Originally Posted by caotropheus
The disk brakes in my bicycle get "tired" once in a while. I have Avid 5 cable operated and after sometime the brakes stop breaking efficiently. I press the brake lever and the bicycle does not stop as it used to be. Some times the calliper doesn't even lock the disk. The pads are new, 4 month and I am a weekend trails rider and to clean the pads I use simple toillet paper. How can I solve this problem? Thanks!
Change pad brand. Don't clean them, that's silly. If they squeal or if they don't brake properly, they don't have the right compound in them, either they're too soft or too hard for your rotor.
I use BBB pads with my Deore mechanicals, they work way better than the stock Shimano pads.