LUC’S TIPS JUNE 2013: Brake Pad Inspection Before Mountain Riding
Last Updated: April 1st, 2024
Before we head off into the mountains to avoid the summer heat, it would be a good idea to make sure our braking systems are working properly. A primary component to our braking system are our brake pads. In this tech tip, I’ll help you identify if your brake pads need to be replaced.
OWNERS MANUAL
As always, we’ll want to make sure we’re maintaining our motorcycles in accordance with our owners manual. If at any point you feel incapable of inspecting your brake pads, don’t hesitate to visit a local dealership or qualified repair shops. We definitely don’t want any question marks about our brakes that may put us in danger or damage our confidence when riding.
SHERLOCK HOLMES YOUR BRAKES
Before we even look at the brake pads, a couple clues may lead us to the fact that our brake pads need replacement. You may experience one, some, or all of the clues listed below:
- Brake fluid level has gone down markedly in the master cylinder reservoir.
- Brake lever or pedal travels farther before engaging the brakes.
- Different noise from brake pads than previous when applying brakes.
- Increased brake noise when applying the brakes, including a metallic squealing noise.
NOTE: Pulsating when applying brakes may not be a brake pad issue; a brake rotor may have an issue like scoring or warping.
First, we need to know a few items about brake pads:
- Most, but not all brake pads have wear groove indicators (see top image) that help us identify when we’re getting close to the end of the brake pad’s life. In the case of the bottom image, the pads are ready for replacement as the wear groove indicator is now absent (almost absent) from both of the brake pads.
- If the brake pad manufacturer doesn’t use a wear indicator, a micrometer may be necessary to measure the amount of friction material remaining to ensure the level is within manufacturer specification.
- We would rather replace brake pads a little early versus run the risk of damaging a brake rotor or worse, finding ourselves without brakes when we need them most.
- Locating the wear indicator may be possible without taking a brake caliper off the motorcycle for inspection. However, if necessary, we may have to remove a caliper for closer inspection.
BRAKE PAD INSPECTION
If upon cursory review you are unable to see how much friction material remains on your brake pads, then closer inspection is necessary. If your mechanical skills are up to the task, you may be able to drop the brake pads out of the caliper without removing the caliper for further inspection. If not, simply remove the mounting bolts that secure the brake caliper around the rotor. Inspect the brake pads to see if they have sufficient friction material (see below). WARNING: AVOID SQUEEZING THE BRAKE LEVER OR PEDAL AT THIS TIME AS THE BRAKE PADS MAY BE SQUEEZED TOGETHER MAKING RE-INSTALLATION A HASSLE.
Take a look at your brake pads to determine if the friction material is sufficient. If there isn’t sufficient friction material, a proper brake service is recommended. We recommend re-installing the caliper and taking the motorcycle to a motorcycle dealership or reputable repair shop. YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON YOUR BRAKES, so do what is right.
Hopefully, after your inspection, you’ll feel confident about your braking system, or will at least have a positive course of action to take with your motorcycle. The more we know, the better it gets!
Have fun in the mountains!
Safe riding,
-LUC
DISCLAIMER: THE VIEWS AND OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THIS COLUMN ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF ANY MANUFACTURER. THE CONTENT PROVIDED IS MERELY EDUCATIONAL AND NOT INTENDED AS A REPLACEMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL REPAIR. TEAM ARIZONA, ITS STAFF, AND ITS RIDERCOACHES ARE UNAVAILABLE FOR PRIVATE MOTORCYCLE REPAIR; WE RECOMMEND SEEING YOUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP OR REPAIR SHOP.
