Rotating Front Disc Pads?

[Gabby]

Getting up there in the high mileage stakes, being a commuter, I try to get every millimetre of wear out of my tires. I service the bike myself, basic stuff only, and put it into the dealer about every 20,000 miles for a major service. That seems to work quite well for me (and the bike) and saves a shed load of money. Now at 62,000 miles and well out of warranty. 06 GSA.

While servicing yesterday (oils and filters) I was checking the disc pads. Back needs a new set soon but front not too bad for now. One of the front pads, however, is getting low. This is annoying as I have always been told to change the lot once one is down. Then is dawned on me if I swop the lowest (inner right) with the best (outer left) then I would get a lot more out of them...or am I just being too optimistic here?

I appreciate that there will be an element of bedding in again but if the inner right now has the fattest pad then the lowest pad (now at outer left) will now get less wear because that’s where the fattest one was?

The braking action is perfect by the way no problems there. So why the uneven wear? Slight density differences in the pads I would have thought unlikely. One calliper stiffer than the other a possibility but would’nt I notice a braking problem?

Now you’re all going to tell me...”Yeah we have been doing this for years” or “No mate – you have screwed callipers”.

Anyway would be interested in your comments and why I shouldn’t do this as an experiment at least?

Swop the pads around to maximise the wear.....

 

[Steptoe]

. One of the front pads, however, is getting low. This is annoying as I have always been told to change the lot once one is down. Then is dawned on me if I swop the lowest (inner right) with the best (outer left) then I would get a lot more out of them...or am I just being too optimistic here?

This is very common on the type of BMW caliper fitted to the 1200 and 1150 - it doesn't mean you have a sticking brake piston, it's just how they wear.

I swop the pads around on my own bike so they all come to the end of their life at the same time.
If a customers bike has one pad wearing faster than the others i point it out to them and suggest they swop them around. I won't do it on customers bikes, but show them how to do it themselves.

Shouldn't really do it in a perfect world, but i've been doing it for a few years on my 1150 without any harm or extra wear on the discs.

 

[Gabby]

This is very common on the type of BMW caliper fitted to the 1200 and 1150 - it doesn't mean you have a sticking brake piston, it's just how they wear.

I swop the pads around on my own bike so they all come to the end of their life at the same time.
If a customers bike has one pad wearing faster than the others i point it out to them and suggest they swop them around. I won't do it on customers bikes, but show them how to do it themselves.

Shouldn't really do it in a perfect world, but i've been doing it for a few years on my 1150 without any harm or extra wear on the discs.

Rotated them this afternoon...cheers for the heads up

 

[LiquidLAN]

Well I never!

The search function worked for me first time

Cheers Steptoe, you've answered my question without me having to ask it!