Brake Pad Question (kinda dumb)

bullpen58
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Fresno, CA, USA
Edited Date/Time 1/24/2012 5:01pm
This is probably a dumb question for most of you, but what kind of brake pads are the best to run? I'm not talking about brand as much as I'm talking about type.

On the rare occassion I've been faced with changed them, it's always a confusing thing for me. There are all sorts of types and it's not clear what kind are best for me. There are mud pads, sintered steel pads, ulcerated aluminum pads, alloy unobtanium pads, sand pads, hard pack pads, knee pads, etc., etc., etc. What gives?

I ride almost exclusively moto and NEVER ride in mud (because I'm a wuss). Also, I don't want to have to replace them after every five laps. I'm not interested in the best performing ones if they're going to need to be replaced really quickly. Make sense?

Also, how often should I change them? I know to change them if they start squeaking but other than that, how do I know if they need to be replaced? Again, I'm not going to go by the manual and change them after every five laps or whatever. I mean, what is a realistic amount of use before replacing them?

Like I said, probably a dumb question. Sorry.
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Cygnus
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3/5/2009 8:52pm
OEM .
KBehlingMX
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3/5/2009 8:56pm
I don't bother with the wordage the pad makers use. All I know is...

Braking
OEM
EBC

Never used much else. EBCs last longest and work the poorest (both kinds, their normal pads and their red "endurance" pads), OEM is in the middle and Brakings work the best. Just my opinion.
1
Cygnus
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3/5/2009 8:59pm
If I want a special compound I always order Ferodo.

The Shop

YZBooster
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OC, CA, USA
3/5/2009 9:02pm
all of the above in sintered metal

3/5/2009 9:58pm
There's a thread on Thumpertalk about improving the braking on YZ250's, and a couple guys have tried multiple types of pads, with the OEM Honda's getting the nod overall. Even better was to swap out the entire Yamaha brake setup for the lighter Honda ones. So if you can use stock Honda pads, that's what I'd do.
andymoto
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Carmichael, CA, USA
3/5/2009 10:30pm
There's a thread on Thumpertalk about improving the braking on YZ250's, and a couple guys have tried multiple types of pads, with the OEM Honda's getting...
There's a thread on Thumpertalk about improving the braking on YZ250's, and a couple guys have tried multiple types of pads, with the OEM Honda's getting the nod overall. Even better was to swap out the entire Yamaha brake setup for the lighter Honda ones. So if you can use stock Honda pads, that's what I'd do.
Did that ourselves late 90s. Swapped whole Honda front on a KX. Big difference.
MOTODAD422
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Easton, PA, USA
3/5/2009 10:34pm
bullpen58 wrote:
This is probably a dumb question for most of you, but what kind of brake pads are the best to run? I'm not talking about brand...
This is probably a dumb question for most of you, but what kind of brake pads are the best to run? I'm not talking about brand as much as I'm talking about type.

On the rare occassion I've been faced with changed them, it's always a confusing thing for me. There are all sorts of types and it's not clear what kind are best for me. There are mud pads, sintered steel pads, ulcerated aluminum pads, alloy unobtanium pads, sand pads, hard pack pads, knee pads, etc., etc., etc. What gives?

I ride almost exclusively moto and NEVER ride in mud (because I'm a wuss). Also, I don't want to have to replace them after every five laps. I'm not interested in the best performing ones if they're going to need to be replaced really quickly. Make sense?

Also, how often should I change them? I know to change them if they start squeaking but other than that, how do I know if they need to be replaced? Again, I'm not going to go by the manual and change them after every five laps or whatever. I mean, what is a realistic amount of use before replacing them?

Like I said, probably a dumb question. Sorry.
If your brakes start to squeak , try a little shot of WD-40 that will take care of your problem. I would change the pads every 2 races just to be on the safe side.
bullpen58
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3/5/2009 10:48pm
MOTODAD422 wrote:
If your brakes start to squeak , try a little shot of WD-40 that will take care of your problem. I would change the pads every...
If your brakes start to squeak , try a little shot of WD-40 that will take care of your problem. I would change the pads every 2 races just to be on the safe side.
LMAO! I've actually made the mistake of accidentally putting WD-40 on my brakes before. It didn't turn out well.
Loose
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Mackay, AU
3/6/2009 3:56am
Sintered

As said above

EBC last longer
OEM not so much
Braking bit less again but still very good if you're not riding mud

Also make sure that whatever you buy hasn't been sitting around in the shop for years
mxracer32
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Charlotte, NC, USA
3/6/2009 5:51am
i ride honda and run oem. i made the mistake of buying some of those cheap red plated pads that all the cycle shops carry, they were horrible. i vowed never again to buy them. oem all the way. with my discount at my local shop they are actualy a few bucks less then the aftermarkets anyways.
txmxer
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Weatherford, TX, USA
3/6/2009 5:55am
MOTODAD422 wrote:
If your brakes start to squeak , try a little shot of WD-40 that will take care of your problem. I would change the pads every...
If your brakes start to squeak , try a little shot of WD-40 that will take care of your problem. I would change the pads every 2 races just to be on the safe side.
bullpen58 wrote:
LMAO! I've actually made the mistake of accidentally putting WD-40 on my brakes before. It didn't turn out well.
your problem is you ride too fast. If you go slow enough, you can't wear out a pad and stopping is easy.

somebody mentioned the Honda brake swap out...If brakes are a concern, a steel braided hose seems to help as well.
500guy
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USA
3/6/2009 6:01am
The best longevity and overall performance , I don't think you can go wrong with OEM.

3/6/2009 6:26am
500guy wrote:
The best longevity and overall performance , I don't think you can go wrong with OEM.

Agreed. I tried some special 'hard pads' (I totally forget the brand or material!) for some enduros and cross country races around 01/02 and they were TERRIBLE. Poor performance, squeaked when they got hot....awful. I'd much rather run the OEMs and change them regularly
lumpy790
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York, SC, USA
3/6/2009 11:58am
EBC made special SX pads out of a softer grippier material.....but dont use them near mud or they are metal to metal in 20 min.

raddad
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Wrenshall, MN, USA
3/6/2009 12:28pm
MOTODAD422 wrote:
If your brakes start to squeak , try a little shot of WD-40 that will take care of your problem. I would change the pads every...
If your brakes start to squeak , try a little shot of WD-40 that will take care of your problem. I would change the pads every 2 races just to be on the safe side.
bullpen58 wrote:
LMAO! I've actually made the mistake of accidentally putting WD-40 on my brakes before. It didn't turn out well.
txmxer wrote:
your problem is you ride too fast. If you go slow enough, you can't wear out a pad and stopping is easy. somebody mentioned the Honda...
your problem is you ride too fast. If you go slow enough, you can't wear out a pad and stopping is easy.

somebody mentioned the Honda brake swap out...If brakes are a concern, a steel braided hose seems to help as well.
Motodad, you do realize that you are putting a lubricant on the brakes don't you?

I remember about 10 yrs ago a 14 yr old kid i was mentoring had no brakes after "cleaning" them. Turned out he put WD-40 on them! It was hard to hold my tongue and not give him shit but simply cleaned them off with Brake Clean and they worked a little better but never the same. Had to replace the pads in the end with OEM Honda pads..
txmxer- yep, steel braided lines are the shite man! good call. Now add an over size front rotor and stock pads and you have a beast of a stopping machine.
mivers176
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Harrison, OH, USA
3/6/2009 1:12pm
Motodad -

just figured i'd chime in since i work for BRAKING. for no mud and the best combination of high performance with good durability, you should give our CM46 sintered race pads a shot. perfect for high temperatures in drier conditions..the choice of many mx/sx guys.

the compound is designed by Braking - our product is on so many of the top guys bikes - Factory Yamaha, MDK KTM, Pro Circuit Kawasaki, Star Yamaha on and on...i'd say something is working right Wink

feel free to get ahold of me if you have any questions

mivers@sunstarea.com
cjmx
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Lakewood, CO, USA
Fantasy
3/6/2009 2:24pm
Cygnus wrote:
OEM .
what he said.

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