Rear brake pads - wear rate

[Kaybe]

Bike had its 12k / annual service.
No concerns other than it was mentioned that the rear pads will need changed soon.
They were changed at 6k, and I was not impressed then as I don't consciously use the rear brake a great deal.
The thing is the mechanic went on to say that some bikes he sees are changing rear pads every 2k miles!

That seems like either extreme use of back brake or they are made of chocolate.
He countered by saying they are rather thin pad linings to start with.

Anyone else had this wear rate experience and
any views on what would we think is the "norm" ?

 

[een705]

Mine have been changed at 12775 not sure if that's good or bad I dont know if this is the 1st pair and I was lucky, anymore mileage would have damaged the disc.....having said that have gone for the same Brembo carbon ceramic £27 at motorworks or ebay £23
These do seem to create a lot of brake dust and Im fed up with cleaning spoked wheels lol

 

[R800]

Gs Lc is very heavy on the back pads my dealer said... Just fitted a set at 7700 miles... I was in shock! He reckoned it was something to do with the linked brakes.

 

[peakpaul]

When I look at the bike data on the NAV 5, it always shows the rear brake has been actuated nearly twice as many time as as the front.

 

[Moose]

When I look at the bike data on the NAV 5, it always shows the rear brake has been actuated nearly twice as many time as as the front.

That's interesting. I wonder if the rear brake is used by the ASC or another gizmo to control the difference in wheel spinning between front and back?

That concept is probably a load of sh!te.

 

[andylel]

When I look at the bike data on the NAV 5, it always shows the rear brake has been actuated nearly twice as many time as as the front.

I made this observation too and rarely use the rear pedal so took it up with my dealer. He / I think that when the front is used it applies the rear marginally prior to the front and thus light, short touches only apply the rear prior to letting go of the lever. This makes sense and also makes sense that it is programmed that way given that application of rear slightly before front is the best way of braking to retain best machine stability with a non linked system.

 

[Max_W]

Yep, comments from my dealer suggest the same as others have had. The brake lever applies the rear brakes fractionally before the fronts, for stability reasons. If you do lots of light braking, the rear pads will get far more use than the fronts.

At 20k miles and all replaced a couple of weeks ago, I've now worn through 2 sets of rear pads and 1 set of fronts.

 

[ymfb]

I was told something similar on my 800GS, possibly the same dealers as Max W as i'm close to Salisbury as well.

I now have a 1200GSA and find myself using the rear brake more than I did on the 800. What is it with the strange double rear brake pedal ?

 

[Max_W]

What is it with the strange double rear brake pedal ?

When standing up it is easier to use the brake pedal with the raised bit on top, for normal riding fold it up out of the way (by pushing forwards then lifting iirc)

 

[crotchrocket]

Mine is on about 4500 miles and in need of some new rear pads. Going to order some, are the Brembo's the ones to get, or is something like the EBC pads ok?

 

[AndyR34]

Re-opening this thread as I've just returned from my 3 year service (17000 mile) on my GSA LC and I was informed I needed new rear pads... this wouldn't normally be a problem but I only changed them for official EBC items (and cleaned/lubed the whole assembly) about 500 miles ago, they're not fully gone but the wear is totally uneven with the inner (O/S) pad bearly worn but the outer (N/S) pad groove-free and only about 1-1.2 mm remaining... (Oh, and this is my third set - 11K first set, 6K second and the 500 or so for this set!).

The tech at my dealer gave me a top-tip to see if the pistons may be binding but this doesn't appear to be the case...

Plan is to strip and assemble them (again!), note date and mileage, reset brake application totals on the Nav5 and then see what happens! I can't help thinking the linked-brakes application changes depending on which mode you're in i.e. In Rain it applies a little more rear brake to stabilise the bike? Anyone any ideas if this is the case or am I talking b*llox!?!

Also, anyone else managed to get through a set quicker?!?

I have a feeling it may well come down to a warranty claim - which give them their due, they did also mention in a matter of fact sort of way - Which was nice, but I've never known a bike like it, am I riding too hard/soft/fast/slow?

Andy

 

[crotchrocket]

Its a floating calliper, so sounds more like the sliding 'rods' needs freeing off rather than a sticky piston. Especially if its the inner pad.

 

[AndyR34]

Stripped them down and examined the entire assembly last night, gave it a good wiggle before removing to see if I could identify any restrictions or lack or movement (none thankfully!).
The pistons were a little stiff but after a good clean and silicon regrease they freed up and were completely resistance-free on reassembly, mounting pins for caliper were fine but I dug out the rubber boots and reapplied more silicone to them and the pins too, all good now. Pads weren't as bad as initially reported (groove still evident in N/S and O/S) but defo unequal in amount, have ordered a set of HHs from Motorworks but will reset my Nav5 and check the whole lot again in a few hundred miles as these pads are at least good for that, there's no binding from pistons, the caliper moves freely in it's mount and the wheel spins without any noise from disc or pad so I'm hoping it may have just been a combination of good old-fashioned Scottish road grime (Salt!) and a lack of enough lube on the pins which caused this.
Will keep you informed - many thanks for response.
Andy

 

[Zx9man]

I also have a theory
When using the cruise control the ecu must use the rear to controle the speed of the bike ?

 

[Stevemoid]

I was told at my 6000 mile service that my pads were needing changed at the rear. So I took them at their word, bought new pads and I took the old ones off and they were barely half done. So unless you've seen the pads yourself they may be speaking shite.

I was also told that the linked breaks is what causes the excessive wear of the rear pads.

 

[ymfb]

At my 6000 mile service I was told they are probably good for another 2000 miles, but at 9000 they still have plenty of life in them.

 

[vincentrapide]

I had a set that were worn out at 6,500. Story from dealer was that "they wear out more with light braking as the rear is always applied first". (The pads were definitely worn out. I changed them, not the dealer).

 

[vRSG60]

I was told at my 6000 mile service that my pads were needing changed at the rear. So I took them at their word, bought new pads and I took the old ones off and they were barely half done. So unless you've seen the pads yourself they may be speaking shite.

I was also told that the linked breaks is what causes the excessive wear of the rear pads.

I was told mine were down to the metal. I bought new ones and measured both sets.
New pads 3.66mm thick
Old pads 3.12mm thick
They were knackered though. I did about 10 miles with the rear brakes binding. Pads must have seized over winter.

 

[crotchrocket]

BMW like to sell pads, thats for sure! Hardly surprising considering the price they charge!! I'm using EBC sintered pads at £17 delivered a set and they work great.

 

[WaterMonkey]

I also have a theory
When using the cruise control the ecu must use the rear to controle the speed of the bike ?

I very much doubt it. Do you use the brake to keep the bike at a fixed speed? I suspect it just backs off the throttle a bit