I've just purchased some nice new brembo pads (SA) for the blade from top man Andy at DT. Do I fit them with or without the stock Honda shims? Did try searching the forum but it's hard work with an Ipad. Thanks - Steve
No leave the shims out, you get better feeling from the caliper without shims. Use copperslip on the back of the pad though
Thanks Peter - I look forward to getting them fitted - never been happy with the initial bite on the OEM pads (none to speak of).
The shims.... as in the one piece metal bracket type thing on the top of the pads... and the pins go through??
we do get some strange posts on this forum? so your saying you can get more feel through your lever when you don't have the backing plates in?. the shims,or backing plates are there to help to dissipate the heat out of the caliper/fluid,and also to help stop brake squeal,but a dab of copperslip (as above) will stop this also.i tend to remove mine,not because it gives me better feel (definatley a new one to me that),but because I'm lazy and never noticed any difference,on or off the track.
I know what Peter means. The standard plates don't cover the whole pad which means the face of the piston isn't flush against the pad. I think it rocks slighty, removing them definitely gave me a slightly firmer feel at the lever. I've not had the issue on other bikes where the plate covers the whole pad.
Just to be sure about this I e-mailed a main Brembo dealer in Italy - they confirmed that the shims should not be fitted with the Brembo pads I bought.
