Help me please. Kerry? I know you have the answers.

[TOMIMOTO]

Well guys my birthday is today and I am now 19. Yay for me!

My dad is going to get me some progressive springs and nice new strong brake pads for my F. I'm going to get the part number 377-1128 springs from Chaparral. Will these work on my '04? Also what brake pads will work? We were looking at some from Chaparral but I'm not sure if they'll work with my 04. We're going to get new front and rear. Again there listed for up to '03 but will they work with my '04? If they work we're going to get the "best double H". One more question about the springs. What kind of oil should we use with the progressives. I think I saw someone uses 20W in the forks with them. Also with the progressives can we use fork spacers. My dad has some old fork spacers he used to use on his old Suzuki dirtbikes which had basically the same forks as the GS does.


Here's a link to the pads. http://www.chaparral-racing.com/Chaparral/dept.asp?dept%5Fid=1686&gift=False&0=dept%2Easp%2Cdept%5Fid%3D1677%26menu%5Fid%3D%26Tree%3D%2CStreet%20Brake%20Pads&1=dept%2Easp%2Cdept%5Fid%3D1678%26menu%5Fid%3D%26Tree%3D0%2CEBC%20Street%20Brake%20Pads&mscssid=C0F8A70DDDFD4C159E7D8873C5EA6B23

[scratch]

Happy Birthday!

The EBC HH pads will be great.

Fork oil: It depends on your weight and how you want the bike to feel. Stock is 10w. Fork oil controls both compression damping ('spring helper') and rebound dampening (how fast it returns after a bump to keep contact with the road (traction)).

You can use spacers, and Progressive suggests 3/4" spacers. But, set your suspension sag (30-33% of total travel (4.7") or about 1.5" (rider sag(rider on bike))).

[TOMIMOTO]

I weigh 130 but my dad weighs about 180. I don't really have a problem with the sloppy front end but a little more perfomance won't hurt. It has only bottomed out on me when I went over train tracks. My dad says it really dips hard when he puts on the brakes.

So the pads and springs will work well on an 04 even though they say there for the 03?

Also will having new pads in the back get rid of that rediculous rear brake squeel. It just doesn't go away and its so embarassing pulling up to a red light to hear "screeeeech" all the way to stop. I use both brakes when stopping but the embarassing sound usually limits me to the front. I even brought it to my dealer to have it fixed. The guy there was a brake expert. He took the whole brake assembly apart. He lubed some stuff up and even grinded away at something. The squeeking got quieter for about a day then it was right back to doing it.

Also about how much more stopping power will I get from these pads. My dad said he used to use them on his dirtbikes all the time and they were awesome.

[gsJack]

EBC lists the same pads for all 96-05 GS500/E/F models.  The HH sintered pads will give you more bite and less fade for the front.  I've had a bit of brake fade in the mountains with the standard organic EBC brake pads.  Still using the organic pads myself, nice feel and excellent braking 99% of the time.

I've found the EBC organic pads to be the best of any I ever tried for eliminating or at least minimizing brake squeal.  Had that same nasty rear brake squeal you mention on my 97 when it was new.  Cured it with the EBC organic with Kevlar also refered to commonly as EBC Black pads.

http://www.ebcbrakes.com/Assets/ebc2005ukmccat.pdf

Really don't think you'll want more bite on the rear pads unless you are quite expert with the rear brake already,  real easy to lock the rear and go down doing it.  GS500 rear brake is very good as is.

[TOMIMOTO]

Nice. I want my brakes to bite hard. I always lock up the rear and skid for the fun of it. Not the best for the tire but its good learning. Also thats great that it cuts out brake squeal.

Thats good to know that they will work with my 04. I'll be getting the HH pads. I'll let you all know how they are when I get them and install them.

[JCH]

I always lock up the rear and skid for the fun of it.

[scratch]

I weigh 130 but my dad weighs about 180. I don't really have a problem with the sloppy front end but a little more perfomance won't hurt. It has only bottomed out on me when I went over train tracks. My dad says it really dips hard when he puts on the brakes.

I weigh 130, as well, and am running the Progressives with 1/8" thick washers for preload, and 10w Bel-Ray fork oil. Of course, mine's a '94 and doesn't have the fairing.

http://gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=15889&highlight=

I will be removing one washer out of each leg to smooth out the bumps.