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+--- Thread: Brake pad life (/showthread.php?tid=4383)
Brake pad life - LakeWylieJoe_imp - 07-15-2020
With the recent talk of brake pads (thanks Bob), I figured I'd give mine a close look while I had my wheels off for a tire change. I have ~28,600 miles on the original pads and all were pretty thin so I ordered new sets plus caliper bolts for front and rear.
I highly recommend doing the pad swap with the wheels off. It was very easy that way. I hung the front calipers from the fork legs temporarily with the old mounting bolts while working on the pads. The fork was resting on a sturdy wood stand built for that purpose so I didn't have to balance the bike on a jack.
I also slipped the rear axle through the swingarm to help hold the rear assembly in place while the wheel was off.
Anyway, back to the point of the story. :-) When I opened the packaging for the new pads, they were almost as thin as the old ones. I could have easily gotten 60,000 more miles out of the original pads. I went ahead and installed the new ones anyway.
I'd gotten so used to seeing very thick automotive pads that I was sure mine were 90% worn; they were less than 25% worn. Lesson learned. The new pads are very thin compared to automotive parts.
RE: Brake pad life - the Ferret - 07-15-2020
if you had thought to measure the depthof the slot with a tire tread depth gauge you would have known the difference.You can use them up until the slot is gone. I have a new set out on the garage, maybe I will measure them.
BTW I get about 20,000 out of a set of pads and thought I was pretty easy on brakes lol.
RE: Brake pad life - Gone in 60 - 07-15-2020
It’s funny you should mention this. I just replaced the rear pads on my Bonneville, thinking they were too thin. But, the EBC replacements weren’t much thicker. I replaced them anyway, since I had pulled them out.
RE: Brake pad life - Frulk_imp - 07-15-2020
I made 20K miles on the front ones but if memory serves me right the rear pads were replaced at around 9K.
RE: Brake pad life - Inhouse Bob - 07-15-2020
I think I'm pretty hard on brakes. But I haven't really worn any out except that pad in the back last week which was toast. It was maybe 1/8 as thick as the one I replaced it with. Pretty much paper thin. Well, thick paper :-)
RE: Brake pad life - the Ferret - 07-15-2020
ok a BRAND NEW REAR PAD measures 5/32 nds of pad material to bottom of wear slot. Total pad measures just a hair over 6/32 nds
![[Image: 7bbcbd36e415658d7642aefdf97f319a.jpg]](https://cb1100forum.net/forum/uploads/imp/202007/7bbcbd36e415658d7642aefdf97f319a.jpg)
RE: Brake pad life - peterbaron - 07-15-2020
Book me in for free brake job, please.
I was 200 m away from the US border, almost no traffic, just trucks
RE: Brake pad life - Houtman_imp - 07-15-2020
Peter , you can come to our house for a brake job , I even give you a brake on the cost of doing this.
RE: Brake pad life - LakeWylieJoe_imp - 07-15-2020
Thanks for the measurements. I was using the Mk.I eyeball, which is prone to error. I will note the rear pads appeared thicker than the fronts, which were surprisingly thin.
RE: Brake pad life - the Ferret - 07-15-2020
I have fronts in stock too, if I remember after my grandsons ball game I will measure them as well.