Went to the garage today complaining of spongy rear brakes, and thinking that after 6,000+ miles, I needed new pads.
Mechanic lifted up my bike and said that there was plenty life in my pads, but that my discs were looking thin. He also said that although my pads were looking plenty, they may have hardened up, thus not being as effective.
I am not really sure what discs should look like or why pads get harder afer some time, and I do not want to think that the garage is thinking up ways of getting some business, after all, most fair weather bikers ibernate for the winter, and take their bikes with them.
My question is: how many miles would the average biker do with a set of discs?
BTW, garage have recommended some after market stuff, as it is much better value that the Yamaha original.
If you run your hand over the surface of the disc is there a noticable raised bit arond the edge?
I’m no expert on brakes but is this a brand new bike? What sort of bike is it? 6,000 doesn’t sound a lot.
Sorry, the pads have done 6,000 miles, the discs have done probably 44,000 miles, and at least 25,000 with me, as I bought it second hand.
Well 44K on a set of discs doesn’t sound to bad…If you’re worried about getting ripped off you could seek second opinion at another garage and shop around for quotes for the work too.
you could also grab youself a copy of the workshop manual for your bike (ebay it - get it on a disk) and see what thickness the discs should be, give them a measure and see…
Spongy brakes normally mean your fluid is buggered or you have some air in the lines… try bleeding your brakes before you spend any real dosh… happy to come give you a hand if you like… Toby was quite happy with my work!
dam 44k sounds good for a set…
try not using the breaks may last longer…
Well that’s what he says, About a week after he helped me with my brakes a Rubbish truck ran my bike over…now I’m not saying there’s a connection, but the words
Matt, help, brakes, Rubbish, crushed (and) insurance
Makes me nervous… 
or is that just me being far too clever for my lager!!!
Agree with that, my bikes on 36k and the FRONT DISCS are shagged, thanks in part to being a dumb **** and using EBC pads for 18months. As the guy says run your finger over the discs and if you feel a ridge youve got wear.
My local Monkeys (‘Essex Honda’) reckon on £300 including new pads, and i’m still traumatised even though they reckon i’ve got a whole 4k/miles to save up
6k sounds ridicously low mileage to shag brake discs though, especially the rear, which you hardly ever use (mine still looks like new), I’d suspect theyre doing you over & suggest you get a second opinion. I can recommend a couple of honest workshops if you want a second opinion
I just bought a rear disc or is it disk? anyway I got it at the show from these people and it seems to be of very good quality. see attached scanned leaflet.
Attachments
It’s “Disk” well at least in English as used in this country… “Disc” is normally only used in the context of “Compact Disc”
on thread… I got a set of barely worn disks on Ebay… might be worth a shot…?
Garage suggested EBC disks which apparently are just as good as the YAmaha’s.
Any thoughts on their quality?
M8 what bike is it have a look on flee bay as ya can get some braking wave ones on there sort of cheep. I think ya should check the the disc’s for riddges and fluid first as the milage is to low for the disc’s to be bad the only time I have see that kind of ware is on a stunt bike.
Is the fluid clear, cloudy or a muddy colour
If ya need a hand and don’t mind doing it on a Sunday morn and comming over to me I can give ya a hand pm me first.