Front brakes and Fluid
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2013
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Measure with a micrometer or a pair of dial calipers. Honestly, if the bike rides fine, and stops fine then I'd leave good enough alone. As stated, you will always hear the rotors brushing up against the pads when you rotate the wheel. Don't pole vault over a mouse turd. 
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: NW AR
Pulsing could be from non-uniform deposit of the "magic dust" that the pads apply to the rotor. If you are sure the rotor thickness is uniform and the rotors are not bent, then that's all I can think of. If you take a DA sander to the rotors, all 4 sides, with some like 80-180-ish grit, then re-bed the brakes (take it up to speed, slow down as fast as you can without stopping, take it up to speed, slow down... ) then let the whole thing cool off by riding (don't stop) until they are cool, then that will put a new layer of Magic Dust down on the rotors.
Pads won't make it pulse.
It's also possible the rotors are only warping when they warm up, so unless you dump some heat into them and immediately check for warping, you won't find it. I've had truck rotors do that.
Pads won't make it pulse.
It's also possible the rotors are only warping when they warm up, so unless you dump some heat into them and immediately check for warping, you won't find it. I've had truck rotors do that.
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Outstanding HDF Member
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Will try that. I did take an abrasive wheel to them thinking I had grease on there that wouldn't come clean and went through a can of break cleaner ensuring they were squeaky clean but I didn't consider them warping under heat
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,952
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From: Senoia, Ga., by way of Miami, Fl..
I'd also recomend washing them in hot soapy water before reinstalling them, after the sanding.. This sounds silly, but it will remove any and all deposits levt behind from the "grinding"..
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2013
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From: Houston, TX
Here are is something to check then.
Even though the calipers are releasing, one could be sticking or not working. Before I tackled rebuilding the motor on my bike, along with everything else, my front brakes would pulse like you say yours are doing and the front end would dance around. It turned one of the calipers was barely working, and it was sticking bad even though it would "release".
Rebuilding these calipers is easy, and it shouldn't take you very long to do it. I'd recommend picking up some rebuild kits from J&P Cycles. I used their rebuild kits and I'm very satisfied.
One last thing to check is to see if you put too much fluid in.
Even though the calipers are releasing, one could be sticking or not working. Before I tackled rebuilding the motor on my bike, along with everything else, my front brakes would pulse like you say yours are doing and the front end would dance around. It turned one of the calipers was barely working, and it was sticking bad even though it would "release".
Rebuilding these calipers is easy, and it shouldn't take you very long to do it. I'd recommend picking up some rebuild kits from J&P Cycles. I used their rebuild kits and I'm very satisfied.
One last thing to check is to see if you put too much fluid in.
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Joined: Jul 2013
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From: Houston, TX
It can be done, and can cause the calipers to pulse or cause the pistons to push out more and rub against the caliper. Been there done that in my racing days. Can cause premature wear or overheat the rotors/pads.
EDIT: I forgot to add, that this only happens when you have too much and it heats up causing expansion. If the fluid has nowhere to go in the master cylinder, it finds a place to "relieve" itself elsewhere. You may not ever notice it on a street bike, but when racing, yes.
EDIT: I forgot to add, that this only happens when you have too much and it heats up causing expansion. If the fluid has nowhere to go in the master cylinder, it finds a place to "relieve" itself elsewhere. You may not ever notice it on a street bike, but when racing, yes.
Last edited by tmanbuckhunter; Apr 28, 2014 at 05:57 PM.
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 269
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From: Fairbanks
My front pad was installed with the anti-rattle clip in the wrong position once combined with the fact my rotor is 11" in one position, and 11.005 in another. The clip barely touched the rotor edge on each revolution. Sounded like a cat in a blender when at speed. Very dangerous too.
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