Brake rotors
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 922
Likes: 898
From: Upstate NY
Im also a 'while Im in there' kinda guy, but there is NO logical reason to replace your current rotors. Even as a preemptive measure, you'd be creating unnecessary work and expenses for yourself. Its like throwing out the last 6 full beers in a 12 pack......
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,528
Likes: 30,848
From: Pennsylvania
If you do replace the rotors, you will need to heat the retaining bolts as they probably have red loctite on them. Then you will need to clean out the threads and put new bolts in as per the manual.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 4,816
Likes: 1,320
From: Good roads, cold beer
cant say replacing brake rotors as routine service is anything I've read on this forum.
Have read articles that if you use pads that are too hard they are very hard on the rotors. I have some organic pads on now, they leave a lot of dust but no rotor damage from them.
Have read articles that if you use pads that are too hard they are very hard on the rotors. I have some organic pads on now, they leave a lot of dust but no rotor damage from them.
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 574
Likes: 156
From: Big Sky Country
Hey, did you decide to replace rotors? I have no problem running them and I'll give you $20 to throw the old pair in a flat rate USPS box and ship to me, thanks! I've even reused mounting bolts, though I guess it isn't recommended and I'm sure someone has a horror story they heard from their friend's cousin.
DO NOT heat the mounting/retaining bolts per earlier suggestion. There is no need and you could damage something unnecessarily--just be sure to use the proper size torx, which should fit snugly.
DO NOT heat the mounting/retaining bolts per earlier suggestion. There is no need and you could damage something unnecessarily--just be sure to use the proper size torx, which should fit snugly.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 4,459
Likes: 2,893
From: Oklahoma
eighteight has the key. What is the actual new dimension. Then comes the service limit "philosophy. There is a safety margin in there that says if the discs start the last brake job above the minimum thickness that they can go slightly below the minimum thickness during the service life of those most recent brake pads without suffering a total failure. If it bothers you, replace them. If you can comfortably live with the factory service limits, keep them until they equal or go below the service limit. I can think of very few items on a scooter that are easier to access for a check any time you are bored. Sounds like a good time to establish a "wear rate". You know what they are now, check them in 10,000 moles to see how much they wore. Then you can figure out yourself how much farther they can go. I would be curious to know what that wear rate is also.
Last edited by btsom; Dec 21, 2020 at 08:36 AM.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 5,894
Likes: 1,908
From: East Coast, USA
Tech tip
Don't throw out the old brake rotor.
You can use the old brake rotor as a support plate if you ever need to remove wheel bearings on a wheel with no hub surface. This saves you the expense of purchasing a tool like the Jims #913, wheel bearing support plate.
Don't throw out the old brake rotor.
You can use the old brake rotor as a support plate if you ever need to remove wheel bearings on a wheel with no hub surface. This saves you the expense of purchasing a tool like the Jims #913, wheel bearing support plate.
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 222
Likes: 31
From: Parsippany,NJ, USA
I'm running the 3rd set right now & they too have a wobble, the rotors have maybe 8-9,000 mi on them.
I'm thinking of ck'g them w/ a dial indicator just to see how much these rotors are out..
My dealer has done the parts swap under ESP, they where good for a while after the change, now there pulsating again..