Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech brake pads

well had my 2009 america's 10 000 km service done , dealer rang me and said rear pads needed changing , i suppose my question is was i ripped off ? or is this a fair call
feel free to move this if i have posted in the wrong place
thanks

I replaced mine at 14,500km but I use rear brakes a lot, my fronts are still like new, did you ask for the old ones?

no maybe i should have

My rear brakes were toasted, aka grinding, at around 7500 miles. Apparently, whomever rode my bike before me used the back brake exclusivesly and in excess.

I try to use both brakes. The fronts look brand new. Both rotors look great.

Just less than 7900 miles, now!

My first set was paper thin at 5,000 mi.
After a heart stopping slide on a slick street, I seldom use my rear brake.

Well, this'll get moved soon.....anyway, the OEM rear pads, as a rule, just don't last very long. Mine were toast at 5000 miles. EBC replacements lasted 20,000.

I like organic pads, they don't last as long but the rotor lasts much longer with them so you save in the long run. The metalic and semi-metalic pads wear the rotor and ceramic do this worst. This costs a rotor long before it's time.

I've got about 40,000 miles now and will need new rotors next pad change, probably 60,000. By that time they're usually a bit warped from heat anyway and can't be turned down within spec.

I'll take the less frequent maintenance and improved performance (and the sintered do perform better) over a little more rotor life.

Did I mention I also pay less for enough pads to do all 3 calipers than for one caliper of the others?

Last time it was $9 to do both front sets on my SM.

That's a good motivation there Ian.
But for me, like I said, cost isn't my main incentive

My OEM pads were done a 5000 on the rear, 8000 on the front. I replaced both with the EBC sinistered ones from eddy and they have lasted a long time now.

With dual disc up front brake fade isn't an issue for me so I choose to save the money. Also seems the SM brakes stay cooler since the rotors on them don't seem to warp.

Yeah, my OEM fronts (dual disc, SM) lasted about 12,000 miles.

I just got a set of Kevlar pads , seem to stop very well wet or dry , was just wondering how they respond to the rotor .

Just a heads up,,,The rear bolt that holds the rear caliper on Kimmy's bike fell out last night, 20 miles from home, pitch black outside, no flashlight...she got it home, ordered new bolt...pads and disc look alright...

Interesting question Wade, I have no experience with those. The material is tough but not sure how hard it is as in relation to how hard ceramics are. Kevlar maybe durable and yet not cause excessive wear but not sure of that.