Feedback on rear brake pad options

[hammer]

I have already had the rear OEM pads go earlier than I ever suspected and had to use organic EBC. They grab OK but those are sluffing off too quickly and I am pretty certain they are dragging too much. I am not a heavy rear brake pedal user. I ordered seals, packings and caliper rod boots to do a complete service to see if that helps with the dragging.

Are many out there using the EBC FA231HH on the rear, organic or maybe even Kevlar? Has anyone needed to shim the caliper to align one or more both pads?

Feedback would be appreciated.

[chuckster131]

I had a set of those organic pads once on my scoot, and removed them after two days. Didn't like the feel and they didn't have the stopping power of the sintered pads.

If the pads are dragging in excess, the caliper piston could be hanging. You might have to look into giving that a rebuild or replacing it with another one. I see them on ebay all the time.

[ringadingh]

Im using the EBC FA231HH on the rear and have got 20,000 miles on each set so far. They work ok but are noisier than the oem pads. They make a slight buzzing noise when applied.
I think when its time to replace them again I'll go with the oem pads, since they are quieter.
Ive never had to shim the caliper, and the wheel turms freely unless the brake is applied.

[macmac]

Hammer about how many miles? My 06 has oem pads from the factory, and not nearly ready to want any replacements. Seems o0dd you do to me. I have apx 16,000 now. Not that much.

Flavor are your pads factory installed? (Flavor has 34,000 mile apx)

[redjay]

I changed my rear pads at 37,000 kms. There was almost nothing left. I went with OEM.

[hammer]

I only got 14000 miles on my OEM but I probably could have got 17000. I did clean and service the caliper at the time and have parts coming for the full overhaul. It's not hard to do right on the bike anyway. Still I thought all along my rear OEM were dragging from day 1. My original front pads are not even 50% by comparison.

OEM pads seem impossible to find here. It seems few use them. Rotors are more expensive than pads so the HH sintered were my only concern. My friend uses Kevlar on his Venture and finds those less affect the rotor and are in betweem organic and the EBC HH.

[ringadingh]

Your correct that the front pads last a lot longer, I have almost 70,000 miles on my original front pads, and will probably be replacing them later this summer.

[nightflight1]

I have 27,000 on my bike and have not changed the pads yet. The rear will need them before the front it seem but I do gear down and do not use the brakes hard. Not a lot of city driving for me either.

[ringadingh]

I got about 30,000 miles out of my original rear pads. Im gear down most times and Im not hard on brakes either. Thats also why I'll go back to the original pads, they seem to last about 50% longer than the EBC pads.

[hammer]

Yes the gear down versus brake thing will contribute some, Sometimes the gear down helps to scuff off the rear tire early and pads are cheaper than tires. But I also put on a lot of highway miles so that is why I am thinking the caliper is dragging. It is somewhat of a mystery because I am not seeing excessive rotor wear and I checked the rotor for deflection and found none.