Disc Brake Fluid & Hose

Needing Disc Brake Fluid & Hose to bleed your bike’s hydraulic brakes at home? We have you covered. Shop our range of Mineral Oil & DOT fluid here.

Having trouble working out which type of brakes your bike has? Or need some help choosing the correct disc brake pads?

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What are the different types of disc brakes?

These are now the most common type of brake found on a bicycle.

And if you are lucky enough to have a known brand of brakes, like Tektro, then finding parts will be easy.

But maybe you want to upgrade your bike, so let’s break down the differences.

Firstly, there are mechanical disc brakes. These are cable-actuated and use a caliper to squeeze the rotor.

These are the least expensive form of modern bicycle brakes. They’re also pretty easy to maintain as they retain a similar style to V brakes.

Then there are hydraulic disc brakes. These are more commonly found on higher end bikes, or bikes that need good stopping power. That’s why you will see them on ebikes!

This style of brake uses hydraulic fluid to transfer force from the brake lever to the caliper, which then squeezes the rotor.

They offer better braking performance than mechanical versions. And have more precise modulation and more stopping power.

They are more expensive than mechanical disc brakes and require more maintenance, as they have more components.

Within each of these categories, there can be further subtypes and variations. Such as 2-piston vs 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes. Or different brands and models of mechanical disc brakes.

The type of disc brake you can fit to your bike also depends on your frame & your fork. The mounting points for the brake caliper will determine how large a rotor you need, and what type of mounting your require. There are post mount adapters if you cannot find the right caliper for your bike.

You may also notice some brakes have huge rotors & some have small ones. The standard rotor is fine for most commuter & hybrid bikes. A larger rotor is often found on a bike with a motor or mountain bikes designed for descending. This is to provide better heat dissipation while braking – the more surface there is the faster the heat will be able to escape. This prolongs the life of the brakes, and also ensures correct performance.