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Old Jul 13, 2009 | 07:04 AM
  #11  
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Originally Posted by Spartaman
My mechanic friend works at a brake manufacturing company and he told me that chrome or polished brakes need to surfaced finished on the braking areas. Once that was done on mine, there was a huge difference in stopping power.
I'm peeved at my rotors now. These others dudes are stopping on dimes and not feeling any difference between the polished and the OEM I'm like WTF is up on my setup!!

It was a very noticable difference between stock and my polished rotors.

So yours felt funky when they were still shiny too?

need to be sure to clean the pistons when changing brake pads.
Nice....Thanks for the article TK. I'm crafty in the garage and do all my own chit yet once again have never cleaned my derned pistons!!

I'm gonna do that this afternoon. I have weird wear patterns on my rotors and I aint stopping on dimes like the rest of the crew. Sheese I gotta literally stand on my rear brake to lock it up.
 
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Old Jul 13, 2009 | 07:22 AM
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Go get yourself a rebuild kit Chaz.Split the caliper and clean the hell out of them.Make sure you blow them out real good.Use fine grit emery cloth on your rotors to clean the surface.I use a sanding block to do this.I did mine twice in 43k.to keep the brakes stopping good.The stock calipers are prone to suck wind.I finally put a set of HHI calipers on. Wish I had done that 43k ago. G.
 
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Old Jul 13, 2009 | 09:04 AM
  #13  
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Are H-D's polished rotors also polished on the braking surface? I was under the impression only the middle area was polished.
 
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Old Jul 13, 2009 | 10:42 AM
  #14  
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I too have DNA Super Spoke polished rotors and Lyndall Z pads. I have no problem stopping at all.

Chaz, if you have a weird wear pattern, that would be why you are not stopping as well as the rest of us. It has nothing to do with them being polished. You are only using the low spots on your rotor to stop with instead of the whole area of your pad.
 
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Old Jul 13, 2009 | 10:48 AM
  #15  
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I've got a set of chrome rotors I got from Eastern with the Lyndall Z pads, and there's a huge difference in stopping power from stock. I couldn't lock up my rear brake if I had to.

Eventually I'll invest in a set of PM differential bore calipers.
 
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Old Jul 13, 2009 | 11:38 AM
  #16  
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Originally Posted by rthomp159
I've got a set of chrome rotors I got from Eastern with the Lyndall Z pads, and there's a huge difference in stopping power from stock. I couldn't lock up my rear brake if I had to.

Eventually I'll invest in a set of PM differential bore calipers.
Just ran an errand on my this AM...I cant lock up the rear at all.

Chaz, if you have a weird wear pattern, that would be why you are not stopping as well as the rest of us. It has nothing to do with them being polished. You are only using the low spots on your rotor to stop with instead of the whole area of your pad.
I'm gonna take em apart tonight and clean the calipres!
 
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Old Jul 13, 2009 | 12:54 PM
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Looking at your pic a little closer I'd say you have a piston sticking.Make sure you have some fine emory cloth on hand to polish the piston.
The differential bore is the key to good braking,along with a quality rotor.Your only gonna get so much brake from the stock brakes.If your a hard breaker expect them to suck.
The PM'S and HHI'S are only about a grand for a set.Get off that wallet money bags$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.G.
 
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Old Jul 13, 2009 | 01:16 PM
  #18  
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Brakes rely on friction between pad & rotor. Polish the rotor & it's obvious it's not going to stop any better.

Try suggesting it to someone who races & see what they say!
 
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Old Jul 13, 2009 | 04:12 PM
  #19  
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Nahhh... I thought the same thing. I got my chromed rotors at the same time I increased the tire/wheel diameter +2" (rear) and +5" (front). I dropped a 6 piston PM caliper in front just in case , no no brake issues with the chrome rotors (which should be if you have them with polished only).

Good luck,

Mimo.
 
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Old Jul 13, 2009 | 04:56 PM
  #20  
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Originally Posted by back again
Looking at your pic a little closer I'd say you have a piston sticking.Make sure you have some fine emory cloth on hand to polish the piston.
The differential bore is the key to good braking,along with a quality rotor.Your only gonna get so much brake from the stock brakes.If your a hard breaker expect them to suck.
The PM'S and HHI'S are only about a grand for a set.Get off that wallet money bags$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.G.
Ha....

I think youre right tho. There is a really inconsistant feel in my front brakes. Sometimes better than other days yada, yada.

My rear brake is simply garbage as well. I couldnt lock that bastard standing on it with all my weight. Its time to tear em' down and figure em out.

I'm not as up to speed on Harley brakes as I would like to be thats for sure. I bleed em, replace pads and have done caliper rebuild kits on countless cars and other bikes of Asian heritage just figgered with only 17K on this bike that wasnt something I needed to be doing...Yet.

Thanks Gordon.
 
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