Sinter Model 015 Zoom

Zoom Hydraulic is the Taiwanese brake brand that ships on a long catalog of value-tier and OE-supplied bikes; entry-level commuter and city-bike hydraulic disc brakes that prioritize predictable braking at a price point. The Sinter Model 015 is the organic-compound replacement pad across Zoom's most common caliper generations: the DB550, DB650, HB100, HB850, and HB870.

What's in the kit

One caliper's worth of pads (2 pads, left and right) for the Zoom Hydraulic pad pocket. The kit ships with bedding-in instructions. Order two kits if you're replacing front and rear pads on the same service.

Fits

Zoom Hydraulic pad shape:

• Zoom DB550
• Zoom DB650
• Zoom HB100
• Zoom HB850
• Zoom HB870

Zoom calipers ship on a wide range of OE-supplied bicycles in the entry- and mid-tier of the catalog; if your Zoom caliper is one of these generations, the Model 015 is the correct fitment.

Compound and feel

Zoom's calipers are engineered for predictable braking at a manufacturing price point, and the original-equipment pad that ships with the brake is typically the cheapest organic compound the OE channel offers. Sinter's organic ceramic-loaded compound is a meaningful step up. The Model 015 bites more cleanly off the Zoom lever than the OE pad, modulates more linearly under sustained pressure, and runs noticeably quieter in the wet. For commuters and city-bike owners who first experienced disc-brake feel through a Zoom-equipped build, the Sinter pad swap is often the upgrade that makes the brake feel like the disc brake it was sold as.

Specs

• Compound: organic (ceramic-loaded, resin-bound)
• Backing plate: steel
• Pad shape: Zoom Hydraulic
• Pads per package: 2 (one caliper)

Includes: 2 pads (left and right), bedding-in instructions.

Sinter's organic compound, made in Slovenia

Sinter has been making friction materials in Ljubljana since 1969, and developed the first disc brake pads in the former Yugoslavia in 1972. The bicycle pads sit alongside the company's much larger motorcycle-OE friction-material business. Slovenian-made compound for a Taiwanese-made caliper is a reasonable cross-border pairing: the caliper does the mechanical work, and the friction matrix is what determines how the brake actually feels in the hand. Unior has been forging hand tools in Zreče since 1919, and is the official technical partner of multiple World Tour and downhill teams. Euro Toolworks is the North American importer behind both Slovenian brands. The Model 015 is the catalog's commitment to commuter and city-bike riders whose first brake-pad upgrade option is the one that determines whether they think disc brakes are worth the maintenance.

Pro tip from our mechanics

A Zoom-equipped commuter is the use case where a pad-and-rotor refresh transforms an unloved brake into a brake the rider actually trusts. Combine the Sinter Model 015 with a quality rotor (Shimano SM-RT70 or equivalent) and a proper bedding-in, and the brake stops cleaning up well past what the original OE setup delivered. A rotor wear indicator check before installing fresh pads keeps the rotor thickness within service limits and avoids the bedding-against-worn-rotor problem.

Compound choice, fitment, and where the Elite line fits in the catalog are covered in How to choose Sinter brake pads →.

FAQ

Which brakes does the Model 015 pad fit? The Model 015 pad is for Zoom hydraulic disc calipers that use this profile. Because pad shapes vary across calipers, the reliable way to order right is to pull a worn pad and compare the backing-plate outline, the tab, and the retaining-pin hole with this one, or read any model number stamped on the back. The physical match is what counts here. If you are not certain your caliper takes this shape, send us a photo of the old pad and we'll check it for you.

Are these sintered or organic pads? They are organic, even though the brand is called Sinter. Sinter only make organic pads, not sintered-metal ones. Compared with a sintered pad, organic compounds run cooler at the caliper, give you more lever feedback and control, stay quieter, and are kinder to your rotor. The trade-off is that organic pads generally wear a little faster in wet, gritty conditions.

Do I need to bed in new pads? Yes. After fitting, find a quiet stretch and do roughly 10 to 15 progressive stops from a moderate speed, slowing almost to a stop each time without locking the wheel or coming to a full halt. This transfers an even layer of pad material onto the rotor and brings the pads up to full bite. Skipping it leaves the brakes feeling weak and can cause noise.

How do I get the new pads to fit when the caliper looks too tight? As the old pads wore down, the caliper pistons crept outward to take up the gap, so a fresh, thicker pad will not slide in. Remove the old pads, then gently push both pistons back into the caliper body with a plastic tyre lever or a dedicated piston-spreader tool until they are flush. Once the pistons are reset, the new Model 015 pads drop in, and a few firm lever pulls bring the pistons back to the rotor.