Like every means of transportation, the electric bike is equipped with a break which brings you to a halt when pressed or activated.
The E-bike brake is a very important part of the vehicle especially when addressing the issue of safety for the rider and other road users.
In this article, we will be talking about the best brakes for your long-range electric bike, as well as reasons for ebike brake issues and tips on how to fix and maintain your brakes.
Well-Functioning Brakes For Safety
There are various types of brakes with various components, some of which have a specification to the type of electric bicycle in which you ride.
Amongst the numerous types of brakes that are available in the e-bike community, one of the best functioning brakes for safety is the hydraulic disc brakes.
The hydraulic disk brake is the kind of brake that the Himiway Zebra is equipped with. The Zebra has Tektro 180mm hydraulic brakes that are put into use by the brake lever which is an Aluminium alloy comfort grip lever with motor cutoff switch.
The Himiway Zebra fat tire electric bike also has 48V 28Ah Samsung/LG lithium batteries with a range between 60-80 miles. It has a total payload capacity of 400lb with 26* by 4.8 CST fat tires.
Common Types Of Brakes On E-Bikes
In the e-bike community, 2 main types of brakes are commonly used, they are the;
- Rim Brakes
- Disc Brakes
In recent times, several e-bike producers and companies have put a stop to the use of Rim brakes and have moved major focus to disc brakes. In this section, we will be looking at the two types of disc brakes and what they are about.
The two-disc brakes used on e-bikes are the;
- Mechanical Disc Brake
- Hydraulic Disc Brake
Let’s take an in-depth look at them.
A. Mechanical disc brakes;
The mechanical disc brake can in some light be compared to the rim brakes because of their similarity in the use of physical force being put on a braided steel wire that is connected to move the brakes and bring it to a halt.
However, unlike the rim brake, the mechanical disc brakes have been proven to be more powerful and reliable, because they proffer better halting performances especially when one is on wet or muddy grounds. Mechanical brakes are also very easy to maintain and can be quite cheap when compared to both rim brakes and hydraulic disc brakes.
B. Hydraulic Disc Brakes;
Just like the name suggests, hydraulic disc brakes have a connection with liquid, this type of disc brake uses liquid to force pressure behind the brake barrels, this action allows for the barrels to push the brake pads into the disc which now slows down your electric bicycle or bring it into a stop.
The hydraulic disc brake compared to the other types of brakes used on e-bikes can be more difficult to understand and wrap one’s head around, however, it has proven to be more reliable and provide better results than the rim or mechanical disc brakes.
Common Reasons For Electric Bike Brake Problems
E-bike brakes can sometimes have issues and this can be a cause for concern for the rider especially if the issues begin during a ride.
Below are some of the reasons why your e-bike brakes are not gripping;
A. Worn Brake Pads;
The brake pads are one of the two rectangular pieces of rubber. Their major function is to press against the wheels of your e-bike when the brake is pressed to slow down or bring you to a halt. It uses friction to slow either the rim of your wheel or a disc attached to it.
When these pads become worn out, it becomes difficult for them to perform the function which it is meant to perform. That is, it won’t be able to make contact with either the rim of your wheel or the disc attached to it. One major way to know if your brake pads are worn out or beginning to wear out, take notice of the amount of pressure you need to apply to your brake lever, The more pressure you need to apply the more worn out the pads to your bike.
B. Contaminated Brake Pads Or Rotors;
If you use your bike a lot and tend to ride on wet or muddy ground, if you do not maintain your bike properly, there is a high probability that the brake rotors in your bike are getting contaminated or dirty.
Unlike as much as rim brakes, disc brake rotors can also get dirty and damaged.
A major sign that your brake rotor needs to be cleaned or changed entirely, you would notice that you hear a sputtering or rubbing noise when riding your bike.
C. Loose Or Misaligned Brake Calipers;
The callipers are a part of the rim brake that holds the brake pads. A loose or misalignment of brake calipers will mean that the brake pads will be moving around which will disallow your bike from braking correctly. A major sign of loose or misaligned brake callipers is a scraping noise whenever you try to brake.
D. Brake Cable Issues;
When it comes to brake cables two things might be the issue, one being the cable not being attached and the other being the cable might have slipped away.
This usually happens if you are using a mechanical disc brake.
To know if this is the issue with your bike, just gently use your hand or finger to follow the line that leads to the calliper from the lever and see if the line is connected both to the lever and calliper.
What Happens If The E-Bike Brake Doesn’t Work.
Like all motion vehicles, when the brakes do not work it can lead to a dangerous occurrence, accidents or injuries. The same happens with your electric bicycle, A Malfunction in the brake or brake parts causes your bike to not stop when you want or need it to stop which may in some cases lead to accidents or injuries.
A proper pre-ride check on your e-bike should help you notice if there is a problem with your brakes.
How To Fix And Maintain Your Electric Bike Brakes
Depending on what is wrong with your e-bike brakes, there are several ways you can fix various issues with your brakes.
- If the rotors are dirty or contaminated, the best way to keep them clean is by using an anti-grease cleaning agent to rubbing alcohol, this should remove any contamination and allow them to work properly.
- However, if the rotors are destroyed, you should replace them if they are old, and if they are still pretty new and just slightly bent, you can choose to bend them back into place.
- If the calliper is not properly tightened or not properly aligned, if you are not very good with bolts you might want to take it to your local e-bike shop or you can loosen the bolt slightly and then call the calliper properly before tightening the bolts again.
Conclusion
Your brakes are an integral part of your electric bike and you must maintain them properly to avoid accidents and injuries during your ride. It is also of great importance to note the type of brake that is used in your e-bike