Author Topic: Replacing front brake pads (Read 13551 times)

Kwikasfuki · « **on:** February 05, 2012, 03:48:42 PM »

Finally had time to do some maintenance work on bike so decided to do brakes, and a good thing too as I'd have been trying to stop with metal scraping against metal.

Disclaimer: these are pics of what I did recently. If you want your pads changing, I suggest you hire the services of a qualified mechanic.

See first pic for fitting torque. Don't forget to grease the pads and spring. Now to do the other caliper!

Yes, I know my bike is filthy. I prefer riding more than cleaning

VirginiaJim · « **Reply #1 on:** February 05, 2012, 08:07:28 PM »

+1 on the cleaning bit...

SonnyC · « **Reply #2 on:** February 05, 2012, 11:22:18 PM »

Thanks for posting pictures, it will be very helpful when its time for me to change my brake pads.

SonnyC

Son of Pappy · « **Reply #3 on:** February 05, 2012, 11:28:00 PM »

If things aint quite as nasty all you need to do is remove the 2 5mm bolts and retainers, use the old pads to compress the pistons and install the new ones, takes less then 5 minutes and both sides are done. I wore out my rotors (50000 miles), really shot, replaced them with EBC square drive buttons. Absolutely love them.

wildnphx · « **Reply #4 on:** February 05, 2012, 11:55:10 PM »

Awesome post just in time for me to do mine!!! Thanks this will be a tremendous help.

Kwikasfuki · « **Reply #5 on:** February 06, 2012, 12:31:42 AM »

Quote from: Son of Pappy on February 05, 2012, 11:28:00 PM

If things aint quite as nasty all you need to do is remove the 2 5mm bolts and retainers, use the old pads to compress the pistons and install the new ones, takes less then 5 minutes and both sides are done. I wore out my rotors (50000 miles), really shot, replaced them with EBC square drive buttons. Absolutely love them.

yes, you can do it that way, but the grit on the pistons is not removed.

Pokey · « **Reply #6 on:** February 06, 2012, 08:27:53 AM »

We are the qualified mechanics allot of the times, and doing this is so easy that a caveman could do it. Great pics and write-up by the way.

VirginiaJim · « **Reply #7 on:** February 06, 2012, 09:52:58 AM »

Yeah, those pistons are so clean you could eat off of them.

rtarp1 · « **Reply #8 on:** February 06, 2012, 01:53:46 PM »

Filthy doesnt do it justice, your lack of cleaning has left the bikes finish pitted and destroyed. it hurts to look at it .

VirginiaJim · « **Reply #9 on:** February 06, 2012, 02:11:25 PM »

It doesn't look that bad to me. I know I clean mine once or twice a year whether it needs it or not. I'm not up on 'pretty'. I don't have the time to clean it.....well, I guess I do know but it's too cold.

Please remember this is a thread about brakes, not about cleaning a bike. You can start a new thread if you want to discuss that in depth.

Kwikasfuki · « **Reply #10 on:** February 06, 2012, 03:05:04 PM »

Quote from: rtarp1 on February 06, 2012, 01:53:46 PM

Filthy doesnt do it justice, your lack of cleaning has left the bikes finish pitted and destroyed. it hurts to look at it .

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

It looks dirty, but underneath is a layer of ACF50. So when I do clean it all the muck comes and it sparkles.
Only for a week or so mind, because after that its filthy again.

Anyway, back on topic ...

So Cal Joe · « **Reply #11 on:** February 06, 2012, 04:05:37 PM »

Thanks for all the pictures. maybe a copy of the post can be put in C-14, aka Concours-14 info section for us to look at later when we have to do our brakes.

VirginiaJim · « **Reply #12 on:** February 06, 2012, 04:09:58 PM »

That's exactly where it's going. I usually move these gems after they've died down a bit.

B.D.F. · « **Reply #13 on:** February 06, 2012, 06:33:45 PM »

Nice post and nice photos.

I fully agree with you about cleaning the pistons thoroughly before pushing them back into the calipers. Driving the dirty piston back just forces grit underneath the seals. If the calipers had full bellows type boots then it would not be a problem but the seals are pretty exposed on motorcycles. I actually go one step further and remove the calipers and split them in half to clean them.

Brian

Quote from: Lord Frederick III on February 05, 2012, 03:48:42 PM

Finally had time to do some maintenance work on bike so decided to do brakes, and a good thing too as I'd have been trying to stop with metal scraping against metal.

Disclaimer: these are pics of what I did recently. If you want your pads changing, I suggest you hire the services of a qualified mechanic.

<snipped photos>

Yes, I know my bike is filthy. I prefer riding more than cleaning

Z71 · « **Reply #14 on:** February 06, 2012, 08:31:01 PM »

Be careful what you clean those pistons with. The reason is some cleaners attack rubber dust boots and rubber seals that seal the pistons inside the caliper. And you do not want leaky calipers, do you? I typically do not clean the pistons unless I remove them and rebuild the caliper(s). If I clean them, i will just wipe them with a paper towel moistened with some WD 40 without soaking them.

Pokey · « **Reply #15 on:** February 06, 2012, 09:26:25 PM »

Quote from: Z71 on February 06, 2012, 08:31:01 PM

Be careful what you clean those pistons with. The reason is some cleaners attack rubber dust boots and rubber seals that seal the pistons inside the caliper. And you do not want leaky calipers, do you? I typically do not clean the pistons unless I remove them and rebuild the caliper(s). If I clean them, i will just wipe them with a paper towel moistened with some WD 40 without soaking them.

Non chlorinated brake cleaner is your friend.....

mcclaskeyj · « **Reply #16 on:** February 07, 2012, 09:08:50 AM »

Very nice writeup thanks! I'll be changing mine soon after it get's out of the shop today (fingers crossed).

jamcou2020 · « **Reply #17 on:** February 07, 2012, 01:41:21 PM »

Great write up and great pics. Thanks for all the information.

Conrad · « **Reply #18 on:** February 07, 2012, 01:54:39 PM »

Very nice write up M'Lord!

For a moment I thought that you were working on Jim's bike.

FireIdiot · « **Reply #19 on:** February 08, 2012, 08:51:00 PM »

How many miles did you get out of those pads?

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Author Topic: Replacing front brake pads (Read 13551 times)

Son of Pappy