How Do Disc Brakes Actually Work?

Ever wondered how disc brakes on bikes actually work? Are they really better than rim brakes? What's the difference between mechanical and hydraulic discs and what are the pros and cons of disc brakes on road bikes?
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[@iteachvader]

I honestly really like the way disc brakes look compared to rim brakes. It projects a sense of premium quality.

[@prodbylxcky]

I agree, they just look nicer

[@maljamin]

thats an awareness of the increased cost. That's inference by association. It's not actually a look or experience

[@DavideMazzetti]

@@maljamin For me it is - I like the look of disc brakes and their braking efficiency - cost has nothing to do with it for me - don't generalize.

[@SparkyPlugz]

Sorry but I've always thought disc brakes looked nice on bikes. Especially ones that are different color tones

[@nassimback]

yeah the stainless steel look great

[@rc_23]

ya makes the bike look more cool and expensive

[@larrysunshine]

Well, in Britain they drive on the left side of the road... Just saying.

[@kazmis1398]

exactly

[@Chas0vnik]

same

[@sankethowal3748]

Disc brakes looks really very sporty on any bicycle, let alone it gives a feeling of being premium

[@RossThompson89]

Just here to add another comment stating that disc break sexiness is far superior to rim breaks. Disc breaks look badass. Rim breaks look chintzy and outdated.

[@ryuga2852]

Exact-fucking-ly

[@Soup-Dragon1]

Chintz: Cloth printed with designs featuring flowers and other patterns on a light plain background...

[@kylewolfe_]

Woah, what's up Ross! Was not expecting to see you in these comments.

[@Deefolt]

You're the only person i know who said that disc brakes are ugly. Disc brakes looks beautiful in any bike.

[@Endeva09]

To me, disc brakes look way, way better than rim brakes. Just my 2c.

[@kuro5844]

no, disc brakes are sexy, not ugly

[@proudtitanicdenier4300]

You've got an odd fetish

[@clexa-the1002]

@@proudtitanicdenier4300 says the Titanic Denier

[@proudtitanicdenier4300]

@@clexa-the1002 Is that supposed to be a comeback

[@clexa-the1002]

@@proudtitanicdenier4300 no lol just a joke chill

[@proudtitanicdenier4300]

@@clexa-the1002 NO IM NOT GOING TO CHILL

[@ScooterPS]

Please dont tell me discs look worst than rim brakes🙄🙄🙄

[@bhaskar2ndacc230]

*worse

[@guru9028]

@@bhaskar2ndacc230 u came here after 1year to correct him😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@blueey2938]

@@guru9028 You*

[@mickgatz214]

I'm ol' skool, i only remember rim brakes, and of course the 'foot' brakes! Great for doing 'Broadies'! haha

[@elmo24de]

I have 2 race bikes. Rim and disc, the disc breaking power and comfort is just suberbe compared to rim break, especially when you live in wet areas.. on top the disc bike gives you more options to use different tyre sizes... In my opinion, once you try disc brakes you do not really go back to rim..

[@detonater1348]

*superb

[@raphaelkw7630]

Rim brakes peel off rim paint. If you're looking to paint your rims, disc is what you need.

[@david131092]

I’m a rim brake purist - if I plow into a wall at the bottom of a wet steep descent - I want to look good doing it

[@دانیالسلیمانی-ض2ض]

David Fellows good

[@abhishekgourav6144]

Great i will send flowers for you...

[@snap_drama346]

Donate your games console to me please 💕

[@AGDesigns123]

Thanks for the concise and informative video! I got a huge upgrade to my old Craigslist bike that came with hydraulic disc brakes and it is good to know it is, overall, a better way to break.

[@ritahasgotyou]

But it's not just about how aesthetically pleasing it looks, function also matters.

[@TheBodi91]

I don't have any problem with the modulation and braking power on my rimbrake road and gravel bikes. I just had to set them up correctly. Although I have hydraulic disc brakes on my mountain bikes due to worse conditions like water and mud on the trails in the forest, which can eat up the rim fast on the rimbrake bikes.

[@jacksongoenawan7366]

how does the disc brake allow for the piston to “bite earlier”?

[@paragb]

I watching this video on mute as I am forced to be part of boring motivational session (talk of another day). Yet, I am able understand every word that might have spoken in this video. Great representation/graphics on how disc brakes work; math and science behind it. Thanks!

[@frankfurter7260]

Sounds like you need a motivational session for taking motivational sessions.

[@leedorney]

Luv the idea of discs BUT my custom is RimBrake - just like the simplicity of them, an oil change of them is HELL ! They're good on an MTB tho and suited to them 👍

[@pjm0621]

I’m thinking about getting a bike. Do you recommend disc brakes or rim brakes? I will be riding in neighborhood on pavement. No hills. No racing. No marathons. And what is the maintenance on disc brakes?

[@todorrusinov9149]

i've never had disc brakes, but with the rim and 24/7 rain in Denmark, i just know when it's whet i have to press the brakes 10 meters earlier to slow down properly.. time to try disc's

[@grahamb7947]

And if something happens suddenly, you're doomed.

[@FreeMan4096]

I'm noob but if I were to chose by looks it's disc brakes hands down.

[@orionharmon6017]

I've never had one of those that's replaced onto my bike that Schwinn type one. I had an old one that is different, my old one is a la Jolla Street cruiser I've been having that bike and rode on it for 8 or more I believe but now I got an upgrade for my old bike which is I got a new bike now because my old bike wasn't working properly so that bike is now. I got a new bike call a Schwinn so it maybe pretty much of a mountain bike, it got shift gears so after I started practicing of shifting my gears of my new bike I'm starting to get hang of it now. The types of brakes I have is brake pads.

[@okantichrist]

What pushes the pads off of the disc when the brake lever is released ?

[@mattparsons6487]

okantichrist whatever it is, it doesn’t exist in mine which is why they rub 24/7

[@okantichrist]

No springs 😂

[@jpinnillago]

The disc itself, by rubbing against them

[@okantichrist]

JD Pinilla Seems like a waste of energy 🥴

[@denismacfarlane255]

The piston seals are straight when lever isnt pushed. When the lever is pushed, the seal bends inward toward the rotor, when lever pressure is released, the seal and vacuum of the airtight system pulls the piston and pad off the rotor

[@leedorney]

Discs on the road are the logical way to go with carbon tubulars

[@detonater1348]

I agree with everything EXCEPT you calling them ugly lol. Never heard anyone say that, infact disc brakes makes ur bike look way cooler and expensive.

[@AaronMcDaid]

Disc brakes are more difficult to maintain. I'm too scared to replace the pads myself, even though I consider myself quite a practical person

[@alisquin315]

Idk bout that last take, i've ever only used RBs but disc brakes look way better aesthetically.

[@bpexodus]

RIM BRAKES RULE!!!!!!!!!!

[@shortcircuit48]

How do the mechanical pull brakes work? Do the flex the disc?

[@_Stormfather]

This is what I came to this video to try to find out, and I still don't know

[@am7265]

@@_Stormfather if you're referring to mechanical disc brakes, yeah. Typically one piston is fixed (and must be adjusted manually from time to time) and the other piston is cable actuated. When you pull the brake, the cable pushes one piston (and brake pad) against the disc and flexes the disc ever so slightly to contact the other brake pad from the other piston.

[@billslobotski6549]

Great video, but I ask that you redraw the artwork at 0:32 showing the calipers being 0.000001 mm away from the rotor so that people know of the constant rubbing battle they will be up against.

[@0741921]

No

[@rajendrakumarmishra1776]

Who said disk brake look ugly ? Disk brake looks great then rim brake!

[@CFLavertu]

Why does my brakes only have one of the two pads that moves when braking? The other one is just stationary

[@abbyo7061]

Another con would is that not all disc breaker wheels have the same size axle or disc. So in road racing a neutral series car is unlikely to be able to give you another wheel if you puncture.

[@Nugget1080]

why you need a hole new wheel for a puncture.... even if your running tubeless you still dont need a hole new wheel

[@Nugget1080]

and tubes are what $5? $10 at most.... I always pack a few extra tubes with me

[@michaelsublet3283]

I have disc Brakes on my GT mountain bike. I think they look cool as Hell.

[@wosaks9649]

When i pedal on my mtb theres no noise but when i stop pedaling theres a squeaking sound like coming from the breaks anyone know why and how to fix it?

[@dh7314]

Rim brakes are an excellent way of communicating that you dislike progress in favour of sentimentality for old technology.

[@91722854]

when car tech stream down to bikes, u realise, you can still afford several used cars but not a brand new or even 2nd hand high end road bike

[@Darsithis]

Now that I have them on my Trek Emonda SL6 I don’t think I’d go back to rim.

[@udmbfckx2916]

Silly Questions: If I could only own just one bike, it would be a Rigid MTB. It would be used for mild trails and unpaved roads as a MTB as well as for pavement/Street riding in the City. So my questions are as follows: Can I have 2 sets of wheels, one for MTB (probably a 2.3, 2.4 tire) and the other one with 1 inch slick tires for City riding that could be easily changed from one to the other? Which braking system would be best? It seems to me that to have the two, same diameter wheels but with different rim width would not be an issue for discs as long as the space between the disc and hub is the same on both. Is there a way of spacing this? Or is this standard sizing and it can be had with the same space? Thanks!

[@wangdangdoodie]

It's standard.

[@Schrankerle]

I've had the same bike since I was 12. It cost $70. The tires have been replaced but the brakes still work just fine. The discs look cool but also look more complicated to replace.

[@Airlane-rq9yd]

How old are you now? If you reply '13', I don't think your comment is as impressive if you say '70'.

[@american_psycho1147]

No one asked and no one care

[@albinomonkey3067]

disc brakes look wayyyyy better than rim brakes

[@bumstudios8817]

Who needs breaks... phhhh just have a friend follow you that throws a Stick in the spokes when you want to stop... faster stop than disk or rim!

[@hcrankin5923]

I'm getting a twist or slight movement in my ftobt 28 inch front rim with ftont disc brake application. Thoughts on why??? QR is as tight as i can get it😧

[@zohaib0335]

what do you mean by slight movement ? is the whole wheel slipping when you apply brake ?

[@nenadmojsovski]

Disk brakes are beautiful, rim brakes are ugly its a fact

[@mcpappysgolden]

The "cons" are hilarious. Do you want it to work, or do you want to cling to an antiquated technology to assuage your nostalgia?

[@albinbby]

I put a bit oil on disc brake.any issues..

[@akieshantan5690]

Contaminated brake could slow you and go clean it or your gonna replace it to new one

[@Phyoomz]

I must admit, I hate the look of machined sidewalls. lol

[@frognoises1494]

Disc Brakes look way better than rim brakes tbh

[@aba22125]

The only way I'd use those metal breaks is if I had a motor, otherwise rim breaks that sit on the top are cheap, efficient, and there to stay

[@Welther47]

I've always thought disc brakes looked nice

[@kyzerserocki7520]

I 100% agree with you

[@gradyutama2952]

Disc brake will definitely save your life

[@Scrungge]

Disc just has a way better functional design. A lot of upsides and not really any downsides.

[@fathimahibak1799]

There is no need to change the whole wheel itself you could just change the hub

[@Dwaine-ir2kt]

Disk brakes are better i ended up putting my head through a windscreen getting a massive gash to my head and a broken collar bone because it was raining one evening and the spray and oil off the road stopped my rim brakes from working i just couldn't stop thankfully i didn't feel a thing i was out cold the only good thing about rim brakes is they are only a few pounds to replace

[@knightsljx]

Disc brakes have huge variances in performance, more so than rim brakes. A $10 V-brake will always stop you. A $10 mechanical disc brake caliper will most likely get you killed.

[@muhammadniyaz4039]

Me still with my rim braked bike: discs at the side of ur tires look like shit dude!

[@NeutralGenericUser]

I can't believe he just said rim brakes look better. No they do not. I only wish the pro athletes and organizations got onboard with discs earlier. I was surprised to know most of the high end group sets include V brakes because antiquated opinions and regulations prevented disc brake adoption. Thus, there were very few Shimano 105 options with discs in the used market, and that lead me to buying my Giant FastRoad Advanced 1. Disc brakes look way way way better than V brakes, and I literally refused to buy an expensive bike with V brakes when my crappy $350 CCM bike has discs.

[@0741921]

I’ll also add like everyone, that disk brakes look far better. At least the high end ones that are more aero and are made from carbon. Also, disk brakes also allow for even cheap rims to get rid of the brake track, which allows rim to be all black which alone makes the bike look soooooo much better

[@jiffster25]

I actually think that disc brakes look better but each to their own.

[@tahamohammad4612]

77 dislike 95 comment

[@jaekaex]

Disc brake are never ugly. Get the mindset right

[@user-lq6vp9el6l]

Johnson Kachary I think they are ugly, many others do as well. They are the future though. Don’t think I’ll take on any more long steep hairpin descends on a rim brake bike again now that I bought a disc brake one.

[@jaekaex]

Many others never think that stupid ugly. Prove the facts right

[@user-lq6vp9el6l]

Johnson Kachary I don’t know what you are saying. You do know aesthetics are opinion based right?

[@jaekaex]

Never fight with anyone if you know you would never win. Disc brakes are never ugly. World knows. 99% of world believes disc brakes never look stupid ugly

[@sydewaze_cj]

Cable disk breaks look good but hydraulic rim brakes blow that look out of the water

[@user-hi1xc3pn1e]

you forgot to say one more cons = Disc brakers are slower due to lower aero.

[@spencegame]

the better stopping stopping power allows you slow down quicker for turns so you can brake later though making you more efficient in areas where you would lose time slowing down

[@gigachad8082]

I tot dis is from GCN

[@budbarlang3729]

disc brake looks way better than rim brakes and the comments below proves that

[@savemankind738]

Rim brakes look cheap , it gives the bicycle same look as owning a BMW with drum brakes

[@Frapzoid]

Discs!

[@markmoreno7295]

I don't like the grating sound that rim brakes make when all the grit is wearing away my expensive rims.

[@vincentvanveen4436]

Rimming sucks..

[@marekcontofalsky3084]

Another downsides are also that you can more likely get injured on them and they heat up when braking a lot down a hill

[@okantichrist]

Marek Čontofalský I’m not a fan of discs yet(or a convert). But rims get very hot with a rim brake setup on technical descents as well.

[@wangdangdoodie]

Give me an example of any professional (or amateur for that matter) rider being injured by discs?

[@longestcategg7097]

Not all disc brakes are hydraulic

[@jthepickle7]

Disc brakes are only marginally better than rim brakes ( on road bikes). Not enough margin to buy new hubs, have bigger, clunkier levers and parts to go awry. If you cannot propel yourself over the bars with rim brakes then sure, buy disc brakes.

[@TheDUDERX]

Another con of rim brakes is that if you have even an insignificant dent in your rim which is basically unavoidable as your bike gets used more, then the rim brake will rub along that particular ding and you cause resistance, brake wear and sound. This problem doesnt occur with disc brakes as they are not in contact with the rim.

[@brandonnjiru2644]

Rim

[@LeK-]

Disc

[@johns6177]

disc brakes look better, rim brakes look very 90s.

[@alicomando1195]

It didnt show how it worked

[@stonethemason12]

yeah disc breaks look way better imo

[@nedarayt]

I have 203mm rotor (^o^)

[@alexs1007]

Disc brake on mountain bike. Don't care either way for the road.

[@gildardomagallon]

Rim brakes literally wear out your rims disc brakes don't.

[@sirRustyiron]

'inelegant hunk' did you say, it's your own opinion but it's a very stupid opinion ngl. Disc breaks look way more aesthetically pleasing and the weight it adds is pretty much unnoticeable. I was actually enjoying the video until my guy stated that disc breaks are "inelegant hunk of steel".

[@udaymalviya5574]

Your voice is so sleepy 😴

[@linusnanor1531]

Disc brakes look better. And u have a rim brake bike.

[@Ben-db5re]

Block brakes all day long!

[@grahamb7947]

disc brakes all the way. Rim brakes were always way too inconsistent, especially in changing weather. Wet rims make for a very unsafe ride. Not to mention how quickly the brake pads wear down on rim systems. Rim brakes were good for a non-practical and non-safety era such as the one in which they were made, but now, we actually got smarter and no longer ride like neanderthals (mostly).

[@sheepay99]

Need to re-record this video - you mumble quite a lot when speaking.

[@frankfurter7260]

Rim breaks are ugly AF. Disc breaks look cool.

[@peterbaskind9872]

Totally RIM brakes, Dude. Who wants predictable braking? No. I want the thrill of wondering if my rims are too wet as I descend. The squeal of a rim brake is also a statement. It says, “Hey. I’m a traditionalist. I’m willing to risk my life and yours just to shave 100 grams off this bike. LOOK AT ME.”

[@mattparsons6487]

Urm hello.. biggest con= disc rub?!

[@honestmcgyver]

You can’t just buy some new wheels to convert to disc.Frame needs caliper mounts. This confirms the disappointment that videos like this are made to explain things to morons and done poorly - good ad rev tho’

[@egll0817]

First

[@gstarvega1320]

Roadies...