New brake pads...how thick?

On early 80's KZ750 fours with dual front disks, how thick should new brake pads be?

If you purchase oem, or like pads made for your bike, then I would expect them to be correct thickness.

Whats the reason for asking?

Cheers.

I have a local machine shop that says they can reline the pads (all wheels) for about $30, which is certainly cheaper then the $150 for all 6 that the local bike shop wants. But the shop wants to know the new thickness of pads. I've looked at both oem and other brands and all of them have slightly different pad thickness (plus I'm not sure how thick of new pads the calipers can handle). Someone told me that 4mm is pretty good????

I can't really believe that the shops (here) want about $75 a set (and of course you need three sets)! I could buy new car pads (twice as big) for maybe 25% of that cost. Bike parts, all parts, are turning into a big ripoff!!

the most i have ever seen brake pads going for is about 30 dollars a pair i'd be looking around if i was you all 3 sets should be no more than 90.00

Still far too much for these little pads. The ones I have seen are sintered bronze...nothing special. Can get a single (usually larger) set for cars for around $9.00! What gives with these prices?

Why compromise on safety? For less than 100 bucks and 1 hour of work you could have new brakes

polkat wrote:

Still far too much for these little pads. ... What gives with these prices?

Supply & demand?

Edit: Have you checked Z1Enterprises.com or ebbaayy?

Edit: And it would help if you'd mention what particular bike it is. Doing so would make it easier for someone to locate what's needed to provide you with more options.

Two 750 front sets - (3) Brake Pads Kawasaki KZ1000 KZ750 KZ650 KZ550 KZ .

Used rear set - looks to be in near new good conditoin w plenty of usable life left in them - 1980 KAWASAKI KZ750 REAR BRAKE PADS

Approximately $28 total. I'm sure other sets are available.

polkat wrote:

I have a local machine shop that says they can reline the pads (all wheels) for about $30, which is certainly cheaper then the $150 for all 6 that the local bike shop wants. But the shop wants to know the new thickness of pads. I've looked at both oem and other brands and all of them have slightly different pad thickness (plus I'm not sure how thick of new pads the calipers can handle). Someone told me that 4mm is pretty good????

I can't really believe that the shops (here) want about $75 a set (and of course you need three sets)! I could buy new car pads (twice as big) for maybe 25% of that cost. Bike parts, all parts, are turning into a big ripoff!!

What do you mean by reline the pads? Don't you just take the caliper off and drop the new ones in yourself?

He's saying a shop can refurbish his old brake pads by putting new brake lining material on them. Brake pads are basically a lining glued to a backing plate.

A new set of pads (front+rear) for a high performance motorcycle (a ZX-10 say...) costs around $100 - $150+.

Far more than we can buy pads for these old crankys.

A glued back together brake pad is like putting a retread tire on. THEY FALL APART. I've seen, and experienced it myself. Yes, I too was that guy...

Do you really want to save like $50 bucks at the expense of possibly smashing your gord? Maybe never seeing the people you love again? :dry: FOR REAL.

Another alternative to buying new, is simply buying used OEM stuff from a wrecker. You can usually find pads with 50% + lining left, and no fear after installation.

I wish you the best of luck brother! Only want to spread message of safety hear, not crush toes.
Would hate to hear of a fellow mates demise....

Peace.

Thanks for the advice. I'll watch those Ebay pads. It's just a matter of the present economy and the prices rising, but no, I have no intention of smashing my gourd as it were.