Rear brakes - opinions please

[woodsie]

This morning the rear pad fell out of the bike from the baking plate - the inner pad.

The visual check in the tecnical manual relies on a hole wearing through the pad but the pad is still thick enough that the hole hasn't worn through.

Ideas and opinions why this has happened? Only 12K on the clock and I don't use the rear brake at all really.

Binding due to crud/salt/sh*te?

The outer pad is still at least 3 mm thick.

what best to do? take it to dealers and get diagnosis?

fit new pads and get on with it?

Needs a 12K service - was going to try Cray Engineering but would like to use the bike until it is booked in

 

[richie]

Sounds dodgy to me, and while we're on the subject what do you mean you don't use it much. Whilst commuting I use mine loads to control the bike at low speed between traffic. Helps me keep the feet on the pegs. I wear them out faster than the fronts. Which I hardly use..
Only kidding I know I know 75% / 25% in the dry 50% / 50% in the wet. I'm also using EBC brake pads which are much much better at stopping the bike quiclky but I have heard they can damage the pins holding them in place!

 

[Steptoe]

moisture builds up between the friction material and backing plate--- use the brake to dry it out / don't wash it so much--- it's not as uncommon as you think---

 

[littleredrooster]

Yup, more common than you would think - happened to me on an XT600 braking for a downhill left-hander - front pad sheared off from the backing plate, brake lever crushed me three fingers against the bar.

Best laxative I'd had for ages!!

 

[Jimb]

Woodsie

This is normal for a GS, due to the design of the rear caliper, the BMW pads are made 1mm thicker on the inside one to allow for this, you can expect three sets of rears to one set of fronts.

 

[Sergeant Pluck]

agreed - i just replaced a set - the inside pad was on the metal - after only 1900 miles...

no comments about dragging the back brake thank you!! i don't - but i do use the rear a lot during winter specially in London. still 1900 miles is not much for a set of pads.

pr0ne

 

[Greg Masters]

I just changed my first set of rear pads at 22k+ miles. (The fronts are also the original items).

Do I understand this properly - the friction material delaminated from the backing plate? If so, I would be on the dog to BMW at Bracknell pdq - that's a major, major safety issue!

Greg

 

[woodsie]

Greg..

You are right, the remaining pad - about 1.5 mm thick came adrift from the plate.

Steptoe says "it's not as uncommon as you think".

Have the bike booked in for service and the gr'dge said it is not uncommon.............

One thing for sure I will be much more diligent with rear brake inspection..................