Replacing Motorcycle Brake Pads

Removing

Allen bolts are the first thing the motorcycle technician will remove from the wheel of the motorcycle. The Allen bolts are located on the calipers on either side of the wheel. To locate the calipers, the mechanic will locate the fork on the wheel where the calipers are directly attached. The mechanic will then carefully slide the caliper off of the brake disk. The pads are removed by pulling the pads apart and sliding them out from the brake disk. The calipers and brake disk are wiped clean of dirt clog and debris with a rag. The fork, brake disk and calipers are checked for rust and wear (replace if necessary).

Inserting

When replacing motorcycle brake pads that were very worn out, the mechanic will insert a big screw driver in between the pads to push them apart. Avoid moving the front brake lever in order to prevent the caliper from clamping shut (otherwise, it would be difficult to pry the pads apart). The stock pad shims are placed on the new brake pads. All brake pads are then inserted on to the wheel. Brake pads that are less worn are more readily removed by hand.

Replacing

After the brake pads are replaced onto the wheel, the calipers are slid back into place over the brake disk. The Allen bolts that were previously taken out are re-inserted into the calipers (calipers are attached where the fork in the wheel is located). Each Allen bolt is secured with an auto mechanic's wrench (Tightening the Allen bolts by hand will not secure the motorcycle's brakes safely). The type of brake pads does not make much difference in performance. All brake pads, depending on how often the motorcycle is used, will run down within a couple of years. Standard HH brake pads are economic replacements that will last a good couple of years, and save money in the long run. The last thing for the mechanic or motorcycle owner to do is to check that all the brake pads are working properly. Take the motorcycle for a short drive, frequently testing the front and rear brakes. If the brakes do not provide enough friction, then the break pads should be removed and replaced with another fresh pair.