Disc Brake Pulsing
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Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2016
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From: Okmulgee
Disc Brake Pulsing
I have noticed a slight pulsing under light braking on the front brakes. Not warpage so to speak but a slight pulse at slow speed light braking. Under normal to even severe braking all was fine,,,, or at least felt good.
I had finished up for the time being with putting a set of fangs on the bike. They still need more work. And was setting there looking at the right front brake disc and something did no look right. The bolts and washers did not look the same. I looked up the tq specs, 16 - 24 ft. lbs. grabbed a tq wrench and bit. They were not right. One bolt was at or above 24 ft. lbs. one across from it was at 18 ft. lbs and the others were at 14 ft. lbs. Both disc were out the same amount and in the same pattern. Put 24 ft. lbs. to the other bolts.
Took the bike out for a ride and the low speed brake pulsing was gone.
I had finished up for the time being with putting a set of fangs on the bike. They still need more work. And was setting there looking at the right front brake disc and something did no look right. The bolts and washers did not look the same. I looked up the tq specs, 16 - 24 ft. lbs. grabbed a tq wrench and bit. They were not right. One bolt was at or above 24 ft. lbs. one across from it was at 18 ft. lbs and the others were at 14 ft. lbs. Both disc were out the same amount and in the same pattern. Put 24 ft. lbs. to the other bolts.
Took the bike out for a ride and the low speed brake pulsing was gone.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
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I ...And was setting there looking at the right front brake disc and something did no look right. The bolts and washers did not look the same. I looked up the tq specs, 16 - 24 ft. lbs. grabbed a tq wrench and bit. They were not right. One bolt was at or above 24 ft. lbs. one across from it was at 18 ft. lbs and the others were at 14 ft. lbs. Both disc were out the same amount and in the same pattern. Put 24 ft. lbs. to the other bolts.
Took the bike out for a ride and the low speed brake pulsing was gone.
Took the bike out for a ride and the low speed brake pulsing was gone.
Bob
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,676
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From: State of Confusion
12,300 on my RK..just returned from Glacier where I noticed the front brake at highway speeds pulsating the brake lever and windscreen shaking during the trip, under 40mph not noticeable ...brought it in and they said rotors are slightly warped but within spec..had new American Elites put on just before I left for Glacier..made them go thru everything remotely possible that could be a contributor..in the end if I want it fixed I have to pay for new rotors..that sucks
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Joined: May 2017
Posts: 70
Likes: 11
From: North Lawrence, OH
12,300 on my RK..just returned from Glacier where I noticed the front brake at highway speeds pulsating the brake lever and windscreen shaking during the trip, under 40mph not noticeable ...brought it in and they said rotors are slightly warped but within spec..had new American Elites put on just before I left for Glacier..made them go thru everything remotely possible that could be a contributor..in the end if I want it fixed I have to pay for new rotors..that sucks
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: State of Confusion
that's what I'm looking into
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,114
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Partial repost from M8 Problems:
Bought a new 17 RG in September last year.
Noticed warped rotors. Figured I'd get it taken care of on the 1000 mi service.
Warranty denied because the rotors were within .001 of the limit. They were bad enough to bob the fairing up and down when lightly braking. I was told I overheated the rotors. Lol
Bob
Bought a new 17 RG in September last year.
Noticed warped rotors. Figured I'd get it taken care of on the 1000 mi service.
Warranty denied because the rotors were within .001 of the limit. They were bad enough to bob the fairing up and down when lightly braking. I was told I overheated the rotors. Lol
Bob
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,676
Likes: 11,468
From: State of Confusion
Partial repost from M8 Problems:
Bought a new 17 RG in September last year.
Noticed warped rotors. Figured I'd get it taken care of on the 1000 mi service.
Warranty denied because the rotors were within .001 of the limit. They were bad enough to bob the fairing up and down when lightly braking. I was told I overheated the rotors. Lol
Bob
Bought a new 17 RG in September last year.
Noticed warped rotors. Figured I'd get it taken care of on the 1000 mi service.
Warranty denied because the rotors were within .001 of the limit. They were bad enough to bob the fairing up and down when lightly braking. I was told I overheated the rotors. Lol
Bob
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From: Near Yosemite
I had noticed a bit of pulsating on the front brakes as well recently but blew it off thinking maybe I picked up a grasshopper or something on one of the rotors and that I would clean them both up real good during the next therapeutic cleaning session. So while I was washing the front wheel, I grabbed a hold of the right rotor to scrub it with some Simple Green on a scrub pad and notice that the rotor would actually rotate back and forth on the mounting bolts just a bit but the left side did not. I ran a torque wrench around all the bolts on both sides and found nothing out of spec. I know they are supposed to float in and out to absorb some of the possible warpage that may occur, but front to back is not good. While my bike is at the dealers having it's 2 page transmission checklist done to it, they are replacing that rotor under warranty for me. These are not the stock rotors. I had them upgrade to some slutty *** chrome ones when I upgraded to the chrome wheels. We'll see how they feel when, and if, I ever get my bike back.
While I'm thinking about it, isn't the whole concept of "Floating Rotors" to absorb a slight bit of warpage or imperfection in them? I mean, within .001" of spec? Would that make that large of a difference that now it can be felt?
While I'm thinking about it, isn't the whole concept of "Floating Rotors" to absorb a slight bit of warpage or imperfection in them? I mean, within .001" of spec? Would that make that large of a difference that now it can be felt?
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Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,395
Likes: 364
From: Okmulgee
I had noticed a bit of pulsating on the front brakes as well recently but blew it off thinking maybe I picked up a grasshopper or something on one of the rotors and that I would clean them both up real good during the next therapeutic cleaning session. So while I was washing the front wheel, I grabbed a hold of the right rotor to scrub it with some Simple Green on a scrub pad and notice that the rotor would actually rotate back and forth on the mounting bolts just a bit but the left side did not. I ran a torque wrench around all the bolts on both sides and found nothing out of spec. I know they are supposed to float in and out to absorb some of the possible warpage that may occur, but front to back is not good. While my bike is at the dealers having it's 2 page transmission checklist done to it, they are replacing that rotor under warranty for me. These are not the stock rotors. I had them upgrade to some slutty *** chrome ones when I upgraded to the chrome wheels. We'll see how they feel when, and if, I ever get my bike back.
While I'm thinking about it, isn't the whole concept of "Floating Rotors" to absorb a slight bit of warpage or imperfection in them? I mean, within .001" of spec? Would that make that large of a difference that now it can be felt?
While I'm thinking about it, isn't the whole concept of "Floating Rotors" to absorb a slight bit of warpage or imperfection in them? I mean, within .001" of spec? Would that make that large of a difference that now it can be felt?
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