Rear Brakes Question

[Mike P]

New 2013 super tenere owner. Heard a grinding sound while spinning rear wheel. Checked brakes and found the inner pad was put on backwards. It was grinding on the rotor. The pad itself is almost new. The rotor has a slight indentation from the metal grinding on it. The shim caliper is missing on that same inner pad. I put on the pad correctly and and was wondering if the caliper is an essential part of the system. Also wondering if it is safe to drive until I replace the rotor and get the new shim caliper which I just ordered from partzilla. Thanks in advance for any insight!

 

[OldRider]

The 100% correct answer is to replace the disc and install the caliper shim,,,,,,,,but in the real world the shim is there to maybe cut down on vibration and noise from the brake pads and even if the disc isn't perfect, the pads will seat to it and your brakes will work just fine. I would ride it.

 

[Mike P]

Thanks for taking the time to respond! I rode it today and it felt normal. I’ll keep on riding and will eventually replace it all.

 

[Sierra1]

How in the f*** does a person put a pad in backwards? I've done some stupid stuff, but . . . . the pad . . . . backwards?

 

[Don in Lodi]

Saw it on a car once or twice in twenty-five years of wrenching, heard of it a couple times on bikes. Total brain fart is all I've been able to figure.

 

[Tenman]

How in the f*** does a person put a pad in backwards? I've done some stupid stuff, but . . . . the pad . . . . backwards?

drinking

 

[Mike P]

How in the f*** does a person put a pad in backwards? I've done some stupid stuff, but . . . . the pad . . . . backwards?

Don’t want to sound condescending due to my limited capability and knowledge on the mechanical side of the spectrum, but even in my limited experience I am certain that I would have replaced the brakes correctly! The fellow I bought the bike from, seemed nice and therefore, I’m not going to throw hIm under the bus, nor am I going to criticize or make fun of him. I was surprised to see that as well! still trying to find my way around the forum! Thanks!

 

[Sierra1]

. . . . but even in my limited experience I am certain that I would have replaced the brakes correctly! . . . .

Yes, there are common mistakes that are understandable. And I made at least my share of them. But, I've done a lot of brakes on a multitude of vehicles. Puting the pads in backwards seems impossible. The weirdest was the back brakes on an '87 Rx-7. The pistons had to be screwed/turned out. But, the pads still went in the same ol' way.

 

[Sierra1]

drinking

If that was the case, I'm guessing at least a .18bac.

 

[whisperquiet]

If that was the case, I'm guessing at least a .18bac.

That would put you right near the average BAC for an arrested Illinois DUI driver.

 

[Sierra1]

Yup, .15 is pretty jacked up. To put a pad in backwards, you have to be very jacked up.

 

[OldRider]

I can see where someone not paying enough attention could pick a pad up and get it turned around wrong putting it. One pad faces one way and the other pad faces the opposite way. But they should have caught the mistake when doing the final look to make sure everything is together correctly. I change a lot of tires and brakes and sometimes I'll go back and make a final inspection 2-3 times. Same thing goes for hooking up a trailer. No telling how many times I've started to put the truck in gear and I got out and checked the trailer hookup one more time.

 

[Sierra1]

Measure twice, cut once. (or measure once, cuss twice)