Brakes

[Carl722]

I changed out the brakes pads because the old ones were worn but not completely. I just thought they looked thin and I wasn't satisfied with the braking, but that maybe because I am used to riding a Ninja 500 which is light, agile, and brakes good but doesn't do stoppies.

Anyhow after changing the pads on the Shadow it still seems insufficient. I can squeeze hard enough to get wheel lock but I don't know if the braking problem is just me because I am used to a light sports bike and the Shadow is heavy or if I need to get rotors turned or changed.

[vito]

Originally Posted by Carl722

I changed out the brakes pads because the old ones were worn but not completely. I just thought they looked thin and I wasn't satisfied with the braking, but that maybe because I am used to riding a Ninja 500 which is light, agile, and brakes good but doesn't do stoppies.

Anyhow after changing the pads on the Shadow it still seems insufficient. I can squeeze hard enough to get wheel lock but I don't know if the braking problem is just me because I am used to a light sports bike and the Shadow is heavy or if I need to get rotors turned or changed.

If you don't feel a pulsing when applying the brakes the rotors are probably ok, unless they are deeply scored. My guess is you just have to get used to it.

Ask a friend or a trusted wrench to take it for a spin......don't tell them what your issue is and see what they say. If they think the brakes are lacking...get them checked out.

[oblivion_twister]

give the new pads time to wear in a little. You can also flush and bleed the system.

[rkforrest]

The Brakes are the only Bad spot on the Bike.500+ lbs of Bike and 200 lbs of rider makes a single disc and a drum barely adequate

[Carl722]

The 1999 Shadow Ace 1100 also has a rear rotor. It isn't pulsating like a heat stressed rotor. I have had that on the truck where the rotors were blued and cracked. Since I can push hard enough to get wheel lock I guess I just have to get used to it. If I squeezed that hard on the little Ninja it would lock and slide in a hurry. I ride stay back further on this than the Ninja. Since I feel it needs more room to stop.

[rkforrest]

OK My 03 Spirit is a Drum outback and I can Lock it up also but 90% of the time I dont use the rear at all unless a Quick Red Light pops up.Too much Brake can get you into trouble also if you dont know how to use it and I have done that before on a Interceptor yrs ago with the big twin Disc's up front

[Carl722]

I remember my old 1984 Virago 700 braking pretty good but that is old memories. It was a at least 100 lbs lighter too and I was probably still about 175 lbs then. I parted it out in 2006 when I couldn't get what I needed to restore it.

[John Hopkins]

I have the '92 VT1100c and the brakes are GOOD.. If you bleed them correctly they are very firm, not much free play and stop as well as any bike.

When I stripped mine both pistons were seized, the master cylinder was dirty and the fluid was brown, the pads were not badly worn, I stripped them and cleaned everything, bled them and put them to the test, they worked but were not great..I had two problems..I had left the bottom banjo bolt loose where it joins the hose and there was a small bubble of air in the system, I bought a vacuum bleeder and now the bike stops on a dime.

John.

[Earthling789]

+1 for bleeding the brake lines... sounds like you have an air bubble in there... or some water in the fluid... a good flush will greatly improve your braking.

Also, good advice on giving them a bit of time... new brakes need to have a break-in period where they score and match the imperfections of YOUR rotor before they make good contact with the WHOLE surface of the rotor... right now you may only be making 75% contact due to minor ridges and hills... which naturally occur on any rotor.

[ButchA]

Question about the Honda Shadow brake pads....

Do you remove the whole entire caliper (two main caliper bolts) if you want to change the brakes, or do you unbolt the caliper pins/rubber boots and slide the caliper off?

How is it done, exactly?