Brembo brake pad question

[neverquit]

I am installing new rear brake pads on my 2007 750ie Nevada (same brakes as the 750ie Breva) and encountered something that is new to me but I suspect is fairly common.  When I got the old original pads out I found that they each have a stainless steel shim on the back side.  These shims includes a clip that holds them in place.  The shims only cover about half of the back of the pad.  They have an arrow printed on them that points forward when they are in position.

The new pads are EBC and have the exact same shape so those shims could fit onto the new pads but I don't know what function they serve.  Do I need them?  Without knowing what they do I'll put them on the new pads unless I learn differently. Thanks for any information.

[Wayne Orwig]

I believe they are there to keep some of the heat away from the brake fluid so it is less likely to boil. It may be there to help reduce squealing.
I would put it on the new pads.

[rodekyll]

They are antichatter plates.  They can be used dry, with a light wipe of brake grease, or with a variety of antichatter/antisqueal compounds.  Often they make no difference one way or the other, but forgetting to install them can make for a longer brake stroke and different feel.

[neverquit]

Great, thanks for the responses.  I'll get back to work on them and stick those shims back in.

[Triple Jim]

... but forgetting to install them can make for a longer brake stroke and different feel.

Why would the stroke of the caliper piston or master cylinder piston be any different with or without the shims?

[rodekyll]

Depending on how far back the pistons retract, the thickness of the plate makes that much difference in piston travel.  Might not be significant to a 2007 whatever brembo, but in general theory it's to be considered.  Likewise the different compounds you can use with them can change stroke and feel.  Generalities.  ymmv and such.

[Triple Jim]

Pistons retract  by the amount the seals spring back when the pressure is released at best, so putting a shim in there would change only the position the piston likes to sit in, not how much free travel there is.  Of course if the shims were made non-flat or otherwise has springiness built in, then that would certainly change the lever feel.

[lucky phil]

Pistons retract  by the amount the seals spring back when the pressure is released at best, so putting a shim in there would change only the position the piston likes to sit in, not how much free travel there is.  Of course if the shims were made non-flat or otherwise has springiness built in, then that would certainly change the lever feel.

Correct.

Ciao

[Tom]

You'd have to adjust your braking style till you got use to the new feel of the brakes.

[sib]

You didn't state the mileage on your 2007 Nevada, so I can't tell if the installed pads are original.  They could very well be replacements.  Some EBC pads (and perhaps pads from manufacturers) come with removable heat shields clipped onto the back, which EBC states are there to protect the pistons from excessive heating.  However, not all brakes require these shields (that's why they're removable).  In the case of my V7II, the original pads don't have head shields and the hollow pistons are installed in the calipers such that only the rims of the pistons contact the back of the pads, thus minimizing contact area and heat transfer.  The downside of having heat shields on the pads is that there is more slop in the system, more surfaces that have to be pressed together to apply pressure to the rotor.

[neverquit]

You didn't state the mileage on your 2007 Nevada, so I can't tell if the installed pads are original.

The bike only has about 3800 miles on it and when I bought it, it had 800 so I'm convinced that they are original to the bike.  I am surprised that they were worn down so thin, the front brake pads still have a lot of wear in them.  I don't use the rear brake very much so I wonder if the OEM pads are not very durable or maybe the rear caliper is not releasing properly and causing the pads to drag a little.

[Tom]

People tend to put more pressure on the foot brake because of using the foot vs. a hand brake.  Bigger limb.

[Mike Tashjian]

From what you have described, I would check that the rear brakes are releasing after use. Then like Tom says I would think about testing out how much brake force you are using on your brakes. Maybe the rears are doing more work than you are realizing.  Using both brakes together properly will give you maximum braking and I find you only get close to that from continuously practicing.   Mike

[sib]

From what you have described, I would check that the rear brakes are releasing after use. Then like Tom says I would think about testing out how much brake force you are using on your brakes. Maybe the rears are doing more work than you are realizing.  Using both brakes together properly will give you maximum braking and I find you only get close to that from continuously practicing.   Mike

Or, maybe that shim, if it isn't perfectly flat and seated firmly against the back of the pad, is the cause of the rapid wear.