Replacing brake pads

[ds06nomad]

Hello everyone,

I have over 26,000 on the original OEM front brake pads and have noticed that they just don't "bite" as well as before. So, I'm going to replace the front brake pads. Any pointers? What's the difficulty level? Do I need to remove the front tire, or just the calipers from the forks?

Any/all hints, pointers, suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thanks a bunch!

Daryl

BTW, it's a 2006 Nomad 1600...

[ringadingh]

Most important is to buy the correct pads, Either go with the OEM pads or sintered bronze if you go with aftermarket pads.
You don't have to remove the wheel or anything, just remove the calipers which are held with two bolts, There is a small little pin to pull out of the larger pin and then the pads come off. Compress the piston with a C clamp and install the new pads.It sounds harder than it is. It should only take you about ten minutes a side to do them. There are p/n's available in the tech board section for the EBC brand pads.

[AlabamaNomadRider]

When you compress the cylinder is there anything you need to open to relieve pressure?

[cactusjack]

Daryl,

Brake pad replacement is one of the easiest maintenance tasks there is. Steve's instructions are real good. 2 bolts, 1 small lockpin and 1 large pin that slides out. Compress the piston, load the pads in the caliper and reinstall.

[VulcanE]

I would also add, use a piece of sandpaper to scuff-up the rotors on both sides of both rotors.
Gene, as long as you've never added fluid, there will be room for it when you compress the pistons back into the calipers. I would do one side complete, then pump up the brakes, then do the other side.
The biggest thing is to remember to pump up the brakes before you start down the road because you won't have any braking power until you've pumped the lever several times, and that could lead to a bad day.

[dabull]

this is ALL great info....is this the same for the rear pads?

[ringadingh]

The rear pads and caliper are identical to the RH front wheel.
Use the same method for replacing.
I think the most important thing is to buy pads made of the proper material when you replace them so you get maximum life out of them.

[dabull]

Silly question. . .when you buy the pads for the front do they come in a set for both sides or do you need to order 2? Meaning that you really need to buy 3 sets??

[VulcanE]

Silly question. . .when you buy the pads for the front do they come in a set for both sides or do you need to order 2? Meaning that you really need to buy 3 sets??


Yes........... For example, if you are going to replace all three sets of pads, and going to use EBC pads, you would get 1 set # FA229HH for the front left, and 2 sets of FA231HH for the right side of the front, and for the rear.

[ringadingh]

You have to buy individually as stated above, however I just bought a complete set of all three pairs on Ebay. They are still being shipped to me and I hope to have them sometime this coming week. I'll let yo guys know how they are.

[dabull]

Wooooooooooot! KawaNow Gang ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ds06nomad]

Thanks Ringadingh, VulcanE and CactusJack for your input and help. I picked up the OEM front brake pads (plural) from the Kawi dealership this afternoon and will have a go at the install possibly tomorrow if I don't get mezmorized watching my Steelers play the Dolphins!

Thanks again to all...

Daryl

[MAS Tequila]

Go Phins

MT

[trosco]

ds06nomad,

If you have 26,000 miles on you Nomad your front pads are probably less that 50% worn. You don't say anything about brake noise just that they don't "seem" to bite as quickly. That sure sound more like degradation of you brake fluid and/or moisture or air in your system.
Before you replace your pads replace your fluid and bleed the system. $6 of fluid and 1/2 hours work could save you $100 in pads and several hours of work!

[ds06nomad]

ds06nomad,

If you have 26,000 miles on you Nomad your front pads are probably less that 50% worn. You don't say anything about brake noise just that they don't "seem" to bite as quickly. That sure sound more like degradation of you brake fluid and/or moisture or air in your system.
Before you replace your pads replace your fluid and bleed the system. $6 of fluid and 1/2 hours work could save you $100 in pads and several hours of work!

Excellent points, Rosco, and thanks for bringing them up. Fortunately though, when I recently blacked-out my bike and had the front calipers off, I bled and refilled the brake fluid. So I'm thinking I should be alright on that aspect.

Thanks for your input though... much appreciated!

Daryl

[ringadingh]

My new brake pads from Sixity finally arrived in yesterday's mail.
I replaced them all this morning, my rear pads were pretty well down to nothing after 22,000 miles. I had a lip worn on the rear disc, so to remove it I used a file and went all around both edges. then I sanded both sides with some emery cloth to clean it up and remove any glazing.
On the front wheel I still had the original OEM pads after 75,000 miles, they still had about 25% left but I changed them anyways.
I had a slight pulsation in the front brakes the last couple seasons and decided to see what I could do about that as well.
Again I filed the outer edges on both discs. I noticed my RH disc had a darker mark where the pad rubs in one spot. I filed that area down a little to remove the discoloration, then sanded the complete discs with emery cloth.
The test ride was only a couple miles around the neighbourhood but the brakes feel a lot better, and no more pulsating. They seem to grab a lot better, perhaps my old front OEM pads were so glazed that they lost a lot of their effectivness.
I'll know better on Monday when I ride to work and back, but so far the Sixity pads seem pretty good, and well priced.

[dabull]

My new brake pads from Sixity finally arrived in yesterday's mail.
I replaced them all this morning, my rear pads were pretty well down to nothing after 22,000 miles. I had a lip worn on the rear disc, so to remove it I used a file and went all around both edges. then I sanded both sides with some emery cloth to clean it up and remove any glazing.
On the front wheel I still had the original OEM pads after 75,000 miles, they still had about 25% left but I changed them anyways.
I had a slight pulsation in the front brakes the last couple seasons and decided to see what I could do about that as well.
Again I filed the outer edges on both discs. I noticed my RH disc had a darker mark where the pad rubs in one spot. I filed that area down a little to remove the discoloration, then sanded the complete discs with emery cloth.
The test ride was only a couple miles around the neighbourhood but the brakes feel a lot better, and no more pulsating. They seem to grab a lot better, perhaps my old front OEM pads were so glazed that they lost a lot of their effectivness.
I'll know better on Monday when I ride to work and back, but so far the Sixity pads seem pretty good, and well priced.


Hey Ring...were you able to get any more miles on the Sixity pads...I think i gonna pull the trigger;)

[dabull]

LOL...too late...i pulled it....HA!

[ringadingh]

LOL...too late...i pulled it....HA!

You should be quite happy with them, I put about 1600 miles on them, and they seem to have good stopping power.
My front brakes are stopping noticeably better than the old pads were.