Brake pads

[oldman]

Going to change the pads on my 88 bike, with the hoses plenty of feel at the lever but not as quick to stop as I remember, pads are at least12 years old so going to change. Used EBC HH on big bikes ,seen red EBC pads on eBay? Any good or recommendations?

[NINJA]

@oldman I had the EBC Red stuff pads on my DTR, they added a lot more bite and reduced stopping distances for-sure. Well worth the £££, I'd fit new disc's at the same time to get the best out of em too.

[oldman]

The discs are relatively new, have ordered some red EBC pads, think the existing ones are past their sell by date, should have done it when I rebuilt but plenty of meat on them. Will give discs a good clean prior to fitting.
Thanks

[NINJA]

@oldman iF you have a round wire brush attachment for your drill, give the discs a good going over with that first. Then smooth them off with a palm sander and you'll have em looking as good as new in no time!!!

[oldman]

Already ordered the red ones, will do this on the old ones and keep for spares or try on the 89 when that's done, ta

[Calum]

Brake pads? I thought 1st gear was what we used to stop.

I remember my DTRE stock brakes, man they were dangerous!

[declan]

@calum as in?

[Calum]

@declan As in eventually I just used severe engine braking to stop, and that is no word of a lie.

[declan]

@calum crazy mine were pretty bad braided lines fixed that and the fluid was black kind of like muddy water looked like it had never been changed

[oldman]

Have the braided lines and new fluid, just a lacķ of forward momentum stopping power, no sponginess at lever, just feels like the pads are slipping over the surface more than gripping like they are really hard.

[NINJA]

@oldman Sounds like the discs are glazed? You could get them skimmed or just replace them, once there gone there hard to fix sadly.

[oldman]

Fitted the EBC red stuff pads, braking now what it should be, even the back brake! Brakes best they have ever been, and so they should be with braided lines and new fluid. Worth all the effort rebuilding the calipers and master cylinders. EBC pads get my vote, can only assume old pads were contaminated along the way. Luckily the discs weren't glazed, running better now with the power valve seal done as well.

[NINJA]

@oldman Although they do not last as long, the EBC pads are well worth the couple of extra pounds. They greatly improve braking along with the braided lines and Dot 5.1 fluid, as you have discovered my friend. And any improvement you can get with the stock discs and caliper set-up is a god send for-sure!!!

[Calum]

@ninja You gotta be careful with DOT 5.1 oil!!!

It's not the same as DOT 3/4 and can adversely damage the seals on the caliper if they have not been designd with 5.1 in mind.

[oldman]

Made me check saying that! Used dot4 so in the clear, has dot5 different contents?

[declan]

@oldman no idea about the specifics but using the wrong dot fluid can wreck your seals

[NINJA]

@calum Aren't the newer seals DOT 5.1 compatible tho???

[Calum]

@declan Partially true.

If the specification is for dot 3, you can use dot 4 fine. But dot 5 is a totally different blend and is not compatible.

[Calum]

@ninja Unless it explicitally says so, I wouldn't have thought it.

It's mroe than just the piston seals, but the master cylinder seals you have to think about.

[NINJA]

@calum OK G2K. :thumbsup_tone1: