I’m going to create a brief topic here in the first post describing how to replace your silicone response pad stickers, with pics, so others can refer to it.
When should you replace your silicone response pad stickers? In addition to obvious visible stuff like seeing wear and tear in your silicone response pads, I’d say when you’ve already replaced / swapped
- string
- bearing
… and the response is still weird? Probably time to replace those silicone response stickers.
I noticed the old white response pads in this CLYW Canvas I got in a trade a few months ago were kinda messed up looking. They had a weird sunken depression in the area nearest the bearing and generally weren’t smooth and flat like I expect silicone response pads to be. Given the kinda overall beat condition of this particular yo-yo I assume they are original circa 2012-ish – in fact they look the same as the ones in this 2012 review – and could use replacement.
So I popped them out using a wooden toothpick, which left a bit of … icky sticker residue.
I then used Q-Tips and 99% Isopropyl Alcohol (rubbing alcohol) to clean the response pad thoroughly. This took a bit of elbow grease and 5-10 Q-tips … it was in need of a thorough cleaning. I think the previous owner was a smoker, if you know what I mean. 
You want the surface super clean so your new stickers can stay firmly attached, and the combo of rubbing alcohol plus the Q-tips did the job nicely.
I had some “Dad Pads” from A-RT which are the same as CLYW Snow Tires and they fit perfectly. Just peel n’ stick.
Ahhh, fresh silicone sticker pads, perfectly flat shiny and smooth. Response is now 