Sintered Metal Brake Pads

[Captain Steve]

I'm considering installing Vesrah Sintered Metal pads front & rear in lieu of OEM pads on my 2012 GL1800. This based on recent recommendation indicating much better stopping power with less lever/pedal force. I would appreciate any feedback from anyone with experience using sintered metal pads. Also, wondering if rotor wear is appreciably affected.

[tamathumper]

I stick with OEM. The brakes are not the limiting element in stopping the bike, IMHO, it's the contact patch of the tires to the road. Rotor wear is accelerated with sintered pads, IIRC.

[Viking]

I agree with tamathumper here. You will wear out your rotors a bunch quicker with sintered metal pads. Rotors are costly. You will not stop quicker, but you may lock up your brakes easier.

[tfdeputydawg]

Stay w/OEM.
The Sintered Metal pads chew up the rotors!

[Captain Steve]

Thank you to those whom have responded.

I should have posted my original, prior to purchasing. It wasn't until afterwards that I began thinking there might be some trade-off for the better stopping performance (ie: rotor wear). Fortunately I have not installed the pads and am reconsidering.

If anyone is interested in buying the set from me, send me a PM, otherwise will likely eBay soon.

Vesrah VD-165/3JL (front, two sets of two pads), VD-165/4JL (rear, one set of two pads). New still in original packaging.

[GoldWingrGreg]

I'm considering installing Vesrah Sintered Metal pads front & rear in lieu of OEM pads on my 2012 GL1800.

I've heard they are best on a track. Usually those type of pads provide better braking once the pads hot.

[dduelin]

I'm considering installing Vesrah Sintered Metal pads front & rear in lieu of OEM pads on my 2012 GL1800. This based on recent recommendation indicating much better stopping power with less lever/pedal force. I would appreciate any feedback from anyone with experience using sintered metal pads. Also, wondering if rotor wear is appreciably affected.

I have no experience with that brand. I tend to stick with OEM pads in general. I know they fit and they brake with OEM rotors as Honda designed them to.

It's worth noting that Honda OEM pads for the GL1800 are sintered metal.

[Captain Steve]

Per previous post by dduelin: "It's worth noting that Honda OEM pads for the GL1800 are sintered metal." I was not aware of that. If that is the case, the Vesrah's that I bought may be worth a try. The jury is still out though, as I still have some time before I need to replace.

Would still like to hear from anyone with actual experience with the Vesrah Sintered metal pads regarding braking action and any increase in rotor wear vs Honda OEM pads.

Thanks to all for the replies!

[Captain Steve]

dduelin: Thank you for the reply. In response to your post, I looked for information pertaining to the pad material of the OEM's but found nothing. Viewed descriptions and photos of the front of the packaging on Amazon, ebay, etc for 06456-MCA-016 (front pads) and found no info. Where did find that the OEMs are Sintered metal?

Thanks in advance.

[WingAdmin]

The OEM pads for GL1500 and GL1800 are semi-sintered, and have some metallic content.

[dduelin]

dduelin: Thank you for the reply. In response to your post, I looked for information pertaining to the pad material of the OEM's but found nothing. Viewed descriptions and photos of the front of the packaging on Amazon, ebay, etc for 06456-MCA-016 (front pads) and found no info. Where did find that the OEMs are Sintered metal?

Thanks in advance.

After working on cars and bikes for 49 years I can tell by looking at them. Sintered metallic pads typically use bits of copper alloy set in a light colored binder and when new the friction material has a metallic sheen to it. Semi-sintered (semi-metallic) or organic pads typically appear darker and don't have the same light reflective qualities. Brake pads are rated according to an SAE standard for low and high temperature friction coefficient and the highest friction rating is HH, the lowest in general use is FF. Better quality manufacturers will stamp the SAE rating on the back of the pad and when you flip over the OEM GL1800 pads you will find them stamped HH. To my knowledge no semi-metallic or organic friction material attain HH ratings. This pic is of the back of a 06455-MCA-016 pad out of the LF caliper of my GL1800.

[Captain Steve]

Thanks for the explanation. I do see the HH on your pad as well as on my Vesrah's.

[Deerskinlake]

I have found out since owning both a GL 1500 and1800, shopping for brake pads for both, I could not find any pads for the bikes that were NOT sintered metal. Even the pads that I bought that said were ceramic, had sintered metal in them. Any brake pad experts out there that can explain this?

[Sapearso]

Thanks for all the info, time to change mine as well.