I had previously favoured brake pads that are retained by a bolt over split pins as I saw it as a faff to have to carry a pair of pliers just in case. UNTIL, my ride on Saturday when I found out how much of a faff it is to not be able to brake ‘coz yer pads ain’t there (Incredibly this happened very close to home).

So, should I change them all to split pins, suck it up and carry a lightweight pair of pliers? Or have I missed something with bolts? I’ve not seen those little R clips that normally come with the bolts hang around for long either...

Thanks in advance for advice shared.

Extremely rare I’d ever have the need to change a pair of pads once out (if ever)

If I’m going on a big trip I’ll put new ones in and put the part used ones in a box to trickle down to the trail bike.

In an emergency you can squish the split pin with your fingers.

You can squish the split pin with your chain tool in despiration

I carry a little pair of pliers anyway, having previously spent far too long swearing at a recalcitrant tubeless valve lockring.

I bought some pad retention bolts for the calipers I had with the split pins.

My bikes have Hope brakes so it's a 3mm Allen Key on a retaining bolt. Higher end Shimano also use a retaining bolt, I think it's just SLX that use the split pin.

I have a small Leatherman Squirt with me anyway as a general tool.

Landslide wrote: ↑Mon Mar 29, 2021 5:22 pm I carry a little pair of pliers anyway, having previously spent far too long swearing at a recalcitrant tubeless valve lockring.

Same - I carry a little pair of needle nosed pliers for this very reason. Surprising how often they've come on handy tbh.

Make sure the pins are nipped up tight and the R clip is in place, shouldn't be an issue. R clips can be bought or else just use a bit of lockwire / strand of gear cable. I carry pliers and a couple of split pins as well mind as its easy to lose the pins if you do have to do a pad change mid ride.

Thanks all, sounds like a pair of pliers should come in handy anyway.

I should have clarified, the bolt holding my rear pads fell out the other day, must have been unlucky to have rattled loose as it’s not been touched for months.

Everyone should carry a Leatherman Squirt

I've always used a bolt and thread lock.
Never had a problem.

APF

whitestone wrote: ↑Mon Mar 29, 2021 5:39 pm My bikes have Hope brakes so it's a 3mm Allen Key on a retaining bolt. Higher end Shimano also use a retaining bolt, I think it's just SLX that use the split pin.

I think they're all tapped for the bolt though.