2018 Rear brake pads @ 17,000 mi.

[Nashcat]

Well, the Wing is 3 years old, with over 17,000 miles, so I thought I’d check the rear brake pads and service the caliper. You can drop the pads out in 5 minutes, with 1 locating pin, but supposedly it’s a little difficult to get them inserted correctly, so I decided to pull the caliper to clean and lubricate everything. Unfortunately, the caliper can’t be removed without pulling the rear wheel, but it gives you a great chance to really clean the rim, while it’s out. Two screws will drop the caliper, and two smaller screws will remove the brake hose clamp, if you need more room.

I pulled the pads and was surprised by the lack of wear on the pads, so the new set will remain in the box. I cleaned the pistons and cleaned and greased the sliding pins and reassembled everything. It took a couple of hours of easy work, the hardest part being wrestling my alternative tire into place. I’ll probably pull the fronts today and check them, since I have a trip coming up soon.

Here’s a pic of the old pads and a picture of the Centramatics balancer, for those who’ve never seen one.

John

 

[jfheath]

Those pads seem to be hardly used. Do the GWs have an SMC ? I assume that they do. Is it actually applying the rear brake when you use the front brakes?

 

[Nashcat]

Do the GWs have an SMC ?

The 2018 and newer Wings don’t have a SMC, but they do have linked braked, achevied by valving

 

[David Fyffe]

How do you fit an automotive balancer to a motorcycle?

 

[ReSTored]

I know just about nothing re the new GW, but those pads look like they're virtually new. I'd be curious to see the front ones and the % wear on them vs. new pads. Are you spending most of your time on the highway?

 

[Andrew Shadow]

How do you fit an automotive balancer to a motorcycle?

They manufacture motorcycle specific balancers- Centramatic Motorcycle Balancers

 

[jfheath]

..... but they do have linked braked, achevied by valving

I guess that it only operates when the bike thinks it is absolutely necessary. I know nowt about Goldwings.
Still, brake pads are expensive ....

 

[Nashcat]

Well, I pulled the front pads today and found that they are worn, much more than the rears. The inner pad on each caliper had more wear than the outside pad, I believe because the inner pads are the ones actuated from the rear pedal. I’m not sure about that, but I read it on the internet, so it has to be true. The front calipers don’t have slider pins, like the older Wings. The fronts, each have 3 pistons on each side of the disk. So, a total of 6 pistons for the front.

I didn’t replace the fronts today, but will wait until after my trip to RanchSToc.

Are you spending most of your time on the highway?

I don’t spend a lot of time on interstate highways, but sometimes I’m accused of driving like a blue-haired old lady. I’d say that I’m easier on the brakes than most riders.

John

 

[Kevcules]

They manufacture motorcycle specific balancers- Centramatic Motorcycle Balancers

Very interesting. I wonder if they house the beads like counteract or dyna beads, inside the plate? Anyone have personal experience with these? I didn't see any options for the ST on their site.

 

[Andrew Shadow]

Very interesting. I wonder if they house the beads like counteract or dyna beads, inside the plate? Anyone have personal experience with these? I didn't see any options for the ST on their site.

Nashcat, the OP, who mentioned Centramatic in the first post of this thread, has been using this balancing method for at a few years if I remember correctly.

 

[ST Gui]

Here’s a pic of the old pads

Any reason they didn't go right back in – besides "cheap insurance"? Those look like they've been "weared" but not worn!

 

[Nashcat]

Very interesting. I wonder if they house the beads like counteract or dyna beads, inside the plate? Anyone have personal experience with these? I didn't see any options for the ST on their site.

If you look closely at the picture of the Centramatics, you’ll see a 5/8” tube, running around the perimeter of the disc. Inside the tube are metal beads. The plate is thin stainless, probably .050” thick. The balancer slips over the wheel studs on the hub, before the wheel goes on.

The front balancer mounts just inside the right front brake disc, using the disc mounting screws.

Any reason they didn't go right back in – besides "cheap insurance"? Those look like they've been "weared" but not worn!

They did go right back in. Normally, I’d go the “cheap insurance” route, but since the rears looked nearly new, I decided to run them a while longer.

When I pulled the front caliper, to inspect the pads, the pads were “almost” worn out. I decided to wait until after Ranchstoc to clean the calipers and replace the fronts, since that trip will involve mostly highway miles. After the trip, I’ll pull the fronts to clean the pistons and replace the pads and will post pictures of those pads.

Nashcat, the OP, who mentioned Centramatic in the first post of this thread, has been using this balancing method for at a few years if I remember correctly.

When I bought my ‘08 Wing in 2014, it came with Centramatics. When I bought the 2018 Wing, I bought new Centramatics at the first tire change.

John