A quickie on ceramic brake pads for GS1100G

[Steve]

I think the differences in braking performance during the GS-series production came from larger-diameter disks giving better leverage and more disks giving, well, more.

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[Paul_IOFJS]

I work at an auto parts store. And I say about 80% of the brake pads I sell are ceramic pads. I sell dozens of pads a day. Most of the new cars require these pads or there supplied as OEM from the factory. Most of the newer part numbers are only made in a ceramic pad. I say the other 15% I sell are semi-metallic and then the 5% organic pads. Those are geared towards the older cars.

I'd say that jives prety well with my experiance in the parts store where I work. Overall, the ceramic is just a much better brake material.

Paul

[Colin Green]

Sorry guys. I'm an idiot.. I got distracted and missed the close of the auction. I have asked the seller to make me an offer so all is not lost yet. Though they are rear pads so the feedback is not so likely to reveal much.

Thanks for all your input.

[first timer]

what brand were they can't you just order some new ones from the manufacturer?

[Billy Ricks]

Looking at the Dennis Kirk website, it appears that EBC also offers Kevlar brake pads that fit most GS models.

Anybody ever tried those?

I used them years ago before I started modding my bike. That's probably been 15 years though. My bike always stopped well so I guess they must have worked pretty good. Sorry I can't give anymore input than that.

[four_shot]

I'd say that jives prety well with my experiance in the parts store where I work. Overall, the ceramic is just a much better brake material.

Paul

X3

I install brakes on a regular basis (I work at a major franchise) as well as sell them (at a different parts store).

I run ceramic upgrades on my 96 cavalier and the decrease in brake fade was noticable.

(and I flog that car)

[Colin Green]

Acquisition update

I managed to buy a set of rear pads




Should have them installed (along with new braided - front - lines) some time between xmas & new year. I will make a unsanctioned ride to bed & test and will let you know first impressions.

A merry Christmas & Happy New Year to all

[chef1366]

Happy holidays to you too.

[Flaggo60]

I think I'm more concerned about the wear and tear on the rotors. Staying with the original types of the aftermarket standard (whatever that is) still presents a pretty good stopping system.

Rotors are more difficult to source than pads and are the most expensive by far if you can't find a decent used set. That situation will only get worse as the years pass and used rotors get scarcer. I was fortunate recently and found a good used set of three on EBay for a very low price, so I'm set to go for a while yet. The originals were down to minimum spec after 47,000 miles, and buying new would have been in the range of $150 x 3.

[highmileage]

How ironic to find this thread today.

While replacing the water pump and timing belts on a Mitsubishi-built Dodge Ram 50,I snapped a water pump bolt, so I stopped into an Autozone to get another waterpump gasket (I was amazed that they had one there in stock for $2).

While there I asked him about front brake pads for this widdle teeny twuck. He looked it up and said that he had some house brand standard organic ones in stock for $19 or so and that he also had a listing for Raybestos ceramic pads for it for $9. But he'd have to order them.

Just because Raybestos is a well known and very old name in braking components, I was most curious. But not being at all familiar w/ ceramic pads, I just said 'Huh' and left, deciding that I needed to learn more about them.

And once again, all I had to do was look at GSR and tap the incredible knowledge base here to learn everything that I needed to know on the subject...

[highmileage]

I think I'm more concerned about the wear and tear on the rotors. Staying with the original types of the aftermarket standard (whatever that is) still presents a pretty good stopping system.

Rotors are more difficult to source than pads and are the most expensive by far if you can't find a decent used set. That situation will only get worse as the years pass and used rotors get scarcer. I was fortunate recently and found a good used set of three on EBay for a very low price, so I'm set to go for a while yet. The originals were down to minimum spec after 47,000 miles, and buying new would have been in the range of $150 x 3.

I suspect that Chinese-made aftermarket ones will be available soon for a fraction of the price. That's what I found w/ brake drums for the truck above - instead of $99 ea they were $23!