‘It was the worst bodge I had seen in 40 years’
Mechanic Paul Knight was shocked to find bicycle brake pads glued into a bike
‘A friend had done this for him. They don’t talk now’
Cutting corners when you’re painting your house is nothing unusual. That radiator does not really need removing so that paint can be brushed liberally onto the wall behind, does it?
But cutting corners when you’re fixing a bike is a whole different ball game. Paul Knight, of A55 Motorcycles in Penmaenmawr, near Conwy on the North Wales coast set up shop on his own two years ago, but has been working on motorcycles of all shapes and sizes for nearly 40 years. “I recently found one of the most shocking bodges I have ever seen,” he told MCN. “A customer bought his Yamaha Maxster 125 scooter in with a small electrical problem, which was easily fixed.
“But, as I always road test every bike I work on, I gave it a quick look over checking the tyres, lights and brakes. Everything seemed to be working okay, but when I inspected the front brake pads with a light, I discovered a pretty serious problem. “At first I thought that a small part of the pad had suffered corrosion between the backing plate and the friction material and broken off. However, stripping the caliper down revealed the most scary ‘fix’ known to man.
“A cheap push bike brake pad had been glued to the worn-out backing plate! I obviously invited the owner to call by to take a look, initially suspecting he may be responsible for the ham-fisted fix. But, when I showed him the ‘repair’ he became strangely quiet, then he got very angry. He muttered something about recently paying someone to fix the brakes for him.
“It transpired a ‘friend’ had taken on the repair and ordered some brake pads from the internet, when these had turned up they didn’t fit, so he improvised. I don’t think they’re talking anymore.
“I would hate to think what the possible consequences of the glue bond failing in an emergency would be. A new set of brake pads costs £12 and I’d charge about £20 to fit them. Pattern ones would be cheaper, but I would always stick to official factory parts where brakes are concerned. “Brake pads should be checked regularly by shining a light on them or by removing them and inspecting them thoroughly. They should have at least 2mm of wear left on them. Don’t skrimp. They are brakes, you need them to stop before hitting something. Stopping is important!”