A brake pad assembly for a bicycle, comprising: a first brake pad having a first backing plate with a first rotor facing surface, and a first friction pad secured to the rotor facing surface; a second brake pad having a second backing plate with a second rotor facing surface, and a second friction pad secured to the second rotor facing surface and facing the first friction pad; and a spreader spring having a first leaf fixed to the first brake pad, a second leaf fixed to the second brake pad, and a spring joint (114, 914) joining the first leaf to the second leaf, wherein the first leaf has a first leaf aperture extending therethrough for receipt of a pin and the first leaf aperture is defined by a first side wall, wherein the second leaf has a second leaf aperture extending therethrough and aligned with the first leaf aperture for receipt of the pin, wherein the second leaf aperture is defined by a second side wall, wherein the spring joint (114, 914) biases the spreader spring towards a spread position in which the first leaf and second leaf are spaced apart from each other, and is moveable to a compressed position in which the first leaf and second leaf are slid towards each other along the pin relative to the spread position, and characterized in that the spreader spring further comprises a barrier layer lining at least a portion of the first side wall and a portion of the second side wall to prevent contact between the first side wall and the pin and the second side wall and the pin, to mitigate noise generated by sliding of the first leaf and second leaf along the pin, and wherein the barrier layer comprises gaps. a first brake pad having a first backing plate with a first rotor facing surface, and a first friction pad secured to the rotor facing surface; a second brake pad having a second backing plate with a second rotor facing surface, and a second friction pad secured to the second rotor facing surface and facing the first friction pad; and a spreader spring having a first leaf fixed to the first brake pad, a second leaf fixed to the second brake pad, and a spring joint (114, 914) joining the first leaf to the second leaf, wherein the first leaf has a first leaf aperture extending therethrough for receipt of a pin and the first leaf aperture is defined by a first side wall, wherein the second leaf has a second leaf aperture extending therethrough and aligned with the first leaf aperture for receipt of the pin, wherein the second leaf aperture is defined by a second side wall, wherein the spring joint (114, 914) biases the spreader spring towards a spread position in which the first leaf and second leaf are spaced apart from each other, and is moveable to a compressed position in which the first leaf and second leaf are slid towards each other along the pin relative to the spread position, and characterized in that the spreader spring further comprises a barrier layer lining at least a portion of the first side wall and a portion of the second side wall to prevent contact between the first side wall and the pin and the second side wall and the pin, to mitigate noise generated by sliding of the first leaf and second leaf along the pin, and wherein the barrier layer comprises gaps.