Front Disc Brake Pads for Honda CB350G (1973)
Italian-made replacement front disc brake pads for the 1973 Honda CB350G — the one-year-only disc-brake variant of the CB350 twin. Old brake pads harden, glaze over, and stop gripping; pads soaked by a leaky caliper seal crumble off their metal backing. Either way, replace them as a pair. Two pads per set: one thicker, one thinner — Honda factory design.
Why You Need This
The original brake pads on a 1973 CB350G are now over 50 years old. Friction material hardens with age and loses its grip on the rotor. Pads that have been sitting in brake fluid from a leaky caliper piston seal tend to crumble — the friction material separates from the metal backing. A front brake delivers roughly 80% of your stopping power; pads that can't grip turn a routine stop into a longer one.
These are direct-fit Italian-made replacements with a semi-metallic compound carrying brass and bronze content. No modifications, no jetting. Same Tokico single-piston caliper the CB350G shares with the CB360, CB450 K5–K7, and CB500T — so the install routine is identical across all those bikes. These pads are also included in our front brake caliper rebuild kit if you're replacing the piston seal at the same time.
Specifications
| Spec | Detail |
|---|
| Replaces OEM Part Numbers | 45105-390-305, 45105-390-003, 45105-390-006, 45106-390-003, 45106-390-006, 45106-390-305 |
| Fits Models | CB350G (1973) — Honda's one-year-only disc-brake variant of the CB350 twin |
| Origin | Italian-made |
| Compound | Semi-metallic with brass and bronze content |
| Sold As | Pair (one thick "Pad A" for piston side + one thin "Pad B" for opposite side) |
| Brake System | Single-disc hydraulic front brake with Tokico single-piston caliper (shared with CB360, CB450 K5–K7, CB500T) |
| Wear Indicator | Red wear-limit groove in the friction surface — replace when worn to the line |
| Brake Fluid Spec | DOT 3 |
This is a CB350G-only page. The same pad fits other Honda models — see our bike-specific variants for CB360, CB450 K5–K7 / CB500T, and CB500K / CB550K / CB550F.
Model-Specific Notes
- CB350G only: The "G" designation is Honda's name for the 1973 disc-brake variant of the CB350 twin. If your title or VIN reads CB350K5 or CB350E-K5 you have the same bike — Honda used those designations interchangeably for this one-year model.
- CB350 K0–K4 (1968–1972) and CL350: These bikes have drum front brakes, not discs. You need brake shoes, not pads. Look at your front wheel: no caliper and no rotor means drum.
- CB350F (4-cylinder): Not the same bike as the CB350G twin. The CB350F uses the same Tokico caliper and the same pads, but it's a different engine family. These pads still fit the CB350F, but our bike-specific PDPs focus on the twin lineage.
Installation
Difficulty: Beginner to Intermediate. If you're replacing pads only, it's a bench-top job once the caliper is off the rotor. If you're rebuilding the caliper at the same time (piston seal, bleeder, banjo crush washers), plan to bleed the brake line after.
- Remove the caliper from the fork leg. Two bolts. Hang the caliper so it doesn't pull the brake hose.
- Remove the old pads. Honda's design uses a cotter pin / retaining clip. Note orientation: thicker Pad A goes on the piston side (inboard); thinner Pad B on the opposite side.
- Clean the rotor face. Scuff both sides of the rotor with 100-grit sandpaper to remove the glaze. Wipe down with brake cleaner. Inspect the rotor for deep grooves or scoring — the Honda factory service-limit minimum thickness applies (CB350G shares its 7mm rotor with the CB360; service minimum is 6mm).
- Apply caliper grease ONLY to the back of each pad and the caliper housing recess. Keep grease completely off the friction surface and off the rotor. A light film on the outer diameter of the pad's metal backing helps the pad slide freely in the caliper.
- Install the new pads. Pad A on the piston side, Pad B on the opposite side. Reinstall the retaining pin / clip.
- Reinstall the caliper. If the brake fluid was low or the piston was pushed back into the caliper, the brake feel will be spongy until bled. Top up the master cylinder with DOT 3 brake fluid.
- Bed the new pads in. Find an empty road, get to about 30 mph, and apply moderate braking eight or ten times without coming to a complete stop. This transfers an even layer of pad material to the rotor and gives the final bite.
Never apply grease to the friction surface. Any contamination on the pad face reduces stopping power and can cause the front wheel to lock up unexpectedly.
Our Ultimate Guide to Rebuilding the Honda CB Hydraulic Front Brake System covers pad replacement along with caliper rebuild, master cylinder service, and line flush. See Part 2 for bleeding the line after reassembly.
Frequently Asked Questions
My title or VIN reads "CB350K5" — is that the same as CB350G?
Yes. Honda used both names for the 1973 disc-brake variant of the CB350 twin. "CB350K5" is the model-year designation (K5 = 5th generation of the CB350 line); "CB350G" is the variant designation that separates this single year of disc-brake bikes from the drum-brake K0-K4 that came before. Same bike.
Does this fit my CB350 K0-K4 or my CL350?
No. Those bikes use drum front brakes, not discs. You need brake shoes for a drum setup. A visual check is fastest: if your front wheel shows a caliper and rotor, it's a CB350G (1973). If not, it's drum.
Why is one pad thicker than the other?
Honda's factory design. The thicker pad (Honda calls it Pad A) sits on the piston side of the caliper and takes the direct push from the piston; the thinner pad (Pad B) sits on the opposite side and is pushed into the rotor as the caliper floats. Swap them by mistake and the caliper won't close correctly on the rotor.
When do I know it's time to replace?
Honda puts a red groove scored across the friction surface of each pad. When the groove disappears into the pad material, it's worn to the service limit. The factory spec is target brake-disc-to-pad clearance of 0.15mm (0.0059 in.) after installing new pads. Visually: if the pad is thinner than the backing plate it's mounted on, replace.
Should I replace anything else while I'm in there?
If your caliper is leaking fluid or the piston is sticky, the Front Brake Caliper Rebuild Kit includes new pads plus a piston seal, bleed screw, and crush washers — it's a full refresh. The CB350G-specific caliper seal is available on its own if you only need the seal. A cracked or deteriorated rubber brake hose is also worth replacing at the same time — the CB350G uses the same hose as the CB360.
What brake fluid should I use?
DOT 3 — the original factory fluid specification for this brake system. The CB350G shares the same master cylinder and caliper as the CB360. Do not mix DOT 3 with DOT 5 (silicone) — the two are not compatible and mixing them will damage the seals.
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Last updated: April 2026
