How To Replace MTB Brake Pads With a PRO Mechanic

[@TheLostCo]

Did you like seeing what the mechanics were working on in the shop?

[@MichaelRei99]

Yes I did! Knowledge from pros who do it every day is valuable information! Plus you have a great sense of how to keep it entertaining 👍

[@Alex-gb4vn]

Yeah this really could be an endless series. Love it

[@nosreuter]

I definitely did! Got some sweet tips!

[@tabcobra]

Absolutely!

[@Juuso185]

Yes, more of this please!

[@JeffVlimant]

as a bike mechanics too, i'm so pleased to see some other shops behind the scene, with more experienced bike mechanics on things i do all days too ! it kinda gives me a bit more confidence about what i do and tell to my customers !

[@TheLostCo]

Hey Jeff, thank you for the positive feedback! I'm hoping to do a weekly VLOG like this that just shares what's going on in the stands at the shop. We get to work on some pretty cool bikes here, and I think people would love to see it. -Mike

[@frthdo]

That Code brake service is the most informative conversation I have heard, seen or read. A++

[@TheLostCo]

Right?! I've been wrenching for years and learn a ton every time I ask Alex technical questions. They're extremely dialed! -Mike

[@WilliamrikerNCC1701]

Great brake pads replacement advice, thx! I’d love more tips and vids like this. You ask all the right questions too, to get the info out.

[@TheLostCo]

Thank you for the feedback, Ryan! I'm excited to keep streamlining these videos moving forward as they're pretty fun to make. -Mike

[@sshapiro112]

More pro mechanic tips, this is solid! Thanks

[@TheLostCo]

Heck yea Seanson! Keep those stoppers in tip top shape!! -Tor

[@terr256]

I had this issue with pushing the pistons back and it was very mushy after. Thanks for the advice. Will try this later!

[@beerenmusli8220]

Sick nail polish Alex, and great explanation!

[@Graeleaf]

Awesome video! Wicked cool to see you guys expand! Can't wait to see the new studio! Woo! 🤘

[@TheLostCo]

Thanks for the kind words! I'm very excited for this new studio to come together. It was a bit of a pain walking down the street every time you needed to get a shot. -Mike

[@hardmtnbiker]

I like the “listen to the mechanics” portion of this video. Perhaps consider a series of different videos like this?

[@TheLostCo]

Thank you for the feedback! The goal is to do a weekly VLOG just showcasing what the mechanics are working on and picking up some tips along the way. We get to work on some pretty cool stuff here, and the mechanics are some of the best in the industry. I'm sure people will like watching that and picking up some tips! -Mike

[@C2Architect]

Good stuff gents. Great tips and behind the scenes information. thank you!

[@TheLostCo]

Thank you for the feedback, Chad! Glad you liked this style of video. I hope to be able to have these up quite often moving forward. -Mike

[@MichaelRei99]

Glad to see you streamlining your business! Hope it keeps growing and thriving!!

[@TheLostCo]

Thank you so much, Mike R! Nice name and last initial 😁 -Mike R

[@MichaelRei99]

@@TheLostCo we are twins!!😂

[@TubaSolotheHiker]

So to clarify. On Code RSC’s. Having the contact dial turned all the way in during the bleed procedure, will result in a a shorter throw? Did I hear that correctly? That’s what I’ve been wanting. I don’t want to have to squeeze the lever a lot to feel the brake. Not looking for on/off feel of Shimano, just looking for something, a little more, sooner. If that makes any sense.

[@Mike-wm4jg]

The Lost Co. I have a question regarding Code RSC bleeding, when I normally do it I circle the fluid back and forth to take out as many bubbles as possible and then when I go to remove the lever syringe, its like there is a lot of pressure and it always overspills a lot. Do you have any suggestions? I would LOVE if you guys made a guide video on the best way to bleed CODE brakes. Thanks for the good content Cheers

[@JJ_MTB_15]

Loving the tech tips

[@aaron.rubinstein]

Love the "what are the mechanics working on" concept. It would be cool if you expanded that into an actual tutorial series where you take a bike and go step by step through diagnosing the issues and then performing the repairs.

[@TheLostCo]

Thanks a ton for the feedback! This is a very common video style in the automotive world that I'm hoping to bring into the MTB world. We'll continue to streamline these videos, and I really like your idea of actually going through and diagnosing the bike as wel! -Mike

[@jjobraun]

Nice workshop video. Can I ask what grease you would recommend to a home mechanic? Now that the winter is coming my bike needs some love.

[@TheLostCo]

Thanks for the kind words! There are sooooo many great greases out there, but we tried the Progold EPX Grease about 2 years ago and never switched back to anything else. It's super good stuff! thelostco.com/products/progold-epx-grease-tube-3oz?_pos=1&_psq=grease+epx&_ss=e&_v=1.0 -Mike

[@Alex-gb4vn]

Any brake tips for maguras? I struggle with getting my mt7s to stop rubbing

[@TheLostCo]

Hey Alex, it's tough to say without having the bike here as it could be a number of things. They seem to run a little tight in the first place, but also there could be some air in the system, the pistons could be dirty and moving differently, etc. -Mike

[@eduardodfj]

Great advice, thanks. But if you let some brake fluid out when retracting the pistons, what happens when they need to go further out, as pads get worn?

[@TheLostCo]

The goal with what Alex is doing is to "reset" the positioning of the bladder within the master cylinder (lever) to it's fully decompressed state. When you squeeze a lever or the pistons move out with pad wear, a brake lever's bladder will flex/expand. The brake is designed to do this under normal conditions, but when you're working on brakes you are pushing pistons out much farther than they would ever move even with 100% worn out brake pads. -Mike

[@JIBBING_1980S]

3:42 That smile😆 he had to smile or else salary is going to be cut off

[@TheLostCo]

Haha I really try to be an aggressive boss here and everyone knows not to mess with me 😈 -Mike

[@elvislad]

Wish I still worked in a bike shop...

[@tabcobra]

I have a question, I replaced my rear shock with a Fox Float X performance and it has the IGUS bushings. I’ve tried everything, greased and dry, but this type of bushing squeaks and creaks like nobody’s business.. My old Fox shock had the DU bushing (metal) and it was totally quiet. Have you seen this problem before? Not sure if I need to use the older style metal bushing or am I missing something?

[@jimdaniel5769]

What type of hooks do you use to hang the bikes thats are in for service?

[@TheLostCo]

Nothin' special, just some hooks from Harbor Freight! They're super cheap and are big enough for large MTB tires that all of the bikes we work on offer. Sometimes you'll get other cheap ones and they're designed around kids bike or hybrids with 30mm wide tires that the average household stores. -Mike

[@steve_exclamationpoint]

It's weird that Sram's tech video says to turn the contact point adjustment knob all the way out and you guys turn it all the way in. Comments about that?

[@wangelite5279]

Yup, my code rsc started to leak from the bladder after a bleed. It was likely due to changing pads and pushing the pistons in

[@1uke69er]

I have to over pressurise my code rsc to get them to not feel like rotten fruit

[@TheLostCo]

Hey Luke, we're not exactly sure what you're doing to pressurize thing but that may be one of the things causing any issues you might have. I would highly recommend starting from scratch using the method Alex does in this video. My Code RSC's are going on 4 years old and Alex recently rebuilt them for me and they feel freaking brand new! I think 80% of the staff's bikes here have Code RSC's on them and we seriously love them. Just like any brake, they need some time and patience to do a proper bleed and setup in the stand. -Mike

[@1uke69er]

@@TheLostCo I bleed them a usual but I add a step at the end with the lever closed, I open the caliper with the bleeding edge tool then as I'm pressing down on the syringe I close the caliper you will know if you've pushed to hard because the pads will contact the rotors but it's a very quick and easy step so I keep doing it until I'm happy. If I don't do it that way they then they feel super spongy pulling back to the bars the will stop me but I worry that with a bit of wear and fade they might not work when I need them.

[@wallyedmonds8199]

Shimano xt the free stroke screw unscrew then do procedure .

[@ThunderStruckMTB]

Very cool style!

[@TheLostCo]

Thank you for the feedback! I appreciate it! -Mike

[@BasicBodThor]

Interesting, I didn't know that you should do that when replacing pads, though I does make sense for sure.

[@TheLostCo]

For sure! There are many things that we do here that are not done by about 99% of professional or at-home mechanics. Alex, Russ and BJ are just incredibly knowledgable mechanics and I'm beyond grateful to have their expertise here at the shop. -Mike

[@JosFlos.]

I like these

[@cliffordrichardc]

the lost co very funny

[@texfromro]

On shimano rotors for example they say min 1.5mm. Is this number too conservative or you should never go under this thickness?

[@TheLostCo]

We would not recommend going past that. Brakes are pretty important, so it's best to keep everything to the manufacturer's tolerances. -Mike

[@texfromro]

@@TheLostCo thanks :)

[@dantindley5181]

I greatly misunderstood the title thinking the pads were gonna be replaced with a pro mechanic

[@TheLostCo]

Hey Dan, that segment starts @9:59 -Mike

[@dantindley5181]

@@TheLostCo i meant i read it as you put a pro mechanic in the caliper in place of the pads

[@crsdu3875]

What does the Lost Co. mean? Is there a story behind your name? Cool name either way.

[@marktechsci]

210 brake bleeds a day 7 days a week 365 days a year? Was that statement tongue in cheek? In reality 3 bleeds per work day, 260 days per year puts you at about 10k over 13 years.

[@TheLostCo]

We are dead serious, Alex has not stopped bleeding brakes since the day they learned how! Please help us free Alex from this brake bleeding prison 😱 -Tor