Earlier this afternoon I had to run some errands, so i decided to use my bike. I got out, got on the bike and noticed a rusty bit of metal on the ground next to it. First I thought it was just a random piece of junk, but then I look closer and it looks awfully suspicious.







Turns out my front brake pad separated and fell out of the caliper! And just yesterday i was riding on the highway, came home and parked in my driveway, only for the brake pad to fall out apparently overnight. If it happened on the road, it could've ended real badly.

 

Damn. Glad you caught that, I don't have a bike since I would die. I can't control myself on one to be honest so I just don't go near them lol!

As far as cars go I check before moving them by standing on the brakes if they are older to make sure a line won't blow on a test drive. Not so much on my own cars since I know them

 

The brake pad is only about 1.5 years old, so that's kind of disconcerting.

 

You still had the rear brake, didn't you? I'm not a bike expert, but from what little I do know about riding them, it's probably better to lose the front brake than the rear one, because having only the rear brake will keep the bike more stable than having only the front. which can make the back end come around. And, even with part of the front-pad gone, you still might have partial-use of the front brake.

 

Boy are you wrong. It’s waaayyyy better to lose a rear brake than a front one on a motorcycle. And you risk locking the brakes trying to use them with a broken and missing chunk of the pad.

 

I won't necessarily disagree. If that's the case, then disregard my earlier comment. I know very little about modern bikes.....that's also why I put my comment into somewhat of a question-form. I did some riding on low-powered bikes in my youth, long ago, but never really had much interest in them. What riding-instructions I got said to be much more careful with the rear brake than in front. I saw a number of people really hurt bad on bikes (including a police officer)....so I developed both a respect and fear of them.

 

Pardon me- the front brakes on motorcycles supply nearly 70% of braking, and rear only would cause total loss of control once a skid begins, frequently resulting in low siding and becoming a unguided missile with or without the rider.

 

Not exactly sure how this relates to what I said? I am aware that most of the braking force comes from the front

 

I think rabana should have quoted mmarshall's post, not Striker223's, but it's a valid point, front brakes do most of the braking.

 

Thank you bikahuna you are correct- apologies to mmarshall.

Also to striker223

 

The front brake is a lot more important on a motorcycle. I would probably still be fine with the rear brake, but the perspective of losing front the brake on the highway is scary. I researched this, and it seems like this problem occurs quite a bit, on both cars and motorcycles - the brake pad material separates from the backing plate and falls out.

 

That's crazy. Isn't the pad material riveted to the backing plate usually?

 

No, they are basically glued together.

 

apologies should go to Striker223 who you misquoted. anyway, all good. Your post was spot on anyway. And welcome, i see you've been here since the spring, but first post of yours i've seen.

 

What kind of bike? Original or aftermarket brakes? If this happened to me, I would seriously consider switching brands (bike and/or brake parts).

Front brakes are far more crucial on any motor vehicle. But, I get M&M's point of not wanting to lock up the front wheel during a panic stop with metal-on-metal brakes. As riders, we modulate the front/rear braking ratios, and in a panic stop, I wouldn't want to lock up either wheel! On a motorcycle, your life depends on everything working correctly...the rider and the bike!