I have a 2011 FLHR with 7800 miles on it. The rear brakes are squeling a little. I looked at the pads. They seem thin but my buddy just bought the same bike 2 months ago & mine look just like his. There is about 1/8" pad left on them. Never noticed how thick they were when I took it off the showroom but like I said, they look just like my buddys. Any suggestions?

 

Go to the stealer and check out the thickness of a set of new pads you should be able to tell from that.

 

They are an easy fix. Do not push them back when you pull the pads. Then shoe shine the pistons with a cloth strip and push them back in and install the pads. If you nurse them for ever bit of pad I believe you have more of a chance for a sticking piston. I have use 4 set at 40K. Think soft and abrasive. Stops good and does not chatter. To answer your question I think they start at 1/4 and 1/32 is minimum. Yours are probably a little more then 1/2 worn out. VA state inspector would give you dirty looks a 1/16 since he knows you will not be back for a year.

 

Changed mine at 20k , still had plenty of pad left! The only reason I changed them is because I came down a very steep and curvy pig path that was better suited for a dual sport and got the brakes and fluid really hot! Replaced them with Lyndall Gold and flushed out all the old fluid!

 

Just replaced tires on my UC with 18K miles. Rear brakes were not wore close to 50%. Look at a new set of pads and use a Dial Caliper to measure the new ones, then measure yours and do the math. The new pads a pretty thin. Try removing your pads a applying some "Disc Brake Quiet" (auto parts store) to the metal backing plate of the pads. that should take care of the noise.

 

Hose them down with brake cleaner before trying the more exotic fixes. Sometimes they are just contaminated with crud.

 

Have 56k miles on mine rear rotor gone bad a while back but HD changed everything under ESP $50 charge otherwise haven't changed em yet.It is very individual thing when comes to the brakes of any vehicle.

 

You CAN'T get fluid that hot on a rear brake system, (I hope!) And what happened to the pads to cause you to change them after one run down a 'pig' path? Weren't they working anymore?

 

I agree, I tend to allow motor to slow bike down. I also operate my bike like I would a lathe. Slow and calculated. I usually get way more mileage out of tires and brakes because of how I ride.

I have 32k miles on my bike and haven't replaced the brakes.

Very much an individual thing.

 

It depends on your braking technique. I taught the MSF course for years. Most riders do not realize that 80 percent of their braking power comes from the front brakes. New riders tend to use their rear brake a lot more. It is intended to assist the front brakes in stopping the bike. I only really use the rear brake for trail braking when riding hard (and that ain't often)...