put everything back together feeling like a genius.
Test Ride Scare
First squeeze: pedals felt like mashed potatoes. Pumped the brake lever like crazy until pressure came back. Took a slow lap around my block with both boots dragging on the pavement just in case.
After ten minutes, brakes finally bit. Solid feeling! That organic pad promise of smooth engagement was real. Stopped by Jimbo’s shop next day – he laughed at my ChannelLocks trick but confirmed my work “wasn’t deadly.” High praise.

Moral? It’s messy and scary, but your hands remember things. Two cold beers required afterward.