replacing my rear wheel.. brake pads look like crap already... what gives? I barely use my rear brake...

Anyone else needed new brake pads at 5000 miles?

 

What do you mean "look like crap" grooved, pad comming off, too thin or what? They should be fine after only 5k. You know its okay to run them till they are thinner than a dime, right?

 

they're over halfway worn at 5000 miles

 

I guess its like anything else, some folks can make a set of brakes last 25k some do good to get 10k. I expect to have to change mine at about 15k.

 

It sounds like you use your rear brakes more.

 

Just curious, but I have a buddy that evertime he puts his feet up on his highway pegs, his break light comes on.
They are too close and his heal is resting on the break and he is clueless.

 

Seems you may be using the rear brake more than you think if they need replacing at 5k, have you compared your pads to a new set to make sure?

 

There's a lot of factors that go into brake wear.

How aggressive are you using the brakes? When slowing, do you use the brakes exclusively or do you downshift and use the engine to help slow down? Freeway miles? City miles? Braking from high speed, etc. And like someone else mentioned - you're not resting your foot anywhere near the brake pedal, are you?

I knew a guy once that was forever replacing the clutch in his car and complaining everytime what a POS it was. I rode with him once for about an hour and knew exactly why. His left foot never left the clutch pedal.

My Limited has 18,000 miles and the pads still have better than half of their life left.

 

My brake pads wear out fast too. I ride hard and got lots of mountains here in Korea. got 5K on the Front and about 8K on the rear, Changed to Lyndall Pads and now I am hitting 15K and they are still over half used up.