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Blowing through rear brake pads

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Old Jan 3, 2012 | 08:24 PM
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Default Blowing through rear brake pads
My 2010 Ultra seems to be going through a lot of rear brake pads. I've got 19K on the bike, replaced them at 14K, now they are squealing again - 5K later. I only use the rear brake in low speed situations, relying heavily on the fronts to slow me down before I apply the rear. Seems on my other bikes, I got 20K or so out of a set of pads.

Oh yea, ABS.

Thoughts?
 
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Old Jan 3, 2012 | 08:35 PM
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I've got over 40K on my original brakes, so your use seems really extreme to me. Mine are the old style, before the switch to brembos.
 
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Old Jan 3, 2012 | 08:58 PM
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25k out of my first set on my 09, you seem to be going thru them pretty quick. You sure you don't have a stuck or gummed up piston?
 
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Old Jan 3, 2012 | 09:20 PM
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Default Pads
Squealing is not an indication that new pads are required. Are the wear grooves still there?

These new Harleys are so much easier to pull the calipers and check the pads. If the grooves are still there, you don't need new pads. Clean the calipers to take care of the squeal.
 
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Old Jan 3, 2012 | 09:28 PM
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Originally Posted by rkoivisto
Squealing is not an indication that new pads are required. Are the wear grooves still there?

These new Harleys are so much easier to pull the calipers and check the pads. If the grooves are still there, you don't need new pads. Clean the calipers to take care of the squeal.
Cool thanks. My previous pair squealed and had about 20% left when I changed them. I'll pull these and take a look.
 
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Old Jan 3, 2012 | 09:34 PM
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Originally Posted by Bowhunter61
25k out of my first set on my 09, you seem to be going thru them pretty quick. You sure you don't have a stuck or gummed up piston?

This would be my guess.
 
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Old Jan 3, 2012 | 09:35 PM
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Originally Posted by TurkeyRun
Cool thanks. My previous pair squealed and had about 20% left when I changed them. I'll pull these and take a look.
There's no need to pull the calipers and/or pads to check for wear. You can see the thickness by simply looking as they are installed. New factory pads are .150" thick to give you a reference.

Now if you suspect cracks or some other defect then you'd need to pull the caliper and/or pads to inspect for such defects.

I just measured my rears while I was swapping the rear tire and they are .135" thick with 20,000 miles on them. So mine have worn 15% in 20,000 miles.
 
Last edited by 2black1s; Jan 3, 2012 at 10:49 PM.
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Old Jan 3, 2012 | 09:35 PM
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That sounds normal to me.roughly 12k and im about ready for new rear pads.
 
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Old Jan 3, 2012 | 10:46 PM
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Originally Posted by voodoodrug
That sounds normal to me.roughly 12k and im about ready for new rear pads.
You must do a lot of City riding I get about 30K out of my rear pads.
 
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Old Jan 3, 2012 | 11:02 PM
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not a lot of city here.Im shure riding habits have something to do with it.Brand of pads? I have been sticking with the Z pads cause less dust.
 
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