Chrome vs Polished Rotor
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Road Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 944
Likes: 12
From: New York
Chrome vs Polished Rotor
Can anyone explain what is a mirror polished. is this a chemical process or something that can be done at home..I am installing a HD thunder star chrome rim on my bike and was considering putting mirror polished rotors instead of chrome
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,033
Likes: 29
RE: Chrome vs Polished Rotor
You can polish out your stock rotors or any other stainless rotor with about 5 bucks worth of sandpaper. I use an attachment that fits in my drill.
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[IMG]local://upfiles/17633/B67F89D767804C62BAC7BC19D5D71EC0.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/17633/9495C86D1CD544FAAFAF8FB32892DBAB.jpg[/IMG]
Road Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,229
Likes: 20
From: Greater St Louis, MO
RE: Chrome vs Polished Rotor
I polished mine with an orbital sander and some wet dry sandpaper. Turned out great. Here is an old thread on it.
https://www.hdforums.com/m_1291967/tm.htm
https://www.hdforums.com/m_1291967/tm.htm
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,183
Likes: 837
From: KMHT KFMY
RE: Chrome vs Polished Rotor
floating rotors are used on performance bikes... the outer part of the rotor, where the pads contact, are isolated from the carrrier so there less pulsation among other things.
the stock HD rotors are Stainless, and can be polished easily with the finer grades of sandpaper.
If you had an orbital sander and some 1500 paper they'd clean up real nice.
If I had to replace my rotors due to wear or accident damage, I would go with floating ones no questions asked. Otherwise I'd hit them with sandpaper starting with 600 and going to 2000 with intermediate cuts in between.. Just remember the pads need a certain surface finish on the rotors to work. try to avoid polishing the swept area and concentrate on the rest.
the stock HD rotors are Stainless, and can be polished easily with the finer grades of sandpaper.
If you had an orbital sander and some 1500 paper they'd clean up real nice.
If I had to replace my rotors due to wear or accident damage, I would go with floating ones no questions asked. Otherwise I'd hit them with sandpaper starting with 600 and going to 2000 with intermediate cuts in between.. Just remember the pads need a certain surface finish on the rotors to work. try to avoid polishing the swept area and concentrate on the rest.
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,033
Likes: 29
RE: Chrome vs Polished Rotor
ORIGINAL: Neggy ZRXOA 5248
Just remember the pads need a certain surface finish on the rotors to work. try to avoid polishing the swept area and concentrate on the rest.
Just remember the pads need a certain surface finish on the rotors to work. try to avoid polishing the swept area and concentrate on the rest.
[IMG]local://upfiles/17633/68CE46E270204A27A8958E59B223D632.jpg[/IMG]
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Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 621
Likes: 0
From: Arizona
RE: Chrome vs Polished Rotor
If I had to replace my rotors due to wear or accident damage, I would go with floating ones no questions asked.
Same here, and plan to do just that as they have been ordered thru Zanotti. Stock ones are not worn or damaged, but am upgrading my '07 FLH's brakes { the last year before Brembo's} with Hawg Halters caliper kits and H/D floaters . Went this way in the past and it has always been a big improvement on my past bikes over factory binders.
Same here, and plan to do just that as they have been ordered thru Zanotti. Stock ones are not worn or damaged, but am upgrading my '07 FLH's brakes { the last year before Brembo's} with Hawg Halters caliper kits and H/D floaters . Went this way in the past and it has always been a big improvement on my past bikes over factory binders.