20/10/2026
How excavator rubber track pads fit a steel track, the difference between clip-on, bolt-on and road liner pads, and what to check before you order pads for your machine.
Excavator rubber track pads let a steel-tracked machine work on pavement, concrete and other finished surfaces. The right pad depends on how it fits your track shoes and how long it needs to stay on. This guide explains the three common pad styles, how to choose between them, and what to check before you order.
Key takeaways
A steel excavator track has grousers: raised steel bars across each shoe that bite into the ground. That grip is what you want on a dirt site. On asphalt, concrete or pavers, the same grousers mark and break the surface.
Rubber track pads put a layer of rubber between the steel and the ground. They help protect finished surfaces, reduce noise and give traction on paved areas. The machine still runs on its steel chain and shoes, so the rest of the undercarriage stays the same.
Pads are common on excavators used for road, utility and municipal work, where one machine may dig along a roadside in the morning and track across the road in the afternoon.
Most excavator rubber pads fall into one of three styles. The difference is how they fix to the track, which decides how quickly they go on and come off.
| Pad style | How it fits | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Clip-on | A fixed bracket hooks one side of the steel shoe and a clamp secures the other side. The steel shoe stays on the chain. | Machines that switch between rough ground and finished surfaces |
| Bolt-on | Bolts through holes in the steel shoe. Shoes may need to be drilled for pads, or ordered pre-drilled. | Semi-permanent work on finished surfaces |
| Road liner (direct to chain) | A one-piece vulcanized rubber pad that bolts straight to the chain links in place of the steel shoe. | Machines that work on finished surfaces most of the time |
Clip-on pads are designed for quick conversion. Each pad hooks over one edge of the steel shoe and clamps on the other, so there is no drilling and the grousers stay in place underneath. When the job moves back to rough ground, the pads come off and the machine runs on bare steel again.
Our current online range is 700 mm (27.6 in) clip-on rubber pads, each listed against the excavator it fits. Examples include pads for the CAT 312D, the Hitachi ZX130 and the Case CX135 SR. Each product page shows the pad width, the weight of each pad and the number of pads in a full set for that machine.
Our advice
Clip-on pads make the most sense when the machine changes ground often. If the pads would stay on for months at a time, ask the team whether a bolt-on or road liner pad suits the machine better.
Bolt-on pads fix through the steel shoe with bolts and nuts. They are a semi-permanent conversion: quicker to fit than changing the whole track, but slower to remove than clip-on pads. Some steel shoes come pre-drilled for rubber pads. Others need drilling, which must be done accurately so every pad sits square.
Road liner pads, also called direct-to-chain pads, replace the steel shoe. Each one is a single vulcanized pad that bolts to the track chain links. With no steel grouser underneath, the machine runs on rubber only, so road liners suit machines that rarely leave finished surfaces.
We do not currently list bolt-on or road liner pads online. If your machine needs either style, contact us with the make, model and serial number.
Identify the machine
Note the make, model and serial number from the machine plate. Pads are listed by machine, and some models were built with more than one undercarriage.
Measure the shoe width
Measure the steel shoe across the track in mm or inches. The pad width should match the shoe width on the machine now. Talk to the team before changing width.
Check the shoes and grousers
Pads need a sound shoe to fix to. Clean two grousers, lay a straight edge across them and measure down to the shoe plate in the middle of the shoe, not at the ends. Bent, cracked or heavily worn shoes should be dealt with first.
Count the shoes
You need one pad per shoe on both tracks. Count the shoes on one side and double it, or use the full set quantity on the product page.
Decide how long the pads will stay on
Frequent changes between ground types point to clip-on pads. Long periods on finished surfaces point to bolt-on or road liner pads.
Fit pads on level, firm ground with the machine parked safely and the work equipment lowered. Clean mud and stones off the shoes first so each pad seats fully. Use the fixings supplied and the tightening torque given in your machine's operator's manual or the pad instructions.
Once the pads are in service, add them to the daily walk-around:
Tip
Pads protect the surface, not the undercarriage. Keep up with track tension and wear checks, and see how to tell if a sprocket is worn.
Rubber pads and rubber tracks solve a similar problem in different ways. Rubber pads go on a steel track, so the machine keeps its steel chain and can return to bare steel for rough work. A rubber track is a one-piece belt, common on mini excavators, that replaces the steel track altogether.
If you are weighing up the options for a compact machine, read rubber tracks vs. steel tracks for mini excavators. For rubber tracks already on a machine, these tips to extend rubber track life apply.
The bottom line
Look at the total cost of ownership. The right pad is the one that protects the surface and keeps the machine working, without extra hours lost to fitting and removal.
Rubber pads by make
Looking for other parts for the same machine? See CAT 312D parts, Hitachi ZX130 parts or Case CX135 SR parts.
Rubber track pads are rubber blocks fitted to the steel shoes of an excavator track, or bolted to the chain in place of the shoe. They let a steel-tracked machine work on pavement, concrete and other finished surfaces with less risk of damage than bare steel grousers.
Neither is better for every job. Clip-on pads suit machines that move between rough ground and finished surfaces, because they go on and come off quickly. Bolt-on pads suit machines that spend most of their time on finished surfaces and keep the pads on for long periods.
No. Pads are made for a set shoe width and link pitch, and the fixing has to match the shoe. Choose pads listed for your machine make and model, and check the shoe width and condition before you order.
One pad per track shoe, on both tracks. The number depends on the machine. Each pad on our site is listed against the machine it fits, with the full set quantity shown on the product page.
They are not designed for it. Sharp rock, rebar and demolition debris can cut and tear the rubber. On those sites, run on bare steel shoes, and refit the pads when the machine returns to finished surfaces.
Related guides
Not sure which pads fit your excavator?
Send us the make, model and serial number, and the team will check the pad style, width and set quantity for your machine.
Talk to the teamGet a quoteManufacturer names and model numbers are used for identification only. Excavator Parts Direct is an independent supplier of aftermarket parts and is not affiliated with any manufacturer named.
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