How to choose the right Bengal brake pad compound

Choosing the right disc brake pad compound helps your customers get the braking feel they expect and keeps comebacks to a minimum. Our Bengal replacement pads come in two compounds: semi-metallic and gold-sintered. Here is how to pick between them.

Semi-metallic: the all-purpose choice

Semi-metallic pads are the everyday option that suits most bikes. They give good, consistent braking in wet weather, handle heat well on longer descents and with heavier riders, and offer moderate to good pad life. Under hard braking or in the wet they can make some noise, usually within a normal range.

Good for: commuter, urban and hybrid bikes, everyday e-bikes and general shop stock.

Gold-sintered: for demanding conditions

Gold-sintered pads are built for tougher jobs. They are the strongest of our compounds in wet and muddy conditions, have the highest heat tolerance, and last the longest under abrasive or high-demand riding. They can be a little noisier while bedding in, and usually quiet down once the pad and rotor are fully mated.

Good for: heavy e-bikes, cargo bikes and trikes, long descents and riders in wet climates.

How to spot the compound in our SKUs

Gold-sintered SKUs add a P after the first letter. For example, PS02SS02 is semi-metallic and PSP02SS02 is gold-sintered. On each pad listing, choose the compound you want with the Material option.

Which pads come in both compounds?

These pads are available in both semi-metallic and gold-sintered: PA05SA05, PA06SA06, PH02, PS02SS02, PS06SS06, PF03SF03, PH01SH01, PH06SH06, PM08, PS05SS05 and PS07SS07. PH09SH09 (Hayes PRIME, PRO and EXPERT COMP) is gold-sintered only. Our other pads are semi-metallic only.

Quick pick

• Everyday riding, mixed shop stock: semi-metallic
• Heavy loads, steep or wet riding: gold-sintered
• Not sure? Start with semi-metallic, and step up to gold-sintered if the rider wants more fade resistance or longer pad life.

Compound details follow Bengal's official pad chart. For a full side-by-side comparison, see our brake pad guide, or browse all Bengal replacement brake pads, compatible with Shimano, SRAM, Hayes, Magura, Tektro, Promax, Formula and more.

Need help matching a pad to a brake model? Contact us and we'll confirm the fit before you order.