Best replacement pads for R1150R ABS?

[duckdave]

What are the best pads to use to replace those on an 2004 R1150R ABS? I've seen recommendations for OEM, Carbone Lorraine and EBC. What do you recommend, and where's the best place to get them?

If BMW brakes are the best, where's the best place to get them (I think Chicago BMW is no longer offering discount parts, IIRC)?

[omg1010]

Brembo, Carbone Lorraine or EBC are the best and cheaper than OEM. The difference between these 3 is not noticeable if you are not frequently on the racetrack.

Brgds
Oliver

[Ol' Jeffers]

The calipers are made by Brembo so that's what I use.

[fpgirard]

I've read that you have to trim/file the EBC pad edges to fit. I'm getting to a point where I too need to look at pads.

[Sunbeemer]

I replaced the pads on my front calipers a couple years ago with EBC's without any modifications. They've been working fine, although I think they're slightly noisier than the OEM's, and only about half as thick, but seem to be lasting well.

[fpgirard]

Here's where I read it: http://www.ibmwr.org/r-tech/oilheads/R1 ... -25-02.pdf - page 26. Glad to see that this might not be the case any longer as SB describes.

[Dr. Strangelove]

+1 on EBC, but mine are not noisey as I can tell. I bought the ones that don't leave powder, sintered?

[Sunbeemer]

Correct Doc - Sintered ones for front brakes = EBC # FA294HH (two sets).
Organic for the rear = EBC #FA363 (1 set), and the IBMWR Manual fpgirard links us to (thanks for that ) says you may need to grind a little off one of them to match the OEM pads' shape. Didn't know that since I haven't had to replace mine.

[duckdave]

Gee I thought this topic would be a hot one like oil and get tons of conflicting responses. Just got a few responses, but when combined with a couple evenings perusing the web, a pattern emerges. First up, a summary of our findings here:
Manufacturer/Number of recommendations

• Brembo/2
  EBC/3
  Carbone Lorraine/1

Notes:

• 1 person liked CL, EBC (and Brembo) equally well.
  Another said "Brembo", cause that's who made the calipers
  2 others liked EBC (one said they were noisy, the other said not)
  No one liked the OEM.

What I found out elsewhere:

• My "local" dealer (3 hr away) pushes EBC. If I bought there (and got my MOA discount, but paid tax and shipping) it would cost about $110. Or I could ride up there and pick 'em up (cost about $40 gas)
  Many BMW dealers sell EBC.
  Beemerboneyard mostly pushes Carbone Lorraine, but they carry EBC for the front brakes (Mike said many people insist on the double H rating the EBCs have). Cost from BBY about $101. Cost of CLs for front and rear about $90.
  Cost of Original Equipment Manufactured—about $265 + shipping. I guess no one offers a discount on BMW parts anymore now that Chicago BMW died.

Cost of EBC from Amazon (Amazon? Yeah, I know...who would even think to look there. Thanks, Google!):

• FA294HH (sintered) $28.17, need two sets for Front so $56.34. FA363 ("organic") for Rear, $28.66. I have Amazon Prime so 2-day delivery to my door is free. No tax. Total $85.

(I know, I had to pay for that Prime, so shipping's not really "free". But it made sense to buy it back when we were preparing for a wedding. It paid for itself there a couple of times. It paid for itself (again) when I ordered large metal running rails for my pickup truck. And it will make me smile when I get my brakes in 2 days)

[fpgirard]

Interesting! I just went to Amazon and found "Prime" but they want 33.42 - http://tinyurl.com/cuknjfg

Duckdave, how did you find the lower price?

Also, how many miles do you have on your bike?

Pascal

[duckdave]

I donno, they must have just raised the prices. I just purchased them this evening!

I have just under 39,000 miles on my RR.

I'm gonna check my email from Amazon to make sure I reported my prices right.

[duckdave]

This is cut-n-pasted from my email "receipt" from Amazon:

Delivery estimate: Mar. 9, 2013
2 "EBC Brakes FA294HH Disc Brake Pad Set"
Automotive; $28.17
In Stock
   Sold by: Amazon.com LLC

 
Delivery estimate: Mar. 8, 2013
1 "EBC Brakes FA363 Non-Asbestos Organic Disc Brake Pad"
Automotive; $28.66
In Stock
   Sold by: Amazon.com LLC

[duckdave]

Sorry for the multiple posts. Tried to edit previous post to add, but this forum is wonky with iPads. I often get frustrated and just give up.

Was going to add: I guess Amazon's computers detected an uptick in demand for those brake pads based on my order and immediately adjusted the price upward in response. Kinda makes it hard to rely on price recommendations, doesn't it. I'd email/call (can you do that?) and ask for the "old" price. Yeah, right...that will prolly work.

[riceburner]

I've found that the EBCs are thinner than OE, and so, logically, don't last as long.

Whether they last half the time of the twice the price OE pads I'm not sure (I didn't do exhaustive testing), but tbh, I've always preferred the "feel" of the OE pads.


Remember also that thinner pads will mean that your brake pistons and seals will be marginally more exposed for the (albeit shorter) life of the pads and you may find the weather seals pop out a little earlier.

[duckdave]

I've found that the EBCs are thinner than OE, and so, logically, don't last as long.

Whether they last half the time of the twice the price OE pads I'm not sure (I didn't do exhaustive testing), but tbh, I've always preferred the "feel" of the OE pads.

Remember also that thinner pads will mean that your brake pistons and seals will be marginally more exposed for the (albeit shorter) life of the pads and you may find the weather seals pop out a little earlier.

OEM are over 3x the price. Of course with Amazon being so quick to raise prices, that margin is decreasing. I originally wanted to justify OEM, but could not find anyone (even the dealers) who would stand up to be counted in their favor.

So, we shall see. Thanks, riceburner.

[duckdave]

Well, the pads arrived a few days ago. They are surprisingly thin. The front pad part (not including the metal backing) is about 4 mm thick; the rear pad is about 5 mm thick. I bought them to change out before a trip in May, so it may (NPI) be a little while before I install them.


Two sets of FA294HH for Front; 1 set FA363 for Rear.

[duckdave]

I am proud to report that I replaced the rear brakes Sunday evening and rode to work today without incident. I braked hard every couple hundred yards on my rear brakes to "bed them in" and within a few such, they even started to work admirably.

So encouraged, I replaced the front brakes this evening. Tomorrow will tell of the wisdom of such folly. But the job went without incident and I did not even remove the calipers from the bike, rather just R & R'd the brake pads in situ. Easy-sleazy. I had removed the pads a couple of months ago and cleaned up all the stuff using Brake Cleaner, etc., at that time, so "clean up" was minimal at this point.

My departure point tomorrow morning is a 10-yd, 30 degree launch pad into suburban-living traffic. My only concern is stopping at the top of the drive way, after that I think I will have ample time to "bed in" the new front pads.

So far (rear brakes only) I'm happy with the results. My dealer is 3.5 hours away, so I don't have time to commit a day to having my brake pads changed. OTOH, my brake pads were not in eminent need of change vs. failure (I probably had thousands of miles in reserve). But I'll feel better leaving on my trip next week (2K+) knowing I won't need service before getting home. I'll especially feel better if I make it out of my driveway and to work (6 miles) with brakes tomorrow morning.

[duckdave]

Launch pad departure this morning was A-OK. No problems at all with brakes, no squealing, no chatter. Happy camper. I like the EBC brakes so far: price, ease of installation, performance (although limited testing they seem fine if not better). Only thing left on my list is duration of use—I'll try to remember to post back here about that in a few years...

[fpgirard]

Brake status? I'm about to do the same for my bike now.

Pascal

[ekyang]

Pix of the Carbone Lorraine (now just called CL) front brakes for an '04 R1150R:


Didn't know the brakes were made in France - must be the close proximity to the Alps that causes them to have such good brakes..it's the same for the Swisstop road bicycle brakes like the ones I use on my Specialized Roubaix road bicycle.