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Old 04-20-2010, 07:10 PM   #1
ells   ells is offline
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Brake Pads

Am I ever disappointed. The OEM rear pads went about 19K mi, which I thought was poor, but then I installed a set of EBC FA231s and they were down to metal-on metal in 8K. I didn't think I braked all that heavy and the fronts (which I do I use a lot) with 27K mi are still good at 3-4mm. My Vulcan 800B has 44Kmi on the original brakes, front and rear and are looking good.

Are there better pads out there than the EBCs?. There must be something. The EBCs are all I have found locally and have another set to install this evening so I can get it back on the road but am looking for something better next time.

Thanks for any related suggestions.

Ells



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Old 04-20-2010, 07:13 PM   #2
ringadingh   ringadingh is offline
 
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Brake Pads

Ive replace two sets of rear pads with the EBC brand. Both sets lasted 20,000 miles. My front set are the OEM pads and Ive got almost 66,000 miles on those pads and will be replacing them the next few months.
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Old 04-20-2010, 07:21 PM   #3
cactusjack   cactusjack is offline
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Brake Pads

I got nearly 40,000 out of the stock front pads and the stock rear pads still have a few thousand left on them.

There was a guy riding with us at the last Vulcan Riders of AZ ride. I kept seeing his brake light on. I watched him closer and he was resting his right foot on the brake pedal as he rode. Dude, get some highway pegs!
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Old 04-20-2010, 07:37 PM   #4
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Brake Pads

Or, if it's not the pads and not covering the peddle with your foot, then maybe your rear caliper is sticking and not releasing completely or slow to release.
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Old 04-20-2010, 08:51 PM   #5
ells   ells is offline
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Brake Pads

I've got hi-way pegs but don't use them much, should try adjusting them sometime to get a better position. No riding or covering the brake unless I've picked up the habit not realizing it, will be paying attention now. The pistons moved very smoothly so probably not hanging. Rotor has a few small grooves, probably from the few metal to metal stops before I caught it. Certainly didn't think of checking the pads with only 7K on them. Will be watching the next set much closer.

Local dealer said they could order the OEM pads but at twice the price of the EBCs.



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Old 04-20-2010, 11:58 PM   #6
hammer   hammer is offline
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Brake Pads

I only got 16000 miles out of my rear OEM pads and I know they were dragging too much. I have overhauled the caliper and will next check the rotor disc to see if it is warped some and I am betting on that.

There is nothing wrong with the EBC pads.
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Old 04-21-2010, 06:56 AM   #7
AlabamaNomadRider   AlabamaNomadRider is offline
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Brake Pads

I have had no problems yet out of the original although I only have about 8800 miles on them. I will definitely have to keep a check. Didn't realize bikers rested their foot on the brake pedal but have seen lots of cars doing that. That will wear out pads in a hurry.
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Old 04-21-2010, 08:31 AM   #8
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Brake Pads

Ells, I placed my pegs so my toes are 1/4 onch higher than the brake pedal. This way I can ride the pegs, and heel the boards, as one way to rest my feet. This allows for a planted heel when braking.

You want a planted heel when braking IMO.

So I can also ride flat footed on the boards , and or ride with my feet on the pegs or hanging out past them.
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Old 04-21-2010, 08:01 PM   #9
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Brake Pads

My rear pads also wore out at about 20,000 miles. I just chalked it up to riding the rear brake during parking lot practice. I replaced them with OEM pads. Kawasaki is rather proud of them ain't they?
 
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Old 04-21-2010, 09:54 PM   #10
ells   ells is offline
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Brake Pads

Paid extra attention to my braking habits today. I suspect that following a couple "surprises" in the past with the Nomad when squeezing the front brake a little too much when coming to a less-than-straight-ahead stop, I may now be riding the rear brake a bit too much when coming to a normal stop. However, I do anticipate slowing using engine braking and downshift all the way down. Still surprised that that would result in the wear I got out the last set of rear pads. Glad to hear that there are no particular problems with the EBC pads.

Is there any way to determin a warped rotor if there is no pulsing without removing it?
 
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Old 04-21-2010, 11:21 PM   #11
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Brake Pads

If there is no pulsing in the lever or pedal your rotors are fine. I have one front rotor that is causing a bit of pulsing but Im not sure if I'll do anything about it yet.
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Old 04-22-2010, 01:21 AM   #12
hammer   hammer is offline
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Brake Pads

If you can get the bike up at the rear so you can spin the rear tire you should be able to attach something to the bag mounts to do a rough check. I used a long screw driver and did not discover any obvious real problems with the rotor.

Ring is right about the pulsing and I have not noticed that and I know I don't ride the rear brake at all.

Anyway, new pads are cheap. ::)
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Old 04-22-2010, 12:08 PM   #13
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Brake Pads

My stock set lasted about 12k replaced with ebc I get about 8-9k out of each set. I think the rear caliper on these bike drag a little and it wears them out way to fast. I have 35k on the bike and the front pads look brand new i use the front brakes way more than rear. I tryed bleeding the brakes but when you are ridding and you pull in the clutch you can hear the pads on the rotor. I just keep a couple of sets in the garage.
 
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Old 04-22-2010, 03:59 PM   #14
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Brake Pads

I am with you spirello. I can hear them dragging but nothing I usually do including servicing the caliper has helped with that. I may try a thin shim on one side or the other to see if that helps.
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Old 04-22-2010, 07:20 PM   #15
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Brake Pads

I replaced my rear pads with OEM at 37,000 kms, they had about 1/16th left.
Fronts have 50,000 kms on them and still okay for a while. I will buy OEM again next time.
 
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