There are a few occasions where I feel embarrassed, with even less where I feel genuinely ashamed. Today was one of those days.
With some free time this morning and an urge to finish an outstanding job, I set to work replacing the rear brake pads on the FireBlade. Initially I thought I could just swap them over, but if a job is worth doing, its worth doing right, so the job morphed into a caliper clean as well.
Setting to work, I initially feared I'd sheered off the retaining pin, but quickly realised that I didn't have to hunt down a replacement as it was just a cap protecting the main pin itself from grime. Thankfully all the bolts etc. came away quickly and easily allowing the pads to drop free. As they fell into my hand, my shame was complete. Just look at the state of them! They look almost mummified, encrusted in what could pass for decades of dirt and filth.
With some free time this morning and an urge to finish an outstanding job, I set to work replacing the rear brake pads on the FireBlade. Initially I thought I could just swap them over, but if a job is worth doing, its worth doing right, so the job morphed into a caliper clean as well.
Setting to work, I initially feared I'd sheered off the retaining pin, but quickly realised that I didn't have to hunt down a replacement as it was just a cap protecting the main pin itself from grime. Thankfully all the bolts etc. came away quickly and easily allowing the pads to drop free. As they fell into my hand, my shame was complete. Just look at the state of them! They look almost mummified, encrusted in what could pass for decades of dirt and filth.
The caliper itself looked a lot worse than it was and a following a decent scrub, the piston came up like new and I'd cleaned out years of muck from recesses of the caliper itself. Getting it back together was nice and easy, with the rear pads slotting into their retaining mounts without protest.
The way I ride means that these pads are likely to stay in place for several years, so knowing the job has been done right, fills me with a little happiness on this wintry Thursday.
The way I ride means that these pads are likely to stay in place for several years, so knowing the job has been done right, fills me with a little happiness on this wintry Thursday.
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