Front brake pads

[paul08]

I have a May 2013 GS WC. Just had its MOT today and been advised that, whilst legal, the front brake pads are getting low. In the past have always had pads replaced at my friendly Motorrad dealer, but feel that I should be able to do this myself. So:

a) Any pitfalls to watch out for?

b) Any recommendations on pad manufacturers? OE or someone else?

c) And, if not OE, any recommendations for places to purchase said pads?

Many thanks

 

[vRSG60]

I've just replaced the rear pads on my LC
Pads from BMW were 3 times the price of the EBC pads I bought from NN.

 

[-BR-]

I replaced the front pads on my 2014 bike with the sintered Brembo's from Motorworks. No complaints on the new pads, the feel is much the same as the OEM's to me.

If it's just a pad change it's a very straightforward job. I had some issues with sticking pistons in my calipers though so I'd recommend you give your pistons and calipers a really good clean up while you are doing it. Some brake cleaner and a toothbrush goes a long way for this. Two of the pistons in each of my front calipers were sticking due to road salt deposits. I ended up having to pop the pistons out with compressed air to free things up properly, reassemble and then bleed the system. Bit of a faff but potentially a lot less painful than having my brakes lock up inadvertently..

 

[ChazzyB]

I replaced the front pads on my 2014 bike with the sintered Brembo's from Motorworks. No complaints on the new pads, the feel is much the same as the OEM's to me.

If it's just a pad change it's a very straightforward job. I had some issues with sticking pistons in my calipers though so I'd recommend you give your pistons and calipers a really good clean up while you are doing it. Some brake cleaner and a toothbrush goes a long way for this. Two of the pistons in each of my front calipers were sticking due to road salt deposits. I ended up having to pop the pistons out with compressed air to free things up properly, reassemble and then bleed the system. Bit of a faff but potentially a lot less painful than having my brakes lock up inadvertently..

The next time you find a stuck caliper piston, pump it out using the lever before you remove the caliper and drain the fluid. The force from the fluid is *much* greater than you will ever get with compressed air. I found out the hard way - a piston that would not shift at all with compressed air, it was so corroded (nasty Tokico caliper on a V-Strom). I connected the hose back up, refilled the system and bled it. It came out relatively easily under hydraulic pressure.

 

[-BR-]

Thanks - I learned that lesson whilst dealing with the issue this time too - it would have made things much easier when trying to deal with the worst of the sticking pistons. You live and learn though..!


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[Kaybe]

Brembo sintered on front, Brembo carbon ceramic on rear from biketorqueracing.
Easy enough.
Remember to loosen the front brake pad retaining pins while still on bike, easier to do.
Get tooth brush and some brake cleaner to shine up the piston surfaces. Mine were a bit cruddy but all working after 12,000miles.
Use the old pads for when getting the pistons pushed back in far enough to allow new pads space to get in.
Took about an half an hour for the fronts and same again for the rear.

 

[howdoo]

I normally go for the EBC sintered pads but on the LC found them to be lacking in bite and feel.
But, the red Brembos from Motorworks feel great with lots of bite.

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[superspeed123]

I have been using sintered EBC pads for years.Just fitted a sets to my 15 GSA. You might want to bleed your front and rear brakes if you find the brakes lacking in bites and feel. Works for me after the brake bleeding...

 

[howdoo]

The brakes were great before and after the EBC'S. Not as good with them.

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[Neil W]

Always used EBC HH sintered on my other bikes but on the LC for some reason EBC seem to have got their calculations slightly wrong in that the new pads (including the metal backing plates) are just over 0.5mm thinner than the OE and replacement Brembo ones.

Not much (but they aren't that thick to start with ) and the equivalent of fitting partly worn originals and meaning from day one that there will be more play at the lever before the initial bite point, by bleeding his brakes superspeed123 will have taken up this discrepancy in thickness by pushing the pistons further out of the calipers

 

[Andrew997]

Neilw ,Not sure you understand how hydraulic disc brakes work with your last statement.

 

[mattgslc]

whilst on the subject of pads, I have a 2017 te gsa and my front brakes are squealing already with only 700 mls on the clock, done it on all 3 of my GSA's
is there something that can be done to stop the squeak ?

 

[BillWright]

Try http://www.spengineering.co.uk/bmw-brembo-products.html. Should be a one stop shop and cheaper than OE.

If new brake pads are squealing, they've probably glazed over through light use. A few heavy stoops from 30 mph should break the friction surface up

 

[ChazzyB]

Neilw ,Not sure you understand how hydraulic disc brakes work with your last statement.

What, no of adjusting them?

 

[kurienp]

whilst on the subject of pads, I have a 2017 te gsa and my front brakes are squealing already with only 700 mls on the clock, done it on all 3 of my GSA's
is there something that can be done to stop the squeak ?

do as BillWright has said, or when you get a moment, clean them. does not take more than 20 minutes. Combined with the Winter salt, water and brake pad dust, it's just glazed over.

 

[mattgslc]

do as BillWright has said, or when you get a moment, clean them. does not take more than 20 minutes. Combined with the Winter salt, water and brake pad dust, it's just glazed over.

the bike is only 2 weeks old tomorrow so no salt on it as not had any on the roads around here for ages now so not that, all of my GSA's have done it ranging from a 2011 twin cam up to my new one

 

[Andrew997]

What, no of adjusting them?

Yeah they are self adjusting, any difference in pad width/ wear is automatically taken up by the caliper pistons.

 

[kurienp]

the bike is only 2 weeks old tomorrow so no salt on it as not had any on the roads around here for ages now so not that, all of my GSA's have done it ranging from a 2011 twin cam up to my new one

Hi Mattgslc, two weeks old with you. but a 2013 model, and you don't know how it has been cared for. You will agree that it gives you an opportunity to get to know your bike better ... just like you would've known your twin cam and other boxers . There is someone else on another thread mentioning about softer brakes. A bleed seems to have fixed the issue for some ... but so something and you will notice change for the better or worse .

 

[mattgslc]

Hi Mattgslc, two weeks old with you. but a 2013 model, and you don't know how it has been cared for. You will agree that it gives you an opportunity to get to know your bike better ... just like you would've known your twin cam and other boxers . There is someone else on another thread mentioning about softer brakes. A bleed seems to have fixed the issue for some ... but so something and you will notice change for the better or worse .

no the bike is two weeks old 2017 model, not a 2013 spec

 

[superspeed123]

I noticed if you do a proper bleeding of brake fluid and using Motul RBF600 brake fluid, the brakes really are much better than before...