new brake pads - when?

[troy_s]

Hi all, found lots of posts on how to change the pads but am unable to find anything on when to change them. Are there any indicators on the pads themselves, performance signs, etc. All seems good at the moment but would rather be ahead of the game when it comes to brakes.

cheers
Troy

[alans1100]

There's no hard and fast rule and it I guess it comes down to an estimation of pad life.

I check pads at every tyre change though since I've just done the pads then I know they should be ok at the next tyre change. Your riding environment will determine the wear rate for the pads. e.g. city riding will wear pads faster than a country rider. Pad quality is another factor.

When I changed the rear tyre in October I checked the rear pads and noticed one had less than 1mm of material left and estimated that it might not make the distance to the next tyre change but still had a few thousand km. of wear left.

New pads all round were ordered on the 12th and replaced and installed over the last two days. Still managed 4000km since the tyre change and looking at the pads I could do that again but at what cost? I'd sooner replace pads a little sooner than risk metal to metal contact with the disc which would be a lot more expensive.

If in doubt replace the pads sooner than later.

[troy_s]

Thanks for that. Dumb question, can you visibly check the amount of pad remaining without removing the wheels?

[Shiney]

Thanks for that. Dumb question, can you visibly check the amount of pad remaining without removing the wheels?

Most definitely not a dumb question, you can indeed visibly check the amount of pad remaining without removing the wheels
You just have to get down in line with the disc at the front or the back of the bike looking along the length of the bike.

I'll post up some pics tomorrow

[alans1100]

Thanks for that. Dumb question, can you visibly check the amount of pad remaining without removing the wheels?

Most definitely not a dumb question, you can indeed visibly check the amount of pad remaining without removing the wheels
You just have to get down in line with the disc at the front or the back of the bike looking along the length of the bike.

I'll post up some pics tomorrow

I was thinking on how to answer this but I've only ever checked pads at tyre change over.

[troy_s]

Legends all. Cheers

[Brock]

Use a good torch to light up the area, makes it much easier to see.

If you heard a grating noise, and your disk surface looks some what rough then you have left the checking too long.

[Shiney]

Here are the pics
From the back:

 

From the front:
(Turn the handlebars to the left or right and look at the back of the pads)

   

I hope this helps

[hobs]

another important check is to compare the wear rate on each matching pair of pads. If wear rate is uneven, it could mean that the self centering caliper is seized or sticking. Noticed uneven wear on mine one day and found a small stone had jammed itself into the caliper preventing it centralizing. Just takes a few minutes to have a quick look to see that all looks ok.

[alans1100]

another important check is to compare the wear rate on each matching pair of pads. If wear rate is uneven, it could mean that the self centering caliper is seized or sticking. Noticed uneven wear on mine one day and found a small stone had jammed itself into the caliper preventing it centralizing. Just takes a few minutes to have a quick look to see that all looks ok.

There's also a greased pin covered with a rubber boot on the other side of the calliper which if not serviced regularly could also cause the calliper to stick a little. The hanger pin (some might call a pad retainer) usually gets greased when new pads go in but the other end doesn't.

Don't forget to lube the moving parts on the LH calliper mount as that operates the secondary master cylinder for the combined brakes which all 1300s have if my information is correct