Brake Tuning Guide

Tuning your SRAM MTB brakes

It’s up to you to decide the right power, feel, and tune for your brakes. Tuning your brakes to your liking is as easy as swapping pad compounds and rotor sizes to match how you ride. Start by ensuring you’re riding the best brake for your intended use and personalize from there.

Choose the best brake for you | Decide on pad compound | Swap your brake pads | Select rotor type and size | Install new rotors

Step 1: Choose the best brake for you

Step 2: Decide on pad compound

Step 3: Swap your brake pads

Once you’ve decided on a pad compound, installation is easy. If you’re switching to a new compound, be sure to use new rotors. All pad compounds embed a thin layer of pad material onto the rotor during brake bed-in and use. Introducing a new pad compound to a used rotor can create noise and reduce brake performance.

MOTIVE/DB LOAD PAD SWAP

MAVEN PAD SWAP

Tech tip: Your pistons may need to be reset when installing new pads. For best results, perform the pad advancement procedure using a pad spacer as outlined in the manual here.

different sized rotors next to each other

Step 4: Select rotor type and size

Rotor style and size are crucial in achieving the brake tune you want. The correct rotor will result in powerful and consistent braking by retaining the right amount of heat in the system. The heat generated between the pads and rotors is not only helpful, but essential for proper performance and feel. Heat is your rotors’ friend when managed with proper pad and rotor tuning.

Choose your rotor style:

HS2: More stopping power and exceptional heat management for serious performance.
Centerline: A cost-effective, quiet, and reliable workhorse that delivers consistent performance.
Centerline-X: A lightweight evolution of Centerline, designed for reduced weight without compromising reliability.

Check out the full recommendation overview here.

Once you’ve selected a size, there are two styles to choose from: HS2 for more stopping power and better heat management, or CenterLine for weight savings with less power.

Choose your rotor size:

Recommended rotor size will vary based on several factors, including the maximum size compatible with your frame and fork, rider and bike weight, and riding style.

As a rule of thumb:

160mm is common for cross country
180mm for steeper terrain and all-mountain
200mm+ for downhill and freeride

Check out the full recommendation overview here.

Going from CenterLine rotors to HS2 will boost power by 7% when using the same size rotor, and vice versa if you need a decrease in power. Looking for a bigger increase or decrease in power? Drop a rotor size within the same model for up to 14% change.

Tech tip: If you’re tuning Maven brakes, the smallest rotor size that your frame and fork can accept is the recommended starting point. For RockShox forks, enter your serial number into the TrailHead app to learn what your minimum and maximum rotor sizes are.

Pay attention to color

To easily see if your current size is working well, pay attention to the color of the spokes on your rotors:

Scorched: Purple or rainbow discoloring means your rotors are running too hot, so you should size up.
Optimal: Browned or bronzed coloring means the size is optimal.
Brand new: No distinct coloring would suggest they aren't getting hot enough, so you should size down.

Step 5: Install new rotors

Whether you’re trying out a new rotor size or swapping due to wear, removal and install is quick and easy. With any of our 6-bolt rotor options, use a T25 Torx wrench to remove each of the six bolts, swap your rotors, then reinstall and tighten the bolts in a star pattern to the torque spec on your rotor. With our Centerlock rotor options, use a Centerlock tool to loosen and remove the rotor. Make sure to tighten the rotor to spec once installed. No matter the rotor, follow the bed-in procedure to ensure optimal power and a consistent feel.

Have Centerlock rotors? Check out this video.

Tech tip: Wearing gloves while installing your rotor can help keep the brake track clear of contaminants that could get in the way of an even bed-in (like grease, or hot sauce).