ebc pad noise/feel

[DesertDog]

Just put a set of ebc hh pads (front) on my 04 xb12r. They feel gritty and make a strange noise. Hard to describe but to me it sounds like the buzzing sound a transformer makes. Sound and grittiness increase with lever pressure. Anyone else experience this? [confused]

 

[oh9bolt]

Nope

 

[UMDterp13]

Normal, its similar to a cicada or some bugs noises.

 

[DualSportDad]

Yes and it's normal. Mine squeek and buzz like crazy. But no pulsation or brake fade and that's what really matters to me. I have to put a set on my Uly.

 

[konarider94]

http://ebcbrakes.com/articles/bedding-in-new-motorcycle-pads-and-rotors/

 

[BuellRonin]

I could hear the buzzing through my Scala G9 when I had EBC brakes. But, switched to Braking sintered brakes and it was still there, not as much, but still buzzing.

 

[DesertDog]

Thats a relief, I was worried there for a bit.

 

[anrkizm95]

Not on mine.

 

[Tbone]

I went to Harley in Dallas and bought the front and rear pads and they were sintered like the EBC pads. A lot quieter than the sintered after market pads that the PO had on there. The PO said that he did not want to put the HD pads on because they left a lot of dust on the wheels and assemblies. I have not noticed any more dust than the old ones but the pads are sure a lot quieter and smoother, they stll make a very slight ratchity type sound that I am very used to.

 

[tacklejunkie]

I just put EBC HH pads on the front of my XB12R along with a Galfer Wave rotor (yes I realize that voids the warranty of the rotor) and brand new hardware from Buell and it's pretty loud. I suspect it's because they're not fully broken into the wave rotor yet since I have about 50 miles on the new pads and rotor. It stops on a dime now though and I don't have any more brake shuddering or inconsistency at stop signs when I feather the lever. You could see build up spots on the old rotor that were likely causing this shuddering/shaking when the lever was applied. It had EBC HH pads on it before also, that were shuddering on the stock rotor. Figured I'd just replace all of it. Just bought this bike used a month ago as my 10th street motorcycle.

When you put new EBC HH pads on, you usually have to go out and do a few hard stops from 60-0 and heat the pads up and bed them in to the rotor before they start working at peak performance. The site says this and having done EBC pads on a few bikes now, my experiences show the same results.

Considering neither the caliper or the rotor are floating, You get a lot of lever feedback on this kind of breaking system because the caliper pistons have to absorb anything that isn't perfect.

 

[oh9bolt]

No, 300-400 miles before hard braking

EBC Website Explaining How To Bed In Their Brakes

 

[oh9bolt]

Im sorry 200-300 miles

 

[DesertDog]

* Update *
After a few hundred miles the pads have quieted down and are much smoother. Now I think I'll do a few hard stops on my way home and see if they bite any better. Thanks for that link to the ebc website

 

[UMDterp13]

Ztl2 if you want bite...

 

[tacklejunkie]

It also explains being able to use them on the track while breaking them in. 2-3 laps equates to how many miles before you can begin increasing brake pressure? Surely not 200-300. I've known many track riders who've told me you can just go break them in with a few 60-10mph stops or so to get them working well enough to use the same day in races. Just what I've always done. YMMV
I think the point is to just prevent glazing.

 

[tacklejunkie]

Pics of new EBC HH on new Galfer rotor
They still need a bit more breaking in near the edges of the disk but already stop very well and get less noisy daily.

 

[tacklejunkie]

After a bit more testing..
The guy who said it sounds like a cicada hit the nail on the head. Exactly like an elusive little buzzing cicada on a hot summer day!