My motorcycle brakes glassed up. Is there any way to unglass the surface or do I need to replace the brakes?

Question

Thanks everyone. I roughened them up with sandpaper and they're good as new. It was contamination (from living at the beach area) and primarily neighborhood riding (light brake application) that caused it.

All is well now.

Answer 1

Since you haven't said, and there is probably no reason you should know, the pads could be glazed through contamination – there is nothing you can do to clean it away, sanding will ameliorate the problem but will not solve it. Replace them, they aren't expensive considering the job they do.

Answer 2

A bead blaster is the best way ,but find out why they did it unless its just your riding habits

Answer 3

You can ususally clean up glazed pads with a sheet of medium grit paper on a flat surface. Tape the paper down and lightly glide the pad over the paper. Take special care to not inhale the dust! You can lightly sand the disk if you want, but they actually sell an attachment for your drill that works better. Before and after you do any of it, clean the pieces with brake cleaner. I would only try to save the pads on a fairly slow moving street bike though. To me, the risk it too great on a bike that is going to be ridden hard. Plus, you can get a decent of pads for $30-50.00.

I did the cleanup on my old CL350 Honda, but on my Buell, I would just get new stuff.

Answer 4

You need to replace them.  When brakes become glazed there's no fix other than replacement.  And if they're getting glazed, you're using them too harshly.  If that's the way that you ride, replace them with high-performance Kevlar, metallic, or ceramic pads.  And don't forget to turn or replace the disks as well.

Answer 5

I assume we are taliking about drum brakes, just sand them and they will be fine.An ol school trick forv drum brakes is to cut grooves in the shoes across the shoes. they glaze up from the acumulated dust. the grooves will catch the dust.

Answer 6

I scuff them on a bench grinder with a wire wheel.

Then clean them with brake cleaner.

You can use a wire brush or course sand paper.

You don't want the pads to be glazed - that's what fine sand paper will do to them.

If you sand a piece of wood with fine sand paper, it will smooth it out.

Answer 7

Try scuffing the surface with 240 grit sandpaper to remove the glazing.  Then, ride for a bit stopping easy and steady pretty often.  No hard braking, though until they feel right.

Good luck.