Silly Brake Question

[golfingirl]

Okay. I guess I'm a little paranoid about wearing out my brakes. I had them replaced this spring and they were almost completely gone. How many miles on average do brake pads last? I realize the back wears quicker than the front on average. I also realize that it depends a lot on how you ride and where (city vs highway) so perhaps this will help you answer my question. I ride mainly in the city and I'm not afraid to use my brakes... as I need to in Atlanta traffic. Crazy drivers that are busy texting and talking on their phones in their big a$$ Suburbans. It's an epidemic here. So, I ride very defensively. Should I have my brakes professionally checked every year? I keep an eye on the pads but am not confident I would see how worn they are.

Thanks for your thoughts in advance.

 

[birdman5]

I don't have an answer for you. Will be interested to hear, but there is nothing silly about being safe! Especially around the crazies!

 

[The Seeker]

Keep doing as you are doing. Keep an eye on the pads. Since you do this already, you know what brand new pads look like and you will be able to know when they ate getting thin.

Brand new pads won't stop you any better than pads that are 3/4ths worn. It's only when they have no pad material left that they will fail to stop you.

By the way, I use my front brake in conjunction with my rear unless I'm on anything that is slippery (we're) or loose (gravel). Most braking power comes from the front (thus TWO larger rotors as opposed to one in the rear).

My brakes wear about equal between front and rear.

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[Rocky]

Not a silly question in the least. Brakes are a very serious matter.
I'm a little surprised that the pads have worn down so soon, but as you said, lots of hard braking in city traffic.
If you're not confident in determining the wear I would have a pro take a look and have the pads replaced if they're as worn down as you say.
Get new pads before the old pads start to bear upon the disc (steel on steel) and damage it.

 

[avion]

Brake pad life really depends on the rider.

I would pay attention to how you use them. Do you find yourself 'confidence braking' a lot of the time. This is when you drag the brakes in anticipation of needing to brake.
Rather ride slower and just cover your brake lever / pedal, without actually braking.

Confidence braking is a very bad habit and takes a long time to get rid of it.

Keep an eye on your pad wear though. A bit of money is nothing compared to trashed discs and no brakes.

hth

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 4

 

[shanered6]

well I generally change mine when they get to about 3mm thick ! you could go lower but I think for what they cost cheap enough to change at that level .
I agree with AJ just keep doing what you are and just keep an eye on them , if you happen to change them and there was more left than you thought it doesn't matter !
better safe than sorry .

 

[golfingirl]

Not a silly question in the least. Brakes are a very serious matter.
I'm a little surprised that the pads have worn down so soon, but as you said, lots of hard braking in city traffic.
If you're not confident in determining the wear I would have a pro take a look and have the pads replaced if they're as worn down as you say.
Get new pads before the old pads start to bear upon the disc (steel on steel) and damage it.

I replaced my brake pads this spring when I had a my bike checked over by my mechanic. They were almost on metal. Yikes! The bike had around 10500 and I can't remember when the previous owner had them done before then. Although, I have most of the records. At the same time, I had the rear tire replaced because the sidewall was cracking a bit. He also did a once over... fluids etc. things I am not confident doing. I'll just keep an eye on them and continue to take my bike in for an annual check up. Time for my 12000 mile service. Sigh. That's a big expensive one.

 

[DaveM]

I cannot remember really taking note of how long they last the same as tyres I just check on them every now and then and change as needed. Looks like you doing it right now the way you are so just keep at it.

 

[Rocky]

Changing brake pads isn't a hard job, but it can be a dirty job.
I've done it so it can't be that hard The Haynes manual is a good guide.
But if you're not confident enough to do it yourself, it's worth having a pro do it. Brakes are just too important!

I don't do a lot of city riding so my brake pads seem to last a long time. About all the city riding I do is to get out of the city into the country and back in again.
For example, I have over 33,000 km's on my Honda and the factory pads are only half worn.

 

[golfingirl]

Wow! That's not a lot of city riding for sure, Rocky. I've been riding 2-3x/week to work and home. About 25-30 miles thru the heart of Atlanta. From downtown to Buckhead, essentially. Then I ride around town on the weekend if I'm lucky. Lotsa braking.

 

[Kawartha]

No comment to make about brakes, but you have my sympathies having to ride in Atlanta traffic. Used to travel to Atlanta a fair bit in one of my past lives (had one booked 9/11) and it is horrendous No surprise you chew through brakes in a rush there.

 

[CarlS]

I have 10,000 miles on my brake pads on my Tiger 800 and 16,000 on my Bonneville pads. I gear down a lot and am not hard on brakes. I use both brakes, but mostly the front brake - unless I am off road. Make sure you are not riding your rear brake, that is keeping your foot resting on or touching the brake pedal. That wears put brakes quickly.