Mixing brake pads: HH and Standard

[muppix]

Morning all!

I've bought a set of HH brake pads to replace the standard rear ones on my 2007 R1200GS, and thought I'd get a set of fronts while I'm there. Is it OK to replace the rear standard pads for HH ones and leave the front ones as standard for a while? Althought my rears want changing soon the fronts have got about half their life left in them.

My first thought was to change them all as a set, but it'd be a shame over the front pads if that's not necessary.

Any pointers gratefully received!

Mup.

 

[Steptoe]

No need to change the fronts. But you might find the HH pads score or wear out your disc instead of the friction material.

 

[nedflanders]

I've had HH's in the rear brakes and standard in the front for quite some time, hasn't done any harm to mine.

 

[Fanum]

Does a 2007 R1200GS have linked brakes?

 

[cookie]

Does a 2007 R1200GS have linked brakes?

yes, if it's got ABS.

 

[nedflanders]

yes, if it's got ABS.

Which is why I had to go for HH's on the rear as the standard were gone in 1800miles, (no I don't use the rear brake and the dealer said there was nothing wrong ) Personally I thing the front/rear bias got stuck when the bike was parked up for 8 months while I was in the Gulf

 

[SMB]

Surely wont fitting different grade pads (front to back) upset the brake balance on a linked brake system?
SMB

 

[cookie]

Surely wont fitting different grade pads (front to back) upset the brake balance on a linked brake system?
SMB

it's rubbish anyway. can't see how it could be made any worse

got BMW sintered pads on my back caliper & they seem fine. last for 10K+ and wear the disc less than the original "organic" free range pads.

 

[Steptoe]

I've had HH's in the rear brakes and standard in the front for quite some time, hasn't done any harm to mine.

Aren't you the lucky boy. Give it time

 

[Fanum]

Which is why I had to go for HH's on the rear as the standard were gone in 1800miles, (no I don't use the rear brake and the dealer said there was nothing wrong ) Personally I thing the front/rear bias got stuck when the bike was parked up for 8 months while I was in the Gulf

You do if you use the front lever and you have linked brakes

Surely wont fitting different grade pads (front to back) upset the brake balance on a linked brake system?
SMB

That's why I was asking......it's not something that would necessarily stop me from doing it (I've fitted sintered pads on the back and normal on the front of my lebbenfiddy adv with no problems before now)
BUT.......be aware that the balance (ie the comparative braking forces applied between back and front) will be different than before, so it might be worth playing at braking and emergency stops once you've fitted them to feel the difference (good practice anyway with new pads to get them bedded in a bit)

 

[cmyers_uk]

Emergency stops to bed pads in? I thought gentle until there bedded in

 

[Brian ROSEN]

back brake pads

"....the standard were gone in 1800miles,..." Thai is simply not possible unless there is something wrong!

 

[cookie]

"....the standard were gone in 1800miles,..." Thai is simply not possible unless there is something wrong!

good point. mine lasted all the way to 1900. muppix must have been abusing his brakes

 

[nedflanders]

"....the standard were gone in 1800miles,..." Thai is simply not possible unless there is something wrong!

Your right there was something wrong, what exactly I never found out but it cleared itself, like I said I never used the back brake as the lever is too low and I've been riding over 20years and never worn a rear set of pads out before cookie funny the dealer said the same and he was a German twat , I suppose everyone whose had a FPC/ ring antenna go must have been abusing them as well ,

 

[nedflanders]

Aren't you the lucky boy. Give it time

Please enlighten me, exactly what problems will this cause, I'm very interested to know since it's been 12000miles on this setup , it's always nice to hear from an expert

 

[Steptoe]

Please enlighten me, exactly what problems will this cause, I'm very interested to know since it's been 12000miles on this setup , it's always nice to hear from an expert

I'm far from an expert, i work on bmws full time but still learn something everyday and hear from other mechanics. Which i try to pass on to those interested.

But i can't compete with 12K miles experiance on a type of disc.

 

[muppix]

Surely wont fitting different grade pads (front to back) upset the brake balance on a linked brake system?

Precisely the reason I posted the initial question. Guess I'll try it and see ...

Mup.

 

[muppix]

No need to change the fronts. But you might find the HH pads score or wear out your disc instead of the friction material.

Cheers Steptoe, good to hear from ya. Not too worried about wearing out discs quickly (always used HH on my other bikes) but I do worry about upsetting the balance between front and rear on a linked system. Guess that as long as it's the rear that locks up prematurely and not the front it shouldn't matter too much.

Mup.

 

[cookie]

Cheers Steptoe, good to hear from ya. Not too worried about wearing out discs quickly (always used HH on my other bikes) but I do worry about upsetting the balance between front and rear on a linked system. Guess that as long as it's the rear that locks up prematurely and not the front it shouldn't matter too much.

Mup.

the rear won't lock if you have ABS.

if you don't have ABS, then the brakes aren't linked anyway.

my bmw dealer recommends bmw sintered pads as replacements for the short lived OE pads.

 

[Brian ROSEN]

Experts!

How do you become an expert? - how will the rest of us know?-from whom should we take advice? It doesn't worry me that Stetoe says he is not expert - that simply means that, unlike most of us, he will not offer advice about subjects of which he has no knowlegge.
As far as brake pad material is concerned we should all know that a vast amount of research has been carried out since we first came across disc brkes on 'planes, cars and then 'bikes. One has to assume that BMW know something about it all. When I had squeaking brakes on my early 1200GS they were fooled; They didn't pretend it was my fault or otherwise; they sent me their apologies and said they were working on it- in the meantime they sent me a small 'consolation gift' of a BMW cap and fountain pen - and then when the problem was solved and new parts (composite washers) were found to solve the problem they were of course supplied and fitted FOC. Squeaking brakes always have been a baffling problem - perhaps some of you can remember the early days,
We are all different with different braking expectations ('they' say that when Nuvolari finished the car TT in an MG the brake linings still showed the manufacturers name - demonstaring that he hadn't relly used them at all.)
If we try something non standard that is our own prerogative; But unless we really are experts be wary of advising others to follow suit.