Caliper Bolts WTF !!!
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 265
Likes: 0
From: Riverview, FL
Thanks for the knowledge.
Looks like I was wrong about the Lock tite, but correct about the caliper bolts and the need to torque them to specs. Dealer / service department knows I am pissed. I have a Wife and 6 month old Daughter! This bumbling by the service department could have cost me my life. Rush hour traffic here in Atlanta is no joke, and if you can't stop, you are a gonner.
I guess I have to add one other phrase to defensive motorcycle riding.
Half of the people on the road don't see you.
Half of the people on the road are actually trying to kill you.
The motorcycle service department may be on their side too!
Dwayne
Looks like I was wrong about the Lock tite, but correct about the caliper bolts and the need to torque them to specs. Dealer / service department knows I am pissed. I have a Wife and 6 month old Daughter! This bumbling by the service department could have cost me my life. Rush hour traffic here in Atlanta is no joke, and if you can't stop, you are a gonner.
I guess I have to add one other phrase to defensive motorcycle riding.
Half of the people on the road don't see you.
Half of the people on the road are actually trying to kill you.
The motorcycle service department may be on their side too!
Dwayne
Tourer
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 286
Likes: 0
From: North Carolina
You should be able to remove the rotor bolts and the front axle and drop the rotors without removing the wheel, then replace the pads easily. Not that I would recommend this but if the shop were cutting corners and charging "book" prices this would be much faster.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 493
Likes: 1
From: SoCal
I have a hard time believing that they did not remove the calipers when the replaced the pads and rotors. If they did not remove the calipers then the factory forgot to torque all four bolts??? That's even harder to believe...
Just a side thought... Is your bike kept outside and do you have any enemies?
Also, from my racing days, I always use a drop or two of blue locktite on the caliper bolts. It is cheap insurance.
Just a side thought... Is your bike kept outside and do you have any enemies?
Also, from my racing days, I always use a drop or two of blue locktite on the caliper bolts. It is cheap insurance.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,439
Likes: 884
From: 'Noke, VA
You should be able to remove the rotor bolts and the front axle and drop the rotors without removing the wheel, then replace the pads easily. Not that I would recommend this but if the shop were cutting corners and charging "book" prices this would be much faster.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 265
Likes: 0
From: Riverview, FL
My bike is garage parked ALL the time.
I have NEVER had this kind of problem before, and since the pads and rotors were replaced on friday of last week, and today is the first ride since that time, I have to assume that the problem rests with the dealership.
On the day I went by, they aere 'slammed" with jobs. I think in a haste to complete all of the jobs on that day, they cut some corners to save time, or they failed to pat attention to detail and forgot to torque the bolts.
They better not charge me for a replacement bolt!!!
If it were my fault, like the Soldier I am, I would fall on my sword and admit fault and make every effort to make sure it never happens again. I guess my lesson learned here is to have just one tech work on my bike all the time. That way I know him and He knows my bike inside and out.
I believe the tech in this case was a new guy. I can't be absolutely sure, but I have never seen his face before.
By the way is there anything else I should be checking as well?
Thanks, Dwayne
I have NEVER had this kind of problem before, and since the pads and rotors were replaced on friday of last week, and today is the first ride since that time, I have to assume that the problem rests with the dealership.
On the day I went by, they aere 'slammed" with jobs. I think in a haste to complete all of the jobs on that day, they cut some corners to save time, or they failed to pat attention to detail and forgot to torque the bolts.
They better not charge me for a replacement bolt!!!
If it were my fault, like the Soldier I am, I would fall on my sword and admit fault and make every effort to make sure it never happens again. I guess my lesson learned here is to have just one tech work on my bike all the time. That way I know him and He knows my bike inside and out.
I believe the tech in this case was a new guy. I can't be absolutely sure, but I have never seen his face before.
By the way is there anything else I should be checking as well?
Thanks, Dwayne
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
I bought an 02 RKC with 20k from the dealer.
I didnt have it long maybe a few thousands miles and discovered the right front caliper was loose while washing it. It rattled and the bolts could be turned with my fingers.
It wasnt like that when I got it and no work had been done to it since I had it. I dont know what if anything the dealer did to it before I got it but I doubt they had any reason to pull the calipers.
I just cranked the bolts down and check them everytime I wash it. No trouble since.
I am glad I seen it cause that could make for a real bad day.
I didnt have it long maybe a few thousands miles and discovered the right front caliper was loose while washing it. It rattled and the bolts could be turned with my fingers.
It wasnt like that when I got it and no work had been done to it since I had it. I dont know what if anything the dealer did to it before I got it but I doubt they had any reason to pull the calipers.
I just cranked the bolts down and check them everytime I wash it. No trouble since.
I am glad I seen it cause that could make for a real bad day.
Banned
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,259
Likes: 5
From: NW NC
You can do the pads but not rotors. The replacement pads come with instructions to do it on the rears without removing the wheel.
You pry the pads back, loosen the pad pins, drop the inner pad and install new pad, replace pins, apply brake to seat pad against rotor, then pry back outer pad, remove pins, replace pad. etc. But I wouldnt do this on the front its a pita, much easier to remove calipers.
You pry the pads back, loosen the pad pins, drop the inner pad and install new pad, replace pins, apply brake to seat pad against rotor, then pry back outer pad, remove pins, replace pad. etc. But I wouldnt do this on the front its a pita, much easier to remove calipers.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 10,449
Likes: 46
From: Roswell, GA
For example, if the tech didn't torque the caliper bolts, it's probably a safe bet that he didn't torque the rotor bolts or the pad pin bolts.
As good as the information is on HDF, having a copy of the Service Manual for your bike is a better solution IMO.
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 103
Likes: 5
From: Athens, GA
I had a local indy shop (in Athens, Ga) replace the front pads on one of my previous bikes, I guess it was about 3 years ago now. Went to get the bike and they had it pulled around, said it was all ready to go. Looking back on it now, I feel like a total IDIOT, because I didn't check to make sure it really was ready. It was about 15 miles home, and I was lucky to make it. I kept hearing a rattle (that I hadn't heard before) and it got worse the closer to home I got. When I got off of the bike, I started doing a "walk around" (too late) and saw that all four caliper bolts were almost completely out. One had completely unscrewed and was almost failing out of the caliper. I retorqued them myself and I've NEVER let them touch any of my bikes since then.
Now I know that people make mistakes, and it is easy to miss something if its a busy day, especially if you keep getting interrupted. But like the OP said, something like brakes not working correctly can easily get you killed, and a lot of people aren't mechanically inclined, they depend on the techs to do the job right! Messing up a repair to a "critical" part like brakes is something that you just can NOT afford to do, even once.
I did learn to always check my bikes if I let someone else do any service work on them BEFORE I get on and ride away.
Just glad we were both (OP and myself) "lucky".
Now I know that people make mistakes, and it is easy to miss something if its a busy day, especially if you keep getting interrupted. But like the OP said, something like brakes not working correctly can easily get you killed, and a lot of people aren't mechanically inclined, they depend on the techs to do the job right! Messing up a repair to a "critical" part like brakes is something that you just can NOT afford to do, even once.
I did learn to always check my bikes if I let someone else do any service work on them BEFORE I get on and ride away.
Just glad we were both (OP and myself) "lucky".
