Polishing Rotors

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Apr 17, 2019 | 10:52 AM

#11

hattitude

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Sep 2008

Posts: 14,156

Likes: 11,247

From: San Diego, CA

Quote:

Originally Posted by Groucho-17SGS

Thanks for the feedback. It's not that I am not mechanically inclined, I have performed lots of work on mine and my wife's bikes. I just don't like to fool with one of the two things keeping me attached to the road. Harkon you mention that this should not be performed with the rotor even attached to the wheel, not challenging but can you explain why?

Many reasons already mentioned:

Rotor on bike:
Collateral damage to wheel/frame/fork parts from polishing.
Turn a couple hour job into a couple day job (maybe just a little exaggeration).

Rotor on Wheel:
Possible damage to wheel bearings from polishing compound/cleaning of rotor
Front wheel double rotor, increases the chance of bending a rotor

Rotor off bike & wheel:
Much easier/faster to clean & polish, both sides....
No chance of collateral damage to anything else on the bike
Much easier to clean (chase) threads and bolts from rotor before reassembly (I'd use new OEM bolts)
Removing wheel & rotor and then reassembly when done, will only add 30 minutes to total time
You have a chance to really clean the wheel and check the wheel bearings (some years have weak wheel bearings)
Gives you a good reason to get a service manual for your bike that will prove very valuable in the future...

Good luck with the mod........

Apr 17, 2019 | 10:55 AM

#12

hattitude

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Sep 2008

Posts: 14,156

Likes: 11,247

From: San Diego, CA

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob175

As an aircraft owner, I changed out my standard wheels/rotors with "chromed" ones years ago. The chromed ones greatly extend the life of brake pads, which on aircraft are crazy expensive! I wonder if chromed rotors are available for motorcycles??

I know there are chrome rotors out there, but I would suspect they don't hold up to hard braking... I would also think you may need different pads, but I don't know for sure.... I've never considered chrome on the rotors....

Not exactly chromed, but a very good alternative.....

http://www.willyshiny.com/other-stuf...-brake-rotors/

Last edited by hattitude; Apr 17, 2019 at 10:59 AM.

Apr 17, 2019 | 04:46 PM

#13

Groucho-17SGS

Thread Starter

Cruiser

Joined: Apr 2019

Posts: 169

Likes: 28

From: Florida

Thanks everyone I will probably wait and get some polished rotors and change out when I put a new front tire/rim on the bike. Was looking something relatively simple to do without taking my bike out of commission however the risk of getting something in the wheel bearings and collateral damage has outweighed my desire for something to do.