Brake pads going awol?????

[Mark Hooton]

guys, can anyone offer an explanation..................

Spent last week in a very very wet Ireland on my GSA and `all off a sudden` I had no brake pads and `metal on metal` when I used the rear brake (disc, I feel, is beyond help and needs replacing along with the pads).

Obviously I now doubt myself on pad checking (did I actually do it........?) but here are some thoughts:

1. Bike has done 11,500 miles when the pads went awol.
2. bike was serviced by BMW dealer at 6k - I presume they either replaced and/or checked them for wear?????
3. a mate behind me reports `something hitting him` on the foot on the day the pads `went missing` (could have been anything).
4. I hardly, if ever, use my back brake - mostly only for slow speed control or rarely at speed - I don`t think I`ve worn them out...................

Any suggestions?

regards and ta,

Mark Hooton.

 

[Schtum]

Pad wear on the rear is an issue. If you've got ABS brakes then you do use the rear every time that you use the front, as they're semi-linked.

The head tech at my local Motorrad dealership once told me that keeping the holes in the rear disc free of accumulated brake dust would help to minimise pad and disc wear on the rear.

It sounds as if you've just worn them out, Marc.

 

[Mark Hooton]

That simply could be the answer!

Not running with ABS but the easiest answer could be the most likely.

(if it walks like and duck and quacks like a duck................)

Just didn`t expect it somehow.................. what with my minimal use etc etc

God, if I only had the brains I was born with

 

[AberdeenAngus]

Check the position of your rear brake pedal wrt your foot. It's vaaary easy to put gentle pressure on the back brake without realising it DAMHIK

 

[Mark Hooton]

Check the position of your rear brake pedal wrt your foot. It's vaaary easy to put gentle pressure on the back brake without realising it DAMHIK

Fair point pal but I purposely ride with my foot away from the pedal (until i need it of course) for this reason.

Not saying it is (due to the mitigating circumstances.............) but it simply could be fair wear and tear combined with a low IQ

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

Pad wear on the rear is an issue. If you've got ABS brakes then you do use the rear every time that you use the front, as they're semi-linked.

............

I didn't know that. I thought the brakes were linked regardless of whether or not ABS was fitted or is that just the earlier servo bikes?

Andres

 

[Schtum]

I didn't know that. I thought the brakes were linked regardless of whether or not ABS was fitted or is that just the earlier servo bikes?

Andres

Hmmm.....good point. I thought it was just ABS bikes. You may well be correct, Andres.

 

[fizzer]

mmmm after doing applecross in scotland ,i had the same thing ,the ferodo came off my rear pads and shagged my rear disk,rang motorworks and they said the same as others ,when using front ,semi linked brakes,it uses the rear,hense the new pads and a second hand disk ,all told delivered from motorworks was 88 quid inc delivery,half hour job to sort it.

 

[Schtum]

I didn't know that. I thought the brakes were linked regardless of whether or not ABS was fitted or is that just the earlier servo bikes?

Andres

A quick scan of the handbook for my 2012 MY bike suggests that it's just the ABS equipped bikes which have semi-linked brakes.

Interestingly the ABS bikes use a different rear pad material from the non ABS ones, sintered vs. organic, respectively.

 

[Mark Hooton]

Anyone know where I can get a rear disc from at a fair price?

 

[Mav]

Anyone know where I can get a rear disc from at a fair price?

Here you go: http://www.gsshop.biz/shop/product_info.php?products_id=46&osCsid=vumb6psbgaac9u1jc579uit8e3

Steptoe's shop

 

[DrFarkoff]

Bung a set off EBC HH pads they'll soon grind it flat again!

Stick a set in the top box and keep as spares !

 

[G5RJO]

Mark,

Motorworks or Sherlocks (Link at top of page) or Steptoe via his gsshop web site.

All loads cheaper than BMW.

You'll need a long reach torx to remove the bolts... May I suggest that you replace the bolts as well, they can 'cheese' if you're not carefull.

Roger.

 

[G5RJO]

Motorworks and Sherlocks are £60 - £70 for a pattern disc, double for a genuine. £5 ish for a full set of bolts..

Roger..

 

[Mark Hooton]

Thanks

Thanks to all

 

[Oldrat]

Hmmmmm.. Thanks for the heads up Mark.......





I'm off to check mine

 

[Wapping]

Interestingly the ABS bikes use a different rear pad material from the non ABS ones, sintered vs. organic, respectively.

The 1600 with ABS uses sintered fronts and organic rear as standard.

It eats rear pads, with little or no input from the rider.

 

[Schtum]

The 1600 with ABS uses sintered fronts and organic rear as standard.

It eats rear pads, with little or no input from the rider.

It might be worth trying sintered in the rear but that'll just help it to eat rear discs more quickly.

From my limited experience of them, they also seem to demolish front tyres at close to the same rate as they do rear ones.

 

[cookie]

my 07 GSA was an ABS bike and came with organic pads. they were worn out in under 2K and caused a lot of wear to the disc.
i left the disc and changed to bmw sintered pads which lasted 14/15K and did not put any more wear on the disc.

 

[Myke Rocks]

Just a few thoughts.

First of all, look at the brake pads. If one is reasonably ok & the other is to the metal, it is possible that the pad to the metal delaminated and "threw" the friction part of the pad. This may have been the something hitting your colleague.
If this is not the case, and it probably is not, I would suggest you change pads to sintered type.
On standard rear brake pads, I cannot get 10,000 out of them. I normally change standard pads with rear tyres, every 6,500 miles.
Sintered pads will last considerably longer.
You will get those on this site who ramble on about brake disk life when using sintered pads. My rear has over 30,000 miles on it, and shows no significant wear, though, if I was mad enough to get the bike serviced by BMW, I have little doubt they would tell me it was under wear limits, extremely dangerous, and should be changed immediately or I will be killed. They do that to most bikes with over 18,000 on them, regardless of the acutal wear.
Keeps them in business.

Myke