Brake shudder
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 267
Likes: 11
From: Oklahoma City
Brake shudder
I've encountered an issue with my 15 RK that I'll take in for (hopefully) warranty work, but want to run it by here first. I get pretty hard shudder or vibration when front brakes are applied at anything over 45 mph or so. Doesn't happen at all just using the rear, but as we know it's preferable to use mainly the front. I have about 8500 miles on it, linked ABS. If it were warped rotor(s), wouldn't the vibration occur at all speeds? Makes me wonder if it's got something to do with the ABS module. Anyone run into something like this?
Thanks in advance!
Thanks in advance!
Supporter
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 15,788
Likes: 5,621
From: along the shore of Mishigami
I read of a fix/check on the front rotors. Some front twin rotors seam to be be aligned hole for hole from right to left forks. so this owner rotated one rotor one bolt hole and the shudder subsided.
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 577
Likes: 20
From: Reno
check the float on the rotors... if you can not move the float up and down with your thumb and pointer, then chances are the rotor is locked in a warp (in your case) which can be freed up with penetrating oil and GENTLY prying against the float and the rotor with a screw driver just enough to get the penetrating oil into the float disc itself.
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 432
Likes: 64
From: Sedona, AZ
My 2015 RK has had two front right rotors replaced so far. The left one is bad too. It's within spec, barely though. I called HD customer service at the recommendation of the dealership. The dealership said they would go to bat for me once I had a customer service issue ticket #. It shakes/shudders really bad, at certain speeds coupled with a certain amount of brake lever pressure (often when I'm under heavy braking pressure). I told HD customer service about the bike doing it for 9,000 of the 12,000 miles I've put on and I was sick and tired of dealing with it. It's sucks to jam the brakes on when you really need them and have the bike shudder like a mother f$&!#r, making the hairy situation even more unnerving!
Maybe the dealers suggestion can help someone else here too.
Bike goes in soon and they said they would tell HD customer service that it's going to go out of spec eventually, so why not take care of it now!?!
Last edited by Sedonastrider; Oct 21, 2015 at 12:52 AM.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 267
Likes: 11
From: Oklahoma City
My 2015 RK has had two front right rotors replaced so far. The left one is bad too. It's within spec, barely though. I called HD customer service at the recommendation of the dealership. The dealership said they would go to bat for me once I had a customer service issue ticket #. It shakes/shudders really bad, at certain speeds coupled with a certain amount of brake lever pressure (often when I'm under heavy braking pressure). I told HD customer service about the bike doing it for 9,000 of the 12,000 miles I've put on and I was sick and tired of dealing with it. It's sucks to jam the brakes on when you really need them and have the bike shudder like a mother f$&!#r, making the hairy situation even more unnerving!
Maybe the dealers suggestion can help someone else here too.
Bike goes in soon and they said they would tell HD customer service that it's going to go out of spec eventually, so why not take care of it now!?!
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Tourer
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 432
Likes: 64
From: Sedona, AZ
Wow - thanks for that info. It's pretty sad to spend so much on this beautiful motorcycle and then have something as important as the brakes not work right. I never had this problem with my 06 or my 93, but then again they didn't have abs either. Of course it's very possible that the QC on the rotors just sucks more with the new design for some reason - new vendor maybe?
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Tourer
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 432
Likes: 64
From: Sedona, AZ
Oh. I would just move to a high quality rotor but the service advisor said that I'd likely void my brake system warranty. He's a good guy and gives me good insight. In a year when I'm out of warranty, I'll change the rotors out if I'm still having issues.
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 267
Likes: 11
From: Oklahoma City
Good tip - thanks!