Best / Quietest Rear Brake Shoes for '82 GS450T?

[Guest]

I made the mistake of adjusting the chain on my old 450 last Fall, and now the rear shoes shriek like a banshee when I apply the rear brake. I'm guessing that since the bike has only 6k miles on it, the shoes are probably the originals and need to be replaced anyway. Do I need to worry about new aftermarket (especially Chinese, from Ebay) shoes being noisy? I want to balance cost with quality here. Can anyone point me to a good set of rear shoes, and anything special I need to know (aside from asbestos issues) about replacing them? If NOS is the way to go I will, but I suspect that not all the original parts are necessarily the best...

[Leftie]

Ok, let's try this question: there are two drum sizes used for my bike, according to various sources. 160mm and 130mm. Which of these corresponds to a brake plate diameter of about 8" or 203mm? I can get NOS Suzuki shoes, but I don't want to find I've gotten the wrong ones. I also don't want to have to take the wheel off and apart before I even order shoes...

[smartin108]

Just a suggestion, but taking the rear wheel off takes maybe 10 minutes. Take your old shoes into the dealer to match them up.

[Leftie]

Just a suggestion, but taking the rear wheel off takes maybe 10 minutes. Take your old shoes into the dealer to match them up.

The dealer is very unlikely to have these parts in stock, so I might as well pull the wheel and order them online as wait a week for an overpriced dealer part. The issue is that I don't want to leave it apart. There is going to be asbestos dust in there, and I want to deal with it and get it buttoned back up in one session. So no one knows which shoe size an 8" brake mounting plate equates to?

[cowboyup3371]

I'm not sure how adjusting the chain is a mistake if it was needed but the fiche for your bike says the part number for new shoes would be:

SHOE, BRAKE 64400-11870 which Parts Outlaw is selling for $76.39

Keep in mind that all dealers, both local and online (which are local to someone else), must order from Suzuki's warehouses so it will take up to 2 weeks to get the parts.

[Gorminrider]

I'm still using my original brake shoes. They are fine. I don't immediately see the connection between adjusting chain and squeaking brakes EXCEPT THAT YOU NEED READJUST AT BRAKE ARM
opinion only but unless you know you need new ones by taking the wheel off , Look elsewhere rather than "Buy New Parts" to cure "squeaky brake shoes" .
One thing that works is adjust em and ride 'em a bit.

[AshesOfAnother]

Take it apart and inspect the lining and drum. They will tell you what's going on. Then order accordingly. If you throw new shoes in and have a glazed drum, they will just start squeaking again.

[Leftie]

I'm not sure how adjusting the chain is a mistake if it was needed but the fiche for your bike says the part number for new shoes would be:

SHOE, BRAKE 64400-11870 which Parts Outlaw is selling for $76.39

Keep in mind that all dealers, both local and online (which are local to someone else), must order from Suzuki's warehouses so it will take up to 2 weeks to get the parts.

Thanks for the fiche part number! There was just one? If I can get OEM shoes I'll do that before I pull the wheel, although at $76 I'll think twice. I was looking at OEM shoes for half that on Ebay, but the part number isn't a match.

I was semi-joking when I mentioned adjusting the chain. The brakes were quiet before that, but the axle nut was VERY tight. I don't think the drum is glazed because they were quiet, and didn't drag after the adjustment (although I didn't readjust the arm), so that, along with the marginal reading of the wear indicator and the mileage on the bike (6k miles) makes me think I'm looking at worn original shoes. Man, nothing is easy when working on old vehicles...or new ones.