Brake pad life

[LakeWylieJoe_imp]

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.

[the Ferret]

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.

[Gone in 60]

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.

[Frulk_imp]

I made 20K miles on the front ones but if memory serves me right the rear pads were replaced at around 9K.

[Inhouse Bob]

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 :-)

[the Ferret]

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

[peterbaron]

Book me in for free brake job, please.
I was 200 m away from the US border, almost no traffic, just trucks

[Houtman_imp]

Peter , you can come to our house for a brake job , I even give you a brake on the cost of doing this.

[LakeWylieJoe_imp]

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.

[the Ferret]

I have fronts in stock too, if I remember after my grandsons ball game I will measure them as well.