2012 TC Front Brake Pads OEM/Brembo

[David.]

Couldn't believe my eyes at Squires last Thursday, saw a TC RT fitted with red backed Brembo front brake pads.

I wonder if this guy is on the forum or any other members have experience of OEM v's Brembo (red) front brake pads.

[scunny1]

The red brembo pads were put in rear this week, only done 12 miles with them, but so far cannot tell any difference from originals.

[David.]

Current wear rate on disc would suggest wear limit by 60 - 70 K.

On the TC, the Haynes manual gives the following specifications.

Front brake, Disc thickness, Standard = 4.5 mm, Service limit 4.0 mm, checked as 4.3 mm at 17K miles, wear 0.2 mm = 40%, should last 42.5K miles.

Rear brake, Disc thickness, Standard = 5.0 mm, Service limit 4.5 mm, checked as 4.8 mm at 17K miles, wear 0.2 mm = 40%, should last 42.5K miles.

[David.]

Found this on BMWMOA, https://forums.bmwmoa.org/showthread.php?73577-2012-R1200RT-front-brake-pads

"My 05 RT was hard on rears, typically 7K...the fronts were within tolerances still at 50K."

[Levisp]

Just look up my notes on 2014 LC


OEM rear pads replaced at 9.5K with EBC FA209/2HH
These replaced for same EBC pads at 20K.


So both OEM and EBC are lasting about 10K.


Rear disc thickness new 5.00mm service limit is 4.50mm


Rear disc at 12K measured 4.88 mm
Rear disc at 18K measured 4.82 mm
Rear disc at 20K measured 4.80 mm


This is giving a service limit for rear disc as 50K. Wear rate between OEM and EBC is the same at 0.01mm/1000 miles.

[mcwhirtj]

Have experienced OEM v's EBC on a 2007 model, my first RT.

...
Tried some (half the price) EBC HH pads, they were useless, no initial bite or feeling, chucked them away & got some OEM ones again.
...

I have serviced brakes on countless vehicles in my life, and can say that more than any other brake pad I've used, the EBC HH's do have a "break in period".   I put them on just before a two week trip, and at the start was wishing I had time to swap in some OEM pads.  By about 500 hundred miles into the trip, I was loving them. 

I measured rotor thickness when I put the EBC pads on, and have checked a few times since then, and so far no discernible accelerated wear.  With nearly 100k miles on my bike, I am getting down towards the wear limit so an expensive rotor replacement is in my future, but still several 10k miles out, I think.

Anyway, that was my experience.  I'm going to put them on my wife's F800ST soon - the OEM brake setup on that bike is not stellar, and I'm curious to see how much of an improvement the EBC pads will make.


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[David.]

I have serviced brakes on countless vehicles in my life, and can say that more than any other brake pad I've used, the EBC HH's do have a "break in period".

From my limited experience with the front EBC pads, I would tend to agree that perhaps they needed "breaking in". As said above, I was new to BMW's at the time and seem to remember thinking that as the OEM pads had worn unevenly an not lasted long, I would try another make. Looking back, the poor wear of the OEM pads was probably down to the discs having to be changed, not the pads themselves.

On both the TC's front & rear brake pad wear has been & is acceptable. Changed F&R once in over 36K miles on the 2010 model and still on the originals at 17K on the 2012 bike.

I intend to keep the 2012 TC, will be interesting to see how long they last with my current maintenance regime.

[David.]

This is giving a service limit for rear disc as 50K.

The service limit/wear rate of the rear disc on both the TC & LC look very similar, circa 42.5K to 50K miles respectively.

Interesting that the LC is going through rear pads at twice the rate of the TC, circa 10K and +17K miles respectively.

[Levisp]

I know others have reported similar wear rates for rear pads on both GS /RT LC bikes irrespective of pad type. We all know we have linked brakes and I guess the single disc back is getting more use than than the beefed up front brakes. All I know is that the rear brake does work surprisingly well and maybe I use it more on this bike than any other bike I have owned. Maybe too much hence the wear rate.

[David.]

If searching for EBC pads, this link to EBC Direct might be helpful, https://ebcbrakesdirect.com/

[David.]

On both the TC's front & rear brake pad wear has been & is acceptable. Changed F&R once in over 36K miles on the 2010 model and still on the originals at 17K on the 2012 bike.

I intend to keep the 2012 TC, will be interesting to see how long they last with my current maintenance regime.

My 2012 RT is due a brake fluid change this year, have decided to change the front pads prior to having this done.

The pads have now done 20,000 miles, they are still serviceable but near the wear limit, will run them until the service is due at 21,500 miles.

What kind of mileage have you been getting out of the front BMW OEM pads.

[simbo]

My 2012 RT is due a brake fluid change this year, have decided to change the front pads prior to having this done.

The pads have now done 20,000 miles, they are still serviceable but near the wear limit, will run them until the service is due at 21,500 miles.

What kind of mileage have you been getting out of the front BMW OEM pads.

Changed mine from OEM to EBC at just short of 19k, they weren't worn out, but they were getting too close for my comfort.

[David.]

Changed mine from OEM to EBC at just short of 19k.

Oh no, you'll be needing new discs next.

Tried some (half the price) EBC HH pads, they were useless, no initial bite or feeling, chucked them away & got some OEM ones again.

Having tried EBC pads & not being happy with the performance of them, on this occasion, I'll be "stopping" with BMW OEM pads.

Now, if Brembo made an equivalent replacement, that might have been an alternative.

[David.]

On this occasion, I'll be "stopping" with BMW OEM pads.

Wait for it, at a cost of £108.32 for two pairs, inc. 10% discount.

[David.]

Based on the fact that new front pads only have a useable thickness of 3.35mm, I may just put them in the cupboard & run the original pads nearer to the service limit of 1.00mm.