How to install new brake pads?

[jwyler]

Can someone provide instructions for how to replace the brake pads, front and rear?  I imagine I can figure it out on my own tinkering a bit, but it'd be a big help to have some advice on that.  Thanks, --Jon

[Kerry]

Although they were taken for a slightly different purpose, the pictures in this post should help you change your front pads.

Are you sure they need replacing?  You may get lucky, and find that the current pads still have plenty of material left.  (If you can still see grooves in the surface of the pads, they will last a while longer.)

If the new pads are significantly thicker thanthe old ones, then you will probably need to retract the caliper pistons a bit before installing the new pads.  The last picture in the set referenced above shows one man's method of doing that.

As for the rear brakes, I haven't messed with them in a long time.  The best route is to spring for a repair manual.  It will walk you through so many procedures that you will probaby save loads of time and money the first time you use it.

PS - The front caliper changed for the 1996 model year, and possibly again for the 2001+ models.  The pictures are good for a 1996-2000 model bike.

[jwyler]

Mine's a 1990.  Hopefully the info will still be relevant.

Looking at the edges of the pads without removing them, it appears they are cracked, which is why I assumed they need replacing.

[Kerry]

I'm not sure what you mean by "cracked", but you may be seeing the grooves that are cut into the pads when they're manufactured.  I think they help in heat dissipation and maybe clearing out brake dust, but they're also there to give you an indication of how much good brake pad material is left.  When the grooves are gone, it's time for new pads.

Having said all that, I should again mention that the front brakes on '89-'95 models are different than on '96-'00 models.  Here is what the Haynes manual shows, as far as the "wear indicators" for the different years.  I'm not sure exactly how to interpret the diagram for the rear brakes (same for all model years).





EDIT: Changed links from sisna.com to bbburma.net

[Richard UK]

The rear brake pads are held by two retaining pins.  It's common for these to sieze solid in the brake caliper housing, due to the pins being steel and the caliper body being made of alloy.  

This can make pad changing very trying.  If this happens to you, use a drop of oil where the pins pass through the caliper body, some self locking pliers to wriggle them with, and LOTS of patience.  They will eventually come out.

To avoid this problem in the first place, pull the pins out once a year and smear them with a little copper-based grease before re-installing them.