Sinter Model 017 SRAM

The SRAM HRD road platform; Red 22, Force 22, Rival 22, CX1, Apex 1 hydraulic; is the previous-generation SRAM road hydraulic family, and a meaningful share of road and gravel bikes built between 2015 and 2019 still ride on it. The Sinter Model 017 is the organic-compound replacement for this caliper. The same pad shape also covers the Level TLM and Ultimate flat-mount monoblock calipers (pre-2018) and the current Red AXS flat-mount monoblock road caliper. One Sinter model number covers the SRAM road hydraulic span from 2015 forward.

What's in the kit

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

Fits

SRAM HRD road pad shape:

• SRAM Red 22 HRD
• SRAM Force 22 HRD
• SRAM Rival 22 HRD
• SRAM CX1 HRD
• SRAM Apex 1 HRD
• SRAM Level TLM and Ultimate (pre-2018, flat-mount monoblock variants)
• SRAM Red AXS (flat-mount monoblock road caliper)

The Red AXS flat-mount monoblock is a different caliper geometry from the flat-mount two-piece (which takes the Model 006); confirm which AXS caliper version your bike runs before ordering. The monoblock is the single-piece flat-mount caliper, identifiable by no center bolt joining the upper and lower caliper halves.

Compound and feel

Sinter's organic ceramic-loaded compound is the right pad for road-platform braking. Road riders work the brake in short, hard inputs interrupted by long no-input segments; the resin matrix bites cleanly off the lever, modulates predictably under heavy braking, and stays quiet on dry rotors. The HRD calipers and the monoblock AXS calipers both produce a slightly stiffer lever feel than the flat-mount two-piece SRAM AXS variant; Sinter's pad compound for the Model 017 fitment is tuned to that stiffer-lever feedback, so the bite-and-release pattern feels controlled rather than abrupt.

Specs

• Compound: organic (ceramic-loaded, resin-bound)
• Backing plate: steel
• Pad shape: SRAM HRD road / Level TLM monoblock / Red AXS monoblock
• Pads per package: 2 (one caliper)
• Includes spring and pin

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

Ljubljana since 1969

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 line draws on the same metallurgy that ships pads to motorcycle OEMs at scale. 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 for both Slovenian brands. The Model 017 lives on bikes that have crossed serious mileage; the 2015-onward SRAM HRD road and gravel platform has seen a lot of seasons.

Pro tip from our mechanics

SRAM HRD pads run hotter at the lever end than many road riders expect: the flat-mount caliper body has less surface area to dissipate heat than the older post-mount design, and a long sustained descent (e.g., a 30-minute alpine drop) can push the pad's working temperature higher than the rider would predict from the rotor's appearance. Sinter's organic compound holds at that temperature; if you've ever felt a SRAM HRD pad start to feel “wooden” near the end of a long descent, it's the pad telling you it's near its working ceiling. The fresh Sinter set resets the working envelope.

For the broader compound primer and fitment grid, see How to choose Sinter brake pads →.

FAQ

Which SRAM brakes does the Model 017 fit? This is the Model 017 shape, made for the SRAM calipers that take this particular pad. Since SRAM has used several pad profiles, the dependable way to order right is to remove a worn pad and compare the backing plate, tab, and pin hole with this one, or read the model number stamped on the back of the old pad. The physical shape is what determines the fit. If you are unsure whether your caliper takes the 017 shape, send us a photo of your old pad and we'll confirm it.

Are these sintered metal or organic pads? Despite the brand name, Sinter only make organic pads, not sintered metal. The Model 017 uses an organic, ceramic-loaded resin compound. Compared with sintered pads, organic compounds run cooler at the caliper, give more lever feel and modulation, stay quieter, and cause less rotor wear and vibration.

Do I need to bed in new brake pads? Yes. After fitting, bed the pads in before any hard riding: ride up to a moderate speed on flat ground and brake firmly to a near stop, then repeat the cycle several times without coming to a complete stop or dragging the brake. This transfers an even layer of pad material onto the rotor so you get full, consistent power and quiet braking. Bedding-in instructions are included in the kit.

Do I have to reset the caliper pistons before fitting new pads? Yes. As the old pads wore down, the pistons advanced to take up the gap, so a fresh, thicker set will not slide in against fully extended pistons. Remove the old pads and gently push the pistons back into the caliper bores (a plastic tire lever or a dedicated piston-press tool works well) until they are flush, then install the new pads, spring, and pin. Pump the lever a few times afterward to bring the pistons back to the pads before you ride.