SRAM brake pad compound change – do I really need to replace the rotor?

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1

Hey everyone! :waving_hand:

I recently got my bike back from the workshop and noticed that the rear brake pads had been replaced with a different compound (OG organic replaced with sintered) than before. I’ve already ridden about 400 km on the new pads and haven’t noticed any obvious issues so far, so not worried, more like curious.

SRAM recommends replacing the rotors when switching between pad compounds, so I’m wondering how strictly I should take that recommendation. Is replacing the rotors really necessary, or is it more of a best-practice recommendation?

I also tried looking for similar guidance from Shimano but couldn’t find anything suggesting that the rotors need to be replaced simply because you’re changing pad compounds. Their documentation seems to focus mainly on rotor and pad compatibility.

So, I’m curious about your real-world experience: Have you always replaced your rotors when switching between organic and sintered pads, or have you simply kept the existing rotors without any issues? Did you notice any differences in braking performance, noise, or pad life?

I’m especially interested in whether anyone has run a different compound on the same rotors without problems.

I’m also wondering what I should do when it’s time to replace the pads again: assuming we agree that I can keep my current rotors, should I stick with sintered pads from now on, or can I safely switch back to organic pads without replacing the rotors?

Thanks for sharing your experience! :man_mountain_biking:

2

Replacing your rotors after 400km seems like less then ideal.

It depends how much you wanna stick to the best practice.

I have swapped compound during a bike trip because it was the only pads available and it took a couple of days to get the disc to stop squealing and bite at 100% but they eventually did. Careful braking and avoiding glazing is key though.

Next level up in my personal experience is to thoroughly clean your discs, sand their braking surface gently and bed the pads in with care. It has worked most of the time for me.

Professional level: swap discs and put new ones on.

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