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Message started by polloloco83 on 08/11/07 at 20:02:15

Title: Brake Pad Wear Limit Indicator
Post by polloloco83 on 08/11/07 at 20:02:15

I went to replace my brake pads today because they've been squeaking a lot, but I saw a line on the brake pads and plenty of material. Is the line the wear limit indicator? If my brake pads don't need replacement, then what might be causing all the squeaking while I brake? I also get some rubbing noises when going slow coming from the front. Here's a pic of my brake pads and the rotor, click on the image for a much larger pic.

http://thefamilyfranklin.com/brake16x4.jpg (http://thefamilyfranklin.com/brake1.jpg)

http://thefamilyfranklin.com/brake26x4.jpg (http://thefamilyfranklin.com/brake2.jpg)

Title: Re: Brake Pad Wear Limit Indicator
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 08/11/07 at 21:58:50

It's generally considered bad form to allow a calliper to hang from the hose.
Those pads are as close to new as is possible. The rotor looks fine. These brakes squeal as they bed in. Mine made me crazy for a while. Thank goodness the OEM pads wore out quick. They died at 5,000 miles. The EBC's squealed a bit, then bedded & are generally quiet. If the noise is bugging you, try some disk brake anti squeal from the auro parts house.
NIce pics,

Title: Re: Brake Pad Wear Limit Indicator
Post by polloloco83 on 08/11/07 at 22:40:26

My bike has 5500 miles it, it had 4973 when I got it 3 weeks ago. The squeaking has gotten worse since I got it. The dealer I bought it from must have used some anti-squeak crap.

justin_o_guy2 wrote:

It's generally considered bad form to allow a calliper to hang from the hose.

I knew someone was going to get me for that! I knew I should have used some 550 cord or something, especially after I took the pic.

Title: Re: Brake Pad Wear Limit Indicator
Post by rokrover on 08/12/07 at 05:33:21

Yes, that line is the wear limit indicator, though I have no idea how you are supposed to check it easily with the caliper assembly in place. Crawl underneath, perhaps? Squealing pads seem to be a Savage signature like the backfire, part of the bike's "character" if you like it. On my wife's bike the squeal changed to an intermittent scrape when the pads wore out completely. In the past I used some kind of silicone RTV on the back of auto brake pads that was supposed to damp out high-frequency squeal. The Clymer manual p.299 says something similar - coat the back of the pads with brake "lubricant" whatever that is. The only disc brake lubricant I know of is the high-temperature silicone grease for the caliper slider pins. You don't want too much grease around the pads, that's for sure, so I would go with the small dab of RTV. Have to check my auto parts store to see if Permatex still makes the stuff.

Title: Re: Brake Pad Wear Limit Indicator
Post by Ed_L. on 08/12/07 at 16:02:38

There used to be a spray made to coat the back of automotive brake pads made by Locktight. It was a blue sticky looking stuff and it came in a little 12 oz can. Last time I changed the pads on my '02 I used it and haven't had any problems with squeeking front brakes. Your pads look great Polloloco83 no need to replace them.

Title: Re: Brake Pad Wear Limit Indicator
Post by Savage_Rob on 08/13/07 at 05:35:18

I can see the copper in those pads, so they're sintered metal. The set of sintered metal pads I used squealed off and on but performed well and lasted a long time. The ceramic pads I have on now perform just as well and don't squeal at all. They are supposed to be long-lasting too, but I'll have to wait a while to find out for sure.

Title: Re: Brake Pad Wear Limit Indicator
Post by T-Mack1 on 08/13/07 at 06:15:35

polloloco83,
Thanks for the thread and the pict's. I notice I need to replace my front pads.

Rob,
With the longer lasting pads, have you seen any threads where the rotors are wearing faster?

I vaguely remember in the old days, you had a choice, soft pads + long rotor life, OR longer pad life & shorter rotor life. But, that was many years ago before all the hi-tech materials. We use to opt for short pad life because they were easier to replace.

Title: Re: Brake Pad Wear Limit Indicator
Post by Savage_Rob on 08/13/07 at 07:42:32

I don't know if the sintered metal pads chewed it any faster or not. I didn't measure the rotor but I didn't notice any visible wear beyond what I had seen with the previous pads, which I assumed were stock since I bought the bike with 1640 miles on it and the pads were nearly gone 1500 miles later. The ceramics are supposed to be good on the rotor but I haven't verified that.

Title: Re: Brake Pad Wear Limit Indicator
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 08/14/07 at 23:49:54

I guess they been workin Reelthing hard again. Or, he went fishing. BUT, he has the EBC ceramics & wouldnt do that if he thought they ate the disk.Seems he has the drilled rotor too. Might be tougher than stock.

Title: Re: Brake Pad Wear Limit Indicator
Post by Savage_Rob on 08/15/07 at 05:21:00

I put the drilled rotor on mine at the same time I changed to the ceramics. We'll see how they both fare.

Title: Re: Brake Pad Wear Limit Indicator
Post by rokrover on 08/16/07 at 07:57:14

Duh - now I know why I couldn't see the wear indicator, it was worn off, down to the metal base plate! I ended up with new OEM pads Suzuki P.No. 59300-24850 that have shim backing plates attached, presumably for anti squeak. The originals did not. So the wear indicator is a thin groove on the pad edge (not the inside face groove) that is hard to see when the dust builds up. Given the rapid wear rate I know to check more often, that's for sure. The replacement job was straightforward, other than guarding against spills from that dinky master cylinder reservoir. I used a suction bulb to lower the fluid before compressing the piston back but still some got spilled on the tank surface.

Title: Re: Brake Pad Wear Limit Indicator
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 08/16/07 at 12:32:47

I never add brake fluid, unless there's been a leak. Then, repair & add. Otherwise, the fluid level indicates the amount the pistons in the calliper are out, which is another brake wear indicator.

Title: Re: Brake Pad Wear Limit Indicator
Post by skatnbnc on 08/16/07 at 12:49:04

rokrover wrote:

Duh - now I know why I couldn't see the wear indicator, it was worn off, down to the metal base plate!

What was your mileage when you had to replace?

Title: Re: Brake Pad Wear Limit Indicator
Post by Savage_Rob on 08/16/07 at 13:33:00

The stock set are soft and often need replacement at about 3K miles.

Title: Re: Brake Pad Wear Limit Indicator
Post by grandpa on 08/17/07 at 00:20:01

I have right at 5000 miles and tend to overuse the front compared to the rear brake. Just checked mine when I gave 'her' a good wash last week. I still have about half the pad left. Terrain has a big input. Memphis is as flat as coastal Carolina. Those that ride the mountains will wear pads much faster. Many variables to your pad life!!

Title: Re: Brake Pad Wear Limit Indicator
Post by Savage_Rob on 08/17/07 at 05:08:08

Suzuki may also use pads from different manufacturers. I guess it's also possible that the manufacturer(s) may have crappy QC and wind up with varying densities in different pads. Regardless, it's good to check the stock set to be sure.

Title: Re: Brake Pad Wear Limit Indicator
Post by skatnbnc on 08/17/07 at 08:09:11

Savage_Rob wrote:

The stock set are soft and often need replacement at about 3K miles.

Dam. I have been having front brake issues in the past few weeks, and I think that is the problem. Well, off to the tech section I go... :P

Title: Re: Brake Pad Wear Limit Indicator
Post by rokrover on 08/17/07 at 08:09:19

Definitely terrain and riding style has a big effect on pad life. Our riding is hilly stop-start urban commuting, probably the toughest on brakes. My wife's set was totally gone at 3K and I'm replacing mine now at 2.2K as the wear indicator has just been reached. Pretty poor life IMHO.

Title: Re: Brake Pad Wear Limit Indicator
Post by mark_k on 09/14/07 at 19:03:30

Quote:

My wife's set was totally gone at 3K and I'm replacing mine now at 2.2K as the wear indicator has just been reached.

Just flipped over 3K on my 02, checked pads and I am glad I did. Pads were almost gone. Replaced them with EBC ceramics, did a series of progressive stops from 20 mph, 30, 40, 50, and finally 60 mph to seat them. They seemed to seat well and no squeek or squeal anymore.

Will have to see how they last and post back.