Hey All,
I was reading the manual in an effort to better educate myself as to when the brakes should be changed, since I'm new to motorcycle maintenance, and couldn't really tell from the pic provided what they meant. In my manual for the 02 VFR it says "Check the cutouts in each pad. If either pad is worn to the cutout, replace both pads as a set." I guess the part that is confusing me is that I thought they came as individual pieces on the pad, so how can the be cutout? Sorry if this is a ridiculous question but, as I said earlier, I am new to maintenance.
There is a relief "notch" cut out of the center of the pad. If you can't see this then look for the backing plate where the pad material is fixed to and give yourself about 2 mm of pad material.
Usually they will squeal when they are low as there is a warning shim attached that contacts the disc. I would guess that they are good for at least 18k miles.
[image: View Post]majordomo490, on 16 August 2011 - 06:24 PM, said:
There is a relief "notch" cut out of the center of the pad. If you can't see this then look for the backing plate where the pad material is fixed to and give yourself about 2 mm of pad material.
Usually they will squeal when they are low as there is a warning shim attached that contacts the disc. I would guess that they are good for at least 18k miles.
THe value of the notch is 1 mm , so basically, once your pads are less than 1mm , replace.
Keep an eye on the rear, it wears faster than the fronts due to linked brakes.
Mine was almost gone at 20,000KMs and nearly caught me out because its hard to see without removing the caliper.
Here is an image of the front left brake. What do you guys think, time for a change?[image: Pad wear.jpg]
They're not dead quite yet, but if you feel so inclined to change them, then go for it.
Sucks if they get too thin and you score a rotor. Better safe than sorry, new brake pads are cheap insurance against, well, lots of bad things!
[image: View Post]VFRFig, on 18 August 2011 - 01:38 AM, said:
Here is an image of the front left brake. What do you guys think, time for a change?[image: Attachment] Pad wear.jpg
You still have up atleast 5,000 or more miles, it can be closer to 15,000 depending on how your usage is, those look to be around half life
[image: View Post]dogman, on 16 August 2011 - 06:54 PM, said:
Keep an eye on the rear, it wears faster than the fronts due to linked brakes.
Mine was almost gone at 20,000KMs and nearly caught me out because its hard to see without removing the caliper.
The vfr comes off the floor with a tall rear brake lever, I got like 7,000 mile out of the first rear brake set cause my foot was on the brake. Once I relized this, I adjusted the brake, I got 11,000 mile out of the next set so I dropped the brake lever some more, Now Im getting 20,000 mile out of a rear set, that is more normal.
[image: View Post]spud786, on 18 August 2011 - 02:57 AM, said:
[image: View Post]VFRFig, on 18 August 2011 - 01:38 AM, said:
Here is an image of the front left brake. What do you guys think, time for a change?[image: Attachment] Pad wear.jpg
You still have up atleast 5,000 or more miles, it can be closer to 15,000 depending on how your usage is, those look to be around half life
I mainly engine brake so I'd imagine these should last me a fair amount of time. I'll probably change them next season just to be safe, though.