September 28, 2025Sep 28 Hey friends, any thoughts on this for the reflex? I've installed new EBC grooved pads but rear brake is still terrible! - is re machining the drum a better option? thanks for any insight before i drop some $$ Edited September 28, 2025Sep 28 by johnnyjazz
September 28, 2025Sep 28 It takes some time for pads to bed in and have full contact with the drum. You might want to go down the path of having pads of a suitable friction material applied to the brake shoe so you can match the diameter of your drum.
September 29, 2025Sep 29 Author Thanks Kurtas, pads have been in a few months - front works OK (and is new too).. im not sure what you mean by 'having pads of a suitable friction material applied to brake shoe'? i thought the EBC were a good choice? i swapped them out from the original OEM that still had some life left in them, but they really sucked, so had expected some improvement with the EBC...just exploring options - hence wondering about that brake extender arm...if there is a better brake pad i can get lmk! i ride on the road so just need something that inspires a little more confidence!
September 29, 2025Sep 29 EBC are ok but they are not peak performance which you seem to be after. An example of someone who does it below but you coould find someone who does it for forklifts or the like locally to you. https://villiersservices.co.uk/product/brake-shoe-re-lining-service/
September 29, 2025Sep 29 2 hours ago, johnnyjazz said: Thanks Kurtas, pads have been in a few months - front works OK (and is new too).. im not sure what you mean by 'having pads of a suitable friction material applied to brake shoe'? i thought the EBC were a good choice? i swapped them out from the original OEM that still had some life left in them, but they really sucked, so had expected some improvement with the EBC...just exploring options - hence wondering about that brake extender arm...if there is a better brake pad i can get lmk! i ride on the road so just need something that inspires a little more confidence! If your rear drum is worn (bigger than standard), new shoes will not match the curvature of the drum, causing the friction material to have a reduced contact patch area. If you have your shoes relined and machined as Kurtas suggested, the friction material curvature can be matched to your drum curvature, giving full contact surface area. To determine if this is your problem, pull the rear wheel out and have a look at the friction material. It will be shiny where it is touching. The areas that are shiny are the only bits that are doing anything to slow your bike down. The other aspect of your brake performance is that the co-efficient of friction of your lining material may not be as high as what is available, so when the shoes get lined, choose a material that increases the co-efficient of friction.
October 7, 2025Oct 7 Author Hmmm!. try as I might I cant find anyone near me (Westchester, NY) who can do this..the one warm lead turned out to be a guy who only works on Harleys. none of the machine shops wanted to know So, with that said- would that brake arm extender make any kind of difference at all, or is it just a waste of time? i did indeed check to see the shiny bits on the pads that are in contact with the drum..and yeah, it aint much! lol. is there anything else i could do? bike only has 1700 miles on it. Edited October 7, 2025Oct 7 by johnnyjazz
October 8, 2025Oct 8 Mike Komer at the Tryals shop in Locke, NY may be helpful with ideas on the rear brake https://tryalsshop.com/
October 8, 2025Oct 8 14 hours ago, johnnyjazz said: .... i did indeed check to see the shiny bits on the pads that are in contact with the drum..and yeah, it aint much! lol. is there anything else i could do? Too easy, sandpaper the shiny parts off, those are the high spots, eventually the entire pad material will be in contact with steel and you will have full braking again.
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