1993 1500 Aspencade REAR BRAKE Question

[eusurp1]

So with no lift in sunny NH (temps around 5 deg to 25 deg) and a not great insulated garage, I pulled the rear caliper off my bike to replace the rear pads laying on cement---SWEET!...my rear brakes always worked but you had to STEP on them to grab in a way that I was used to riding other bikes over the years. Like my wife's 1987 Sportster. You hit the brakes and that 450 pounds grabs. I know my GW weighs over 1200#) Couple of things...First...the pads to my surprise---were metal! Does that mean that they were original? Second...when I went to put the caliper back in place, this little bugger showed up. Any idea what it is? So I put the assembly back as in my service manual there are NO REFERENCES at all to this part. The pad spring plate is there and intact to match the drawings in the service manual...am I gunna die?

Thanks as always---This forum stuff is great!

[DarthJ]

The brakes are better than you realize. The bike is about 850ish wet, put those brakes on a bike weighing a lot less, you'll stop a hell of a lot quicker, lol. Looking at the parts diagram, it looks like part 8, the rear bracket retainer.

[Crusty1]

The numbers are not clear in the image. I think the part is number 6. When correctly assembled the ends of the pads push on it. It’s stainless steel a would prevent the pads from binding on the bracket.

[DarthJ]

The numbers are not clear in the image. I think the part is number 6. When correctly assembled the ends of the pads push on it. It’s stainless steel a would prevent the pads from binding on the bracket.

You're right, I meant 6, that's what I get for using the number pad without looking

[eusurp1]

So I appreciate the pic and the other infor but I am at a complete loss as to how that piece fits back on the brake assembly. There are wear marks but i cant seem to tell what made them...are there brake experts out there? I have a shop manual for the bike but it does not have the pic that you shared...

I figure an engineer put this little part in and I am not an engineer...gotta listen to the smart people...broke 50 today..yea!!

[MikeB]

A few pictures for you to help with the installation. After all, a picture is worth a thousand words.

[rider1939]

If the pads are/show steel, you've worn off all the friction material. Replace with new ones, but you'd better inspect the rotor for you may have worm it badly. You may also be looking at the metal that's in the friction material = I think it's copper.