Introducing Gorilla Brakes Enduro Pro Power Brake Pads
Introducing the new Gorilla Brakes Enduro Pro Power brake pads: an advanced organic performance compound developed to deliver powerful, predictable and significantly quieter braking on selected SRAM brake systems.
For the past several months, we have been working towards one goal: developing the quietest, most confidence-inspiring high-performance brake pad we have ever produced.
Following Gorilla Brakes’ success in the MBUK brake pad group test, where our pads competed against Trickstuff Power Pads and another leading competitor, we knew the next challenge was not simply to maintain our position.
We wanted to build something even better.
That challenge led to the development of the Gorilla Brakes Enduro Pro Power compound.
Rather than producing another “one compound fits all” brake pad, we took a more targeted approach. Every braking system has its own characteristics, and some systems benefit from a completely different type of friction material.
The Enduro Pro Power compound has been developed for brakes where lever feel, modulation, noise reduction and predictable control are just as important as outright stopping power.
Why We Developed Enduro Pro Power
If you have ever contacted Gorilla Brakes for technical advice, there is a good chance you have asked us one particular question:
“Which brake pads are quietest for SRAM brakes?”
It is one of the most common technical questions our workshop and customer service team receives.
Our workshop regularly sees SRAM Code, DB8, Motive and SRAM road braking systems, while our phone lines remain busy helping riders choose a compound that delivers strong braking performance without unwanted squealing or warbling.
We receive similar questions from riders using Shimano, Hope, Magura and other brake manufacturers, but SRAM systems remain among the brakes we are asked about most frequently.
This is not because SRAM brakes are poor brakes. When they are properly set up, they can provide excellent power, outstanding modulation and superb control on technical terrain.
However, certain SRAM braking systems can be particularly sensitive to setup, pad compound and vibration resonance.
Understanding the Characteristics of SRAM Brakes
We genuinely like SRAM brakes.
When they are working correctly, they offer a smooth and progressive feel that allows riders to precisely control braking force. This makes them especially well suited to steep descents, loose terrain and technical riding, where maximum braking power is not always the same as maximum control.
However, they are also among the more setup-sensitive braking systems we regularly see in our workshop.
Common issues can include:
- Difficult or incomplete bleeding procedures
- Small amounts of trapped air affecting lever consistency
- Sticky or slow-returning pistons
- Uneven piston movement
- Rotor or brake pad contamination
- Caliper alignment problems
- Brake vibration and resonance
These issues do not always create noise by themselves. Instead, they can allow vibration to develop between the brake pad, rotor, caliper, fork and frame.
When a hard, high-metallic brake pad is fitted, that vibration can become more noticeable. The brake pad can transmit vibration through the braking system rather than helping to damp it.
This can produce the familiar SRAM braking sound many riders describe as a “turkey warble”, along with squealing, pulsing or inconsistent brake feel.
Why Harder Brake Pads Are Not Always Better
Many riders naturally assume that fitting the hardest brake pad available will automatically improve braking performance.
In reality, brake pad performance is much more complicated than friction level or metallic content alone.
The overall behaviour of a brake is influenced by:
- Caliper stiffness
- Piston movement
- Piston seal design
- Hydraulic fluid
- Lever ratio
- Rotor thickness and construction
- Brake pad compound
- Caliper and rotor alignment
- The transfer layer on the rotor surface
High-metallic and fully sintered compounds can provide excellent durability and heat resistance, but they can also transmit more vibration through the braking system.
If the brake is not properly bled, aligned, clean and mechanically consistent, this additional vibration can develop into squealing, warbling or an inconsistent lever feel.
Because of this, many SRAM riders remain with softer organic pads because they are often quieter. The trade-off can be reduced pad life, lower heat capacity and less consistent performance during long descents.
We wanted to create a better compromise.
Meet Gorilla Brakes Enduro Pro Power
Enduro Pro Power is an all-new organic performance compound developed for braking systems that benefit from increased vibration damping, smooth modulation and predictable power delivery.
Instead of chasing the highest possible metallic content, we engineered a compound that works with the characteristics of the braking system rather than against them.
It has not simply been designed to be a softer brake pad. It has been developed to control unwanted vibration while retaining the strong initial bite and consistent braking performance required by modern mountain bikes and e-MTBs.
The result is a brake pad designed to provide:
- Outstanding initial bite
- Smooth and controlled modulation
- Predictable braking power
- Reduced vibration transmission
- Significantly quieter operation
- Improved control on technical descents
- Greater rider confidence
Who Are Enduro Pro Power Brake Pads For?
Enduro Pro Power pads are intended for riders who value braking control, quiet operation and predictable performance.
They are particularly well suited to:
- Enduro riders
- Trail riders
- Bike park riders
- Downhill riders who prioritise modulation
- E-MTB riders
- Riders experiencing vibration or turkey-warble noise
- Riders who find harder metallic compounds too noisy
- Riders who prefer a strong but progressive brake feel
The compound is designed to provide immediate confidence without producing the harsh, highly metallic feel that can make some braking systems more difficult to control.
Brake Systems Selected for Enduro Pro Power
We have deliberately selected braking systems where the Enduro Pro Power compound can provide a genuine performance advantage.
The compound has initially been developed and tested for selected models including:
- SRAM Code
- SRAM Code R
- SRAM Code RSC
- SRAM Code Bronze
- SRAM Code Silver
- SRAM Code Ultimate
- SRAM Code Stealth
- SRAM DB8
- SRAM Motive
Please note: not every brake listed above necessarily uses the same brake pad shape. Always select the Enduro Pro Power product listing specifically designed for your exact brake model.
We are also testing the compound across selected SRAM road and gravel braking systems, where low noise, predictable lever feel and consistent braking control are equally important.
Enduro Pro Power Versus Enduro Pro Ultimate
Enduro Pro Power has not been designed to replace Enduro Pro Ultimate.
Instead, it complements the existing Gorilla Brakes range by providing a more targeted option for riders and braking systems that benefit from increased vibration damping.
| Compound | Primary Strength | Brake Feel | Best Suited To |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enduro Pro Power | Noise control and vibration damping | Powerful, smooth and progressive | Selected SRAM systems, technical riding and riders prioritising modulation |
| Enduro Pro Ultimate | Heat management and high-performance braking | Strong, direct and consistent | Enduro racing, downhill, Alpine descents and demanding e-MTB use |
| Sintered | Maximum durability | Firm and highly metallic | Wet, muddy and gritty conditions where pad life is the priority |
The correct choice depends on the brake, riding conditions, rider weight, terrain and the type of brake feel you prefer.
There is no single compound that is automatically best for every rider and every braking system.
Real-World Development and Testing
Enduro Pro Power was not developed in a laboratory alone.
Our sponsored riders, product testers and workshop team have spent months refining the compound through real-world riding and technical evaluation.
Testing has focused on:
- Initial bite
- Lever feel
- Brake modulation
- Heat management
- Noise reduction
- Vibration damping
- Performance during long descents
- Consistency in changing trail conditions
- Rider confidence
Each revision was evaluated on the trail under braking loads that are difficult to reproduce through laboratory testing alone.
Feedback from riders was then combined with workshop inspection and technical analysis to help us understand how the compound behaved across different brake setups, rotors and riding conditions.
Why We Are Not Releasing It for Every Brake
It would be easy to release the Enduro Pro Power compound for every brake pad shape in our range.
However, that would go against the entire reason we developed it.
The compound has been created for braking systems where it provides a meaningful improvement. We are therefore introducing it selectively, based on testing and the characteristics of each braking system.
Different calipers have different levels of stiffness, different piston arrangements and different vibration characteristics. A compound that transforms the behaviour of one brake may not provide the same advantage in another.
We would rather offer a smaller, carefully selected range than release a new compound across every brake model simply for marketing purposes.
The Importance of Rotor Preparation
Even the most advanced brake pad compound will not perform correctly if it is fitted against a contaminated, glazed or incompatible rotor transfer layer.
During braking, a microscopic layer of brake pad material is deposited onto the rotor. This is known as the transfer layer.
The brake pad then works against this layer rather than directly against bare metal. A consistent transfer layer is essential for smooth braking, predictable friction and effective noise control.
When changing from a resin or organic compound to a highly metallic or sintered compound, or moving back in the opposite direction, the existing transfer layer may not be compatible with the new material.
This can result in:
- Brake squeal
- Rotor slip
- Inconsistent bite
- Vibration
- Poor bedding-in
- Glazed brake pads
Before installing new pads, inspect the rotor carefully. Clean it with a suitable disc brake cleaner or high-purity isopropyl alcohol and lightly prepare the braking surface when necessary.
Rotors that are heavily contaminated, deeply scored, below their minimum thickness or carrying an uneven transfer layer may need to be replaced.
How to Bed In Enduro Pro Power Brake Pads
A correct bed-in process is essential for achieving full braking performance.
- Install the new brake pads without touching the friction material.
- Check that the caliper is centred and that the rotor runs freely.
- Accelerate to a moderate speed in a safe, traffic-free area.
- Apply the brake firmly and reduce your speed without coming to a complete stop.
- Release the brake and allow the rotor to rotate and cool briefly.
- Repeat the process around 15 to 30 times, gradually increasing braking force.
- Avoid holding the brake on while stationary when the rotor is hot.
- Allow the braking system to cool before beginning a demanding ride.
During the first bedding cycles, braking performance may change as the transfer layer develops. This is normal.
Full performance is achieved when the rotor has developed an even transfer layer and the brake provides consistent bite without pulsing or slipping.
The Right Compound for the Right Brake
One of the most important lessons we have learned after years of developing and manufacturing brake pads is that there is no single “best” compound.
Different braking systems behave differently, and different riders have different priorities.
One rider may need maximum pad life in winter mud. Another may need exceptional heat management for Alpine descents. Another may prioritise quiet braking, precise modulation and predictable control on steep technical trails.
That is why Gorilla Brakes continues to develop purpose-built compounds instead of expecting one friction material to perform perfectly in every brake on the market.
Enduro Pro Power is the latest step in that philosophy.
Engineering Brake Pads Around the Brake
At Gorilla Brakes, we have never believed in producing a single compound and claiming it is perfect for every braking system.
Modern mountain bike brakes are incredibly diverse. A compound that performs exceptionally in one caliper may feel completely different in another.
Enduro Pro Power has been developed for riders who love the modulation and control of SRAM brakes but want smoother, quieter and more confidence-inspiring braking without the unwanted vibration that can accompany harder compounds.
Sometimes the best upgrade is not making a brake pad harder.
Sometimes it is engineering the compound to work in harmony with the brake itself.
Find Enduro Pro Power Brake Pads for Your Bike
Explore the complete Gorilla Brakes Enduro Pro Power collection and select the correct brake pad shape for your exact SRAM brake model.
The range is being expanded carefully as testing and production are completed for additional braking systems.
Shop Enduro Pro Power Brake Pads →Developed by Gorilla Brakes • Powerful organic compound • Reduced vibration • MTB and e-MTB compatible
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Gorilla Brakes Enduro Pro Power brake pads?
Enduro Pro Power is Gorilla Brakes’ latest high-performance organic brake pad compound. It has been developed to deliver strong initial bite, smooth modulation, reduced vibration and significantly quieter braking on selected braking systems.
Which brakes are Enduro Pro Power brake pads designed for?
The compound has initially been developed for selected SRAM braking systems, including SRAM Code, DB8 and Motive models. Availability depends on the specific brake pad shape, so always select the product listing designed for your exact brake model.
Are Enduro Pro Power brake pads quieter than sintered brake pads?
Enduro Pro Power has been engineered to damp vibration more effectively than harder, high-metallic compounds. This can help reduce brake squeal and turkey-warble noise on braking systems that are sensitive to vibration resonance.
Correct caliper alignment, rotor condition, brake bleeding and bedding-in are still essential. No brake pad compound can correct an underlying mechanical or contamination problem.
Do Enduro Pro Power brake pads replace Enduro Pro Ultimate?
No. Enduro Pro Power complements the Enduro Pro Ultimate range.
Enduro Pro Power prioritises modulation, vibration damping and quieter operation. Enduro Pro Ultimate remains an excellent option for riders who require exceptional heat management and consistent braking under demanding downhill, enduro and e-MTB loads.
Why do SRAM brakes sometimes make a turkey-warble noise?
Turkey warble is normally caused by vibration resonance between the brake pad, rotor, caliper and bicycle. Harder metallic compounds can transmit more vibration when the braking system has trapped air, uneven piston movement, contamination, rotor variation or alignment problems.
Can I fit Enduro Pro Power pads to contaminated rotors?
No brake pad should be fitted to a contaminated rotor. Oil, grease, hydraulic fluid and unsuitable cleaning products can contaminate the pad material and cause noise, slipping and reduced braking performance.
The rotor should be thoroughly cleaned and inspected before new brake pads are installed. Severely contaminated rotors may need to be replaced.
Do Enduro Pro Power brake pads need bedding in?
Yes. Bedding-in creates a consistent transfer layer of friction material on the rotor surface. Without this layer, the brakes may feel weak, inconsistent or noisy.
Carry out repeated controlled braking cycles before using the brakes on steep or demanding terrain.
Can I change directly from sintered to organic brake pads?
The rotor should be thoroughly cleaned and prepared before switching between sintered and organic compounds. The existing transfer layer may not be compatible with the new friction material, which can lead to poor bedding-in, inconsistent braking, rotor slip or unwanted noise.
Are harder metallic brake pads always more powerful?
No. A harder compound may offer greater heat resistance or longevity, but overall braking performance also depends on modulation, transfer-layer stability, rotor condition, caliper setup and vibration control.
A compound that is too hard for a particular braking system can feel noisy, harsh or inconsistent.
Are Enduro Pro Power pads suitable for e-MTBs?
Yes. Enduro Pro Power has been developed to provide predictable braking performance, excellent modulation and confidence-inspiring control on both conventional mountain bikes and electric mountain bikes.
How long do Enduro Pro Power brake pads last?
Brake pad life depends on rider weight, terrain, weather conditions, rotor condition and braking style. Enduro Pro Power has been engineered to provide a strong balance between braking performance, durability and quiet operation.
What makes Enduro Pro Power different from standard organic brake pads?
Enduro Pro Power is not simply a standard soft organic compound. It has been engineered around braking systems that benefit from improved vibration damping while maintaining strong initial bite and smooth, predictable modulation without relying on very high metallic content.
Where can I buy Gorilla Brakes Enduro Pro Power brake pads?
Enduro Pro Power brake pads are available directly from Gorilla Brakes. Visit the Enduro Pro Power brake pad collection and select the correct product for your exact brake model.