brake pads

[dhelfritz]

I have 19,000 miles on an 06 Nomad and my back brake pads sound like they are rubbing metal. I am going to have the rear and the 2 fronts changed. I was wondering if that was about normal for brake pads on a Nomad or not?

[rewindgy]

My rear were toast at 20,000 Km - front look like new! And I tend to use the front brake only -the rear & front when I pull trailer or two up.

[cactusjack]

I think pads run you $40-$50 per caliper (3 calipers on a Nomad). I'd buy the pads and do them yourself. Brakes are easy to do.

[dkdixie]

Is there an after market pad better than Kawi?

[cactusjack]

Originally Posted by "dk dixie"

Is there an after market pad better than Kawi?

Not having had the need to replace my original pads yet, I am not qualified to provide an answer. I'm sure CaddmannQ or one of the other folks who have gone through a set or two will join in.

Originally Posted by dhelfritz

I have 19,000 miles on an 06 Nomad and my back brake pads sound like they are rubbing metal. I am going to have the rear and the 2 fronts changed. I was wondering if that was about normal for brake pads on a Nomad or not?

You should change the brake fluid, and the clutch fluid at this time as well. Every two years is the norm, or more often in very wet climates. If you're running metal-to-metal, the rear rotor probably needs changing as well.

Most of my riding is stop-&-go, so my brakes last less than half that long in the rear, but the fronts are just about ready to change at 33,000 miles.

[Scoot]

Sounds like your using the back brake way to much. Same thing happened to me, I just changed the back brake pads and didn't need the front pads, still had plenty left on the front

[jeffm]

I replaced my rear pads at 20xxx. The dealer only had ebc organic pads. they latsed 2 months 3xxx miles. Called the dealer he said depending on riding style that is not uncomman. That is bullsh*t. Went to another dealer all they had were ebc, but they had the hh, which is a heavier duty ebc pad. Just started riding with them so not sure how long they will last. None of the dealers here carry oem pads. I will be ordering oem's shortly, no more ebc's for me.

[redjay]

I have heard nothing good about the EBC pads. Seems most people that try them revert back to OEM because of noise and the fact they dont seem to last long.

[jeffm]

You may be right. If the HH's hold up as good as the oem's then that would be the case. They are not that much cheaper & i don't think they have as firm a feel as the oem's. I bled my brakes to make sure no air , but i don't think they feel as good.

[jeffm]

When i bought the first pair, the organics, he said they are not as thick so you won't get the same mileage. So i thought well if it is half i can live with 10xxx or so. I never would have dreamed 3xxx. Personally i don't think the organic should be sold as a replacement. The feel of the organic pad was a lot worst than the HH's. We were leaving town that weekend it was thursday & i needed them before we left so i had to buy them.

[rlfaubion]

I just did the rear (fronts good) at 24,100 miles. EBC HH. Feels fine, no noise for the past 300 miles. Time will tell.

Like a cop said to me in Las Vegas last year as I fishtailed to a stop at a light where he was standing on a corner - he walked up to me shaking his finger and said "more front brake, more front brake". Now I usually only use the front brake on straights.

[skeeter]

I've always used the front and rear brakes equally except on slow manuevering where I use rear only. I'll still wear out the front before the rear.

OK, guys, I think were getting screwed around a little here.

The EBC rear pads are not only softer than the stock Nomad pads, they are much thinner as well. They are half the price too. Now the dealer may not be giving you that price break if you don't know the difference!

Stock Nomad rear pads have 7mm thick linings while the EBC has only 4mm thick. Minimum service thickness is 1mm, so the stocks go 6mm & EBC's go 3mm before they are worn out.

But if they only go half the distance, they cost half as much. This is bad if you're paying someone to change the pads. If you do it yourself, it's good, because the EBC pads don't wear down the rotor as fast and a rotor is about $200!

Pads take 15 minutes per caliper to change if you're slow. Rotors take a whole lot longer because the wheels must come off.

I bought a bunch of soft EBC pads and just change them frequently. I much prefer that to changing rotors. Mine have made a noise now and then, but it's rare. I think it's because the carbon composition is soft and it sometimes picks up a big grain of sand. Until that sand crushes, falls out or wears down it will squeek a little. I've had them sound fine for months, squeek one day, and then sound fine until the day I change them.

But I am NOT paying somebody for labor. If you are then the parts cost becomes less important and the labor cost more, so thicker pads would be a better bargain.

(Early Nomads will not take the 7mm rear pads. All Nomad front pads are 4mm. Check which calipers you have before buying. Remember that I'm talking about the lining thickness only, and my measurements do not include the steel plate.)

OH, yeah: What I do not like about the EBC pads?

They make black brake dust all over the silver wheel.