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The Rotor Made It!
Another maintenance update...
After the filthy ride on Sunday I had feared the worse for the brakes. Once the pads get worn down leaving metal on metal action not only are you up for a new set of pads, but most likely a new rotor too. Rotors chewed up by this kind of stuff get so pitted and rough that they then chew through the replacement pads in no time - keeping them is a false economy.
Luckily, by the slimmest of margins the rear rotor looks like it escaped replacement after Sunday's ride. There was literally a hairs width of organic material left on one pad and slightly more on the other. Although the more worn of the two was down to metal very close to the top (the edge of the rotor) think it might just live. Well, might... this will need to be watched closely for a while.
Anyhow - so this is 3rd new set of pads on the rear versus only 1 on the front in the last year. Odd, huh? I'm thinking the rear rotor is more likely to be coated in sand and water thrown up by the front and hence the extra wear that end is seeing.
Perhaps I need to alter break balance in these conditions?
Perhaps one could also try and build a rudimentary disc cover for the rear for use in wet weather?
What does anyone think of those two ideas? Dumb, huh? 
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Yes
Oh creator of interesting things...
Copy the motorcross bike disc cover...maybe we could get tupperware to make them?
Oddly I have only ever worn out one set of pads, albeit on a Fling training ride in the rain at Terrey Hills. Just lucky or maybe its the semi metallic pad being a lot harder?
I wouldnt use organic if you gave them to me, just my viewpoint. Back when I raced cars I had to use organic in the rear brakes as an emergency stop gap and went through a set in practice where the semi-metallics would last all year. So from then, never again.
Craig
Maybe some model making with that styrene is in order? Hmmmm.... who do we know that's handy with models?
As for organic/metallic - yeah, we talked about that on the other thread (the Jenson pad group buy thing). To be honest I'd rather go through more pads and less discs with less squeal. If it wasn't for the wet sandy grinding conditions think the pads would last a whole lot longer. Think we've just been very unlucky this year!
pads and have replaced both discs on the vt but I've done an awful lot of k's on that bike in all conditions. I've had squeal off and on but mainly only after the brakes get wet and would think I would have spent considerably less money than if using the organic pads, which I have tried but didn't like the speed at which they wear out.
John.
ive just made the change to ceramic/sintered alligator pads, and they are incredibly powerful compared to the hayes standard and evidently have 3 times the life of standard (let alone organic) and a 650c heat tolerance..apparently..but they feel incredible..wet or dry (had alot of wet experience of late!) next to no squeeling-a problem i think quite common with hayes..and bloody annoying!
$17 a pair from me old mate t7 recently..
anyway just thought i'd share!..