Brake pad rear

[mr badger]

Just been advised that my rear disc and pads are knackered as they are 'down to the metal'.

Is this possible with 3 months wear and around 3k miles on the current Ferodo pads? No noticeable binding, no serious off road and nothing odd happened on the way.

Will have a check myself tomorrow and an independent check on Saturday I think.

 

[(RIP) Miff]

I would have thought that if they were "down to the metal", then you would have heard the noise they were making...

 

[mr badger]

I would have thought that if they were "down to the metal", then you would have heard the noise they were making...

Me too. May be stuck piston but I doubt it. All free last time I did a check over and had the rear brake pads changed and calliper cleaned and set in front of me in June.

Dealers do tell you that the pads are worn out every 3k miles on both bikes so I'm taking it with a bit of salt. 21K miles not too bad for me and a rear disc in any case. Last bike (Varadero) had replacements at 25 and 50k.

 

[Greg Masters]

Are you using sintered pads?

Greg

 

[HeatedGrips]

You have to take the locating pin out regularly (every 2-3,000 miles) and clean and copper grease it, especially if you're an all-weather rider. Otherwise the pads don't slide properly.
I had the same problem with my 1200, went through a set of rear pads in 7,000 miles despite the front ones being good for 20,000+. It apparently goes back to the 1150s too. It's a crap piece of design.

 

[Beemerman59]

I have 18.5K on the OE pads. Fronts are down to 50% less (taken from the worse one as the pads have different wear rates) and the rear has 75% left. Discs have no measureable wear on them - they are still at the top of the required thickness as per the manual. I do use the brakes but do use engine braking a lot in normal riding.

 

[mr badger]

Are you using sintered pads?

Greg

Ferodo Platinum as recommended by Steppers.

You have to take the locating pin out regularly (every 2-3,000 miles) and clean and copper grease it, especially if you're an all-weather rider. Otherwise the pads don't slide properly.
I had the same problem with my 1200, went through a set of rear pads in 7,000 miles despite the front ones being good for 20,000+. It apparently goes back to the 1150s too. It's a crap piece of design.

Mmm. Sounds the most likely explanation. Maybe greasing more often than every 3k. Spent a day on a handing course in the pissing rain a few weeks ago. Starting to form a picture here.

Disc definitely knackered along with pads.

Thanks all.

 

[muppix]

Hmmm ... My original pads haven't been changed yet @ 33k miles, nor have the pins or anything else been lubricated. I've got replacements waiting in the garage and they'll be fitted as soon as the first grit appears on the road, if only for the sake of my pistons.

Guess it depends on the type of crud you're riding through to an extent. Bordon / Weston / Le Touquet / Weymouth will knacker a set in an afternoon.

Mup.

 

[madmax]

I too bought the cheaper pads, and like you they only lasted around 3k, I took advice from an ex Bmer mechanic and I've now gone back to BM originals and 5k later still not half worn.
After market may be 3 times cheaper but wear out a damn site quicker.

 

[Mr K]

Front pads last forever. Rears can wear rather fast.

 

[Brian ROSEN]

Rear brakes

i never touch the rear brake pedal . I rely entirely on the linking system, just as I do in my (and very other) car. I wonder if some are using the rear brake alone too often - which requires very much more application?

 

[Mr K]

i never touch the rear brake pedal . I rely entirely on the linking system, just as I do in my (and very other) car. I wonder if some are using the rear brake alone too often - which requires very much more application?

If you rely on the linking system your using the back brake everytime you use the brakes.

I'm missing your point.

 

[bisbee]

Erm 14500 miles and still on original pads I tend to use engine braking and anticipation hth

 

[ciderman gs]

might find the linking system the problem if you don't use your back brake hard enough. a slight pressure on the front brake puts less on the back and if the diaphram in the rear brake fluid container is extended it will not "suck" back the brake fluid to the rear caliper pistons do not retract disc wears pads away ,next application of front brake puts back brake on story starts again .

in short IMHO linked brake systems are sh1t and made for born agains present company excepted

 

[Brian ROSEN]

If you rely on the linking system your using the back brake everytime you use the brakes.

I'm missing your point.

The point is that the braking effort, when using the linked system, is spread as required between front and back. If you use the rear brake pedal on its own in normal riding you will require much more effort and this could result in excessive wear.

 

[TeaPig]

I never bother with the rear brake pedal, I'd be happy if they left it off the bike altogether.

I've done literally hundreds of thousands of miles on 5 different GS's in all weather and in various manners, from two up alpine touring stuff to brain-out track-days.

In all that time, in all those conditions, I've only once needed to replace the front pads (after about 80,000 miles). Conversely, the rears wear fast with OEM pads lasting as little as 6000 miles. The OEM compound seems to have varied with time with 06 generation material being the fastest wearing. As Steptoe says, Ferodo platinum are the best replacement as they last a long time without noticeable change in braking performance.

Tha balance seems excessively rearward, on trackdays the rear disk will end up blue while the fronts are merely rather hot. It'd be nice if it were adjustable but of course we can't be trusted with our own lives these days

 

[mr badger]

Front pads last forever. Rears can wear rather fast.

Quite.

I've been trained by both Police and Civillian instructors. All but one encourage considerable use of the rear brake in a variet of circumstances.

If you never ride in traffic, never manoeuver in tight place, never ride on loose surfaces en I'm sure your pads will never wear.

In any case, still doesn't explain piston dragging does it?

 

[mr badger]

Got it back and took it to our local independent.

Disc is a bit scored but basically ok. Fresh pads to sort it for now, new disc in the spring I reckon.

 

[stolzy]

I had the same experience (1150) one set of Ferodo platinums 2 years/20K km my last set 3 months/3k km.

See thread here - still no idea what's going on