David. wrote:
The BMW OEM front brake pads on a 2012 TC are listed as Sintered Metal, part no. 34118534183 & cost £58.70 per pair x 2 = £117.40.
Brembo offer 4 types of compounds & suggest Road - SA, product code 07BB26.SA.
The Brembo pads don't come with the backing plate, is this a problem?
Has anyone use these pads, how do you know which Brembo compound best matches the BMW OEM pads?
You don't. But the theory goes if it's made by the same people at half the price it must be OK. Have a look at the cost of replacing the discs though. Then again these are probably available from China at a fraction of the cost.
Aren't the backing plates just 'anti squeal shims' to stop the brakes squealing? I find a smear of copper slip on the back of the pads works equally well, As for compound, 'road use' should be fine , they probably do a harder one for race purposes? Has anyone ever wore a disc out under normal riding conditions?
"SA – The Sintered Road Pad
These Sintered road pads are Brembo's most popular aftermarket pads. The new SA(front) and SP(rear) sintered compounds are excellent for the latest generation sports bikes. Manufactured through a particular production process, these brake pads have a high friction coefficient, excellent initial bite and are superb in both wet and dry weather for fast road use. These are an excellent alternative to Original Equipment pads!"
You don't. But the theory goes if it's made by the same people at half the price it must be OK. Have a look at the cost of replacing the discs though. Then again these are probably available from China at a fraction of the cost.
No. The disc are probably half the price from Brembo. I would never advise anyone to buy cheap copies from China.
Levisp wrote:
No. The disc are probably half the price from Brembo. I would never advise anyone to buy cheap copies from China.
Like the pads, would they be identical, nobody knows. Use the correct pads and it probably doesn't matter.
I think if you believe BMW just pick parts off the shelf to produce their bikes they are definitely not worth what we pay for them.
"Last time I changed the Front Pads on our 1200RT I searched high and wide for the same pads as BMW supply but at a cheaper price and it seems that they are not available. The BMW supplied pads have the bonded "heat" ? shim on the backplate. As far as I am aware these are un-available from other sources. Maybe someone has managed to locate a supplier, if so I would be interested. In the end I ordered Brembo pads described as O.E.M. parts form either Motobins or Motorworks (can't remember which) and they where nothing like the BMW pads. The backplates are bright Red and they don't have the bonded shim mentioned above."
I rest my case. With things like pads it's easy to see what's not the same. With the likes of filters oil or air it's not. But we know they are different by the price. Also the mark up on BMW parts is consistently lower than it is on pattern parts. And that's the reason pattern parts are available.
David you said the Brembo pads you bought were nothing like the BMW pads. Do you mean in look or in actual use i.e. feel, wear rate or braking efficiency.
Ok thanks. Will have to find out myself when the time comes. However as I'm light on brakes could be a long time. My bike done nearly 24K and the pads look hardly touched on the front. Different story on the back.