MBUK Winner: The Truth About Brake Pad Performance (And Why It Matters)

At Gorilla Brakes, we spend a lot of time working with hydraulic braking systems in real workshop conditions. We test brake pads across a wide range of brake models, rotor sizes and riding styles, from everyday trail bikes to full-power e-bikes and downhill setups.

A recent brake pad shootout featured in MBUK compared different pad compounds and designs across real-world riding conditions. In that test, Gorilla Enduro Pro was selected as the overall winner, praised for its balance of performance, durability and value across a wide range of riding conditions.

Tests like this are useful, but they often oversimplify what brake pads actually do within a braking system.

The Most Important Correction

The hydraulic brake system creates braking force.

This comes from the lever, master cylinder, hose pressure, caliper pistons and rotor size.

Brake pads do not create that force. They control how that force is delivered at the rotor.

In simple terms:

• The brake system creates the power
• The brake pad controls how that power feels and performs

What Brake Pads Actually Change

When you change brake pads, you are not increasing hydraulic force. You are changing the friction material that contacts the rotor.

This affects:

• Initial bite (how quickly braking starts)
• Modulation (how controllable the brake feels)
• Heat stability on long descents
• Fade resistance under load
• Noise and vibration
• Wear rate in different conditions

This is why two different pads in the same brake can feel completely different.

Where Brake Pad Tests Can Be Misleading

Magazine tests often use the word "power" to describe pad performance. In reality, this usually means:

• Stronger initial bite
• Higher friction at the rotor
• More aggressive feel at the lever

It does not mean the pad is generating more hydraulic force.

Other inconsistencies include:

• Noise being treated as a pad-only issue (it is also affected by rotors, alignment and contamination)
• Wear comparisons without accounting for rider weight, terrain or e-bike use
• Heat performance being confused with overall braking strength
• Results from one setup being applied to all bikes

This is why tests like the MBUK shootout consistently highlight balance, consistency and usability as more important than raw “power” alone.

Why Pads Feel Good Then “Lose Power”

This is one of the most common issues we see in the workshop.

Brake pads do not suddenly stop working. If performance drops after a few rides, the cause is usually:

• Contamination (oil, spray, dirt)
• Glazing from poor bedding-in
• Air in the hydraulic system
• Uneven piston movement
• Rotor condition

Brake pads are a static component. If braking changes, something else in the system has changed.

What Independent Tests Do Show Well

Despite the limitations, brake pad shootouts are still useful for showing general compound behaviour.

They help highlight:

• Which pads feel more aggressive at first contact
• Which compounds stay consistent under heat
• Which pads wear faster in harsh conditions
• Which are quieter or easier to live with

These are useful insights when choosing the right compound.

Enduro Pro Ultimate Compound

The performance characteristics highlighted in independent testing closely reflect what we design into our Enduro Pro Ultimate range.

In the MBUK test, Gorilla Enduro Pro was recognised as the most balanced option overall, offering dependable braking, consistent performance and strong value across varied riding conditions.

Enduro Pro Ultimate builds on this approach as a proprietary high-performance compound designed for:

• Downhill and enduro riding
• eMTB and high system loads
• Long descents and sustained braking
• Wet, muddy and UK conditions

It is engineered to deliver stable friction, consistent braking behaviour and predictable control under repeated heavy braking, where lower-grade compounds begin to fade or lose consistency.

Shop Enduro Pro Ultimate Brake Pads

Choosing the Right Brake Pads

Instead of asking “which pad has the most power,” the better questions are:

• What bike am I riding?
• What rotor size am I running?
• How much heat am I generating?
• Do I want more bite or more control?
• Is my brake system working correctly?

These factors matter far more than a simple compound comparison.

Final Thoughts

Brake pad tests are useful, but they often blur key technical details.

The most accurate way to understand braking performance is this:

The hydraulic system creates the braking force. The brake pad controls how that force is delivered.

Independent testing, such as the MBUK brake pad shootout, reinforces that real-world performance is not about chasing maximum bite alone, but about achieving consistent, predictable braking across different conditions.

That is why Gorilla Enduro Pro was selected as the overall winner, offering a balance of performance, durability and dependable braking that suits the majority of riders.

View the April 2026 MBUK issue here

Frequently Asked Questions

Do brake pads increase braking power?

No. Braking power comes from the hydraulic brake system. Brake pads control how that force is delivered.

Why do brake pads feel less powerful after a few rides?

This is usually caused by contamination, glazing, air in the system or poor piston movement.

What is the difference between brake pad compounds?

Compounds affect bite, modulation, heat resistance, noise and wear rate.

Are Gorilla Enduro Pro brake pads good for eMTB?

Yes. They are designed for high-load riding such as eMTB, downhill and long descents.