The brake lines are new HEL braided and there is one to each caliper. The front pads I think are standard Goldfren ones, they came with the calipers but were brand new but not in a box. The total mileage of the pads is about 200 miles, so that's about 100 miles on the road and the rest on track. There is no glazing on the disc although it looks like it has been getting slightly hot. I am going for the fluid change first and then maybe a pad change. I would say the compound of the pads is just the typical standard road going version, they certainly don't look like anything special and when first out on the track the brakes do perform well, I don't need to apply excessive pressure and they stop well for the first three laps or so and then the fade starts to creep in.
Well it looks like a fluid change will have to be done anyway so I am going to opt for DOT 5.1 as I need new fluid. Can anyone recommended a good road\track set of brake pads that will quite happily double up as both. I use the bike on the road occasionally also but don't do that many miles on it
As the gold fren pads are distinctly budget stuff, I would start by throwing them in the bin and trying some PF, Bendix or even EBC pads.
Completely change the fluid after every race weekend. It only takes 20 minutes. Dot4 is fine. Cheapest option and ensures a dry and air free brake system.
ok - we read that ?.. ditto i've never liked their compounds. Carbon Lorraine is another excellent pad manufacturer (MOO)
I just hit google on 748R p4/34 fade and came here! I had exactly the same problem at the Brands trackday on the 8th. I was on a quick (ish) lap approaching Surtees and did my usual comfort braking and pulled the lever back to the bar. Luckily I didnt really need to brake so pulled up my knickers and just went round the bend and came into the pits. I pumped it a bit and it cooled. But then was a bit wooden (perhaps because I pumped it a bit too much?). Mine is stock 748R. Should I look at oil change, braided hoses and new pads? All a bit new to me after coming off a DD bike that never ever had fade. Would have thought the 748R would have been better out of the box.
As a point of interest can you change to Dot 5.1 when the system has Dot 4 , I thought the two weren't compatible and the whole system would need to be cleaned ( don't know what with though) or am I mistaken.
I changed to DOT 5.1 whilst completely bleeding out the old fluid. It depends on what type you use as to whether you have to clean out the whole system. I did some research before buying the 5.1 fluid. I used a non silicone fluid that does mix from Shell. I have found a slight increase in brake pressure and I can only put that down to the fact the old fluid was boiled and had lost performance. QUOTE "I just hit google on 748R p4/34 fade and came here! I had exactly the same problem at the Brands trackday on the 8th. I was on a quick (ish) lap approaching Surtees and did my usual comfort braking and pulled the lever back to the bar. Luckily I didnt really need to brake so pulled up my knickers and just went round the bend and came into the pits. I pumped it a bit and it cooled. But then was a bit wooden (perhaps because I pumped it a bit too much?). Mine is stock 748R. Should I look at oil change, braided hoses and new pads? All a bit new to me after coming off a DD bike that never ever had fade. Would have thought the 748R would have been better out of the box." ^^ I suspect you have the same problem as me, I know my brake lines are good and now the fluid is a good spec, so it can only come down to a pad change My next step is to change brake pads to another make as well. As mentioned I have no idea what make of pads I have in mine as they came as a brand new set with the calipers. I suspect they are Goldfren and on checking their site I can see they are a low spec. pad for road use only. I need the GP5 pads which are a road\track pad and they have an insulator in the pad to stop fade. I also firmly suspect that because the P4/34 calipers are a "big lump of metal" with the bridge piece etc. they hold more heat and allow brake fade to occur due to heat build up. I have used several other Ducati's on track and I have never had this problem, but I have only used Goldline calipers and never Goldfren pads with those calipers. I suggest a fluid change and a look at some decent pads as others have mentioned, I don't think there is much more you can do beyond that if all else is good.
