New front brake pads

[L J VFR]

I am expecting new front pads to replace my stock ones.  I ordered the ebc double h sintered brake pads from dennis kirk.  Has anyone put these pads on?  Did it help stop the bike faster?  I was due new ones so I am going to try these. They are due in today, so I will put them on this weekend.. Thanks,  Lance

[Greg Cothern]

Lance I have always run stock pads mainly cause I believe pads are cheaper than disc's  .  For better braking I would personally suggest a stainless steel brake line.

[TLRam1]

Has anyone put these pads on?  Did it help stop the bike faster?  Thanks,  Lance

Lance,

I bought the exact ones you are about to install. Now on my 01 Magna the stock front brakes seem to work fine but I haven't ridden it that much either. On my 94 I had little stopping power up front, I could squeeze the lever and it felt I was going to bust a seal loose! I installed the Double H Sintered pads which made a noticeable difference. I keep a record of everything and wrote down the mileage and mic'd my rotors due to the weardown info ones have mentioned. I ride 2-up many times and I would come close to entering the intersection before I could stop.

The pads are what I needed and worked great so far. I realize rotors are expensive but I needed to stop first so I would be here to purchase a new rotor! I've read much about rotor wear down but have no solid info how much faster they wear? Maybe mute, as the rotor might wear 10, 20, or 30 percent faster, I don't know?? For instance, if a stock rotor last 100,000 miles and with Sintered pads the rotor last 70,000, that's not so bad. If the pads wore my rotor down in 20,000 miles, than we might have to do something else. I figured I could always find a used rotor.

When I changed wear was not as large of an issue as I needed to stop, for some reason it was that bad for me. Now I can brake with less pressure and fewer fingers, less pressure might offset wear issues. I will mic my rotors again soon to see where I am at, so far about 10,000 miles on these pads.

I do look forward to another perspective from a fellow rider. I think EBC recommends a 500 mile period for these to mate well with your rotor. 

[L J VFR]

Thanks Terry and Greg for the reply..  I do vaguely remember you mentioning the SS lines at MOOTmag Greg.   I might  go ahead and order these to help with the braking as well.     Terry, I have the same issue you have, it seems I don't stop as soon as I feel is in a safe amount of distance.  Maybe I am traveling too fast when I start to apply the brakes- , I don't know.   I just think that ANYTHING is better than what it has from stock!!  I will put these on this weekend as they arrived last night     Lance

[Sledge Hammer]

I do look forward to another perspective from a fellow rider. I think EBC recommends a 500 mile period for these to mate well with your rotor.

Terry, the set of EBC sintered pads I saw at Cycle Gear carried a warning that read like something out of the Tibetan Book Of the Dead for using sintered pads on bikes not originally sporting them. Which P/N are you trying?

[TLRam1]

Guy,

The EBC site shows this FA-196HH as the one fitting our 3rd Gen. Magna, easier to look there than in my file cabinet. I read many similar warnings referring to what you are saying. From what I can tell they do not want someone who is not use to the extra grippier pads to throw themselves over the front of the bike or loose control of their bike because of the grippier pads. I would presume most of this is a result of our societies-run to the court symptom.

Don't worry, you don't all of a sudden have super glue type brakes, it just takes less pressure to apply the brakes. It does have the feel I could possibly lock the front tire (not easily, but with ample force) where before it felt like I was about to blow a seal.

[L J VFR]

Put the new brakes on yesterday morning..  Took it for a ride, and ran it up to about 30 mph and came to stop. Done this about 6 times, enough to "smell" them getting hot.  Then continued to go on a ride for about 50 miles..  WOW!!!    Night and day difference in braking with these pads vs. stock.  I will  venture to say that I can stop at least a 1/3 quicker than I use to.  I highly recommend these pads.   EBC says there is a 150 mile break-in, so I figure that they will get even better.  Very pleased with this product..  Lance

[Magniac]

If you think the pads make that much of a difference, go ahead and install the SS brake line. You will be amazed.

[L J VFR]

That is going to be my next purchase, along with a v-4 emblem from cycle-istic from Dobie

[SilverFox]

Where is the best place to buy a stainless steel front brake line?  You guys have convinced me that I should put one one and be able to stop better. 

[TLRam1]

Dave Dodge has the SS lines....his info is somewhere on the MOOT main site, I know there is a link under the FAQ Section of this forum.

Good to hear your results Lance on the pads.

[lragan]

OK, I am convinced.  I have ordered the pads, and left a message at DDRP to order the SS brake line. 

After installing DD shims and jets, Maggie really runs.  Now I need her to stop

[L J VFR]

FYI, Lawrence.. I noticed that when I broke the caliper bolts loose, it was very hard to do.  Then I seen the red loctite on the bolts!  Just a reminder to put loctite back on.  I used blue instead of red..

[lragan]

Thanks for the tip, Lance.

[roboto65]

Question why did you take the front caliper off I know stupid ?? but the pads can be changed with the caliper on the bike one pin basically and the pads fall out may want to spread the pistons before you do it but it can be done without removal..