Looking over the brakes
Pad wear, fluid level and lever feel — looking only; any repair is a mechanic's.
This guidance is general — not checked for any one model. Your bike's exact figures and procedures are in its owner's manual or at an authorised service centre.
When to do it
- Monthly, or between services
- When the brakes are noisy
What you need
- A torch
Step by step
- 1
Work on flat, firm ground away from traffic, with the engine off and the key out.
- 2
On a disc brake, shine a torch into the caliper to see the pad thickness; many pads have a wear groove — once it is gone they are due.
A disc brake: the gold part is the caliper, whose two pads clamp the disc. A torch shows the pads through the caliper's gap.Photo: MAbbey, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons General drawing — not of any particular model Discs are very hot after riding — look once they have cooled.
- 3
Check the fluid level in the reservoir window (on the handlebar or near the footrest) is between MIN and MAX.
- 4
On drum brakes many bikes have a wear-indicator arrow and mark — compare them as the manual shows.
A drum brake's shoes with the drum off — opening it is a mechanic's job. From outside, the wear-indicator mark tells you enough.Photo: SATELIT BM, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons - 5
With the engine off, apply the lever and pedal — they should feel firm and not reach the bar or the floor.
What normal looks like
- Fluid between MIN and MAX; lever and pedal firm.
Warnings
- Do not open the reservoir or add fluid yourself — the wrong fluid or air in the system can stop the brakes working.
- Keep oil, lube and sprays off the discs.
Stop and see a mechanic if
- The lever or pedal is soft or travels far, fluid is below MIN, or it leaks — do not ride
- The pads are worn out, or there is metal grinding
Sources
- The owner's manual and service booklet: the only reliable source for your bike's figures and procedures.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-25