Warped Rotor, Sticking Caliper - or Both...?
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 434
Likes: 1
From: Port St Lucie, FL
UPDATE: Warped Rotor, Sticking Caliper - or Both...?
I'm hoping you guys can help me diagnose my issue. Warped front rotors, Sticking caliper, or both?
Taking off Wednesday on another 300-500 mile trip and need to get this sorted out Tuesday. Thanks in advance!
The bike is an '09 Street Glide. Yesterday (Sunday) rode home 660 miles from Tennessee and all was well with the bike when I parked it. This afternoon I washed the bike (cooled all night and most of the day). While washing I cleaned the brake dust off the rotors with a little Westley's Bleach White (cuts brake dust great) and a 3M Scotch Brite pad.
Tonight went to dinner with a riding buddy and noticed a vibration when applying the front brake, so after riding a total of 10 miles we stopped to check the front end. The Left front rotor (Clutch lever side) was noticeably hotter than the right side (Brake lever side) - sticking caliper....???
Now a little back story - 4500 miles ago I changed the stock 17 inch front tire & rim to a stock 18 inch tire & rim from a new 2010 FLHX and moved my original rotors to that rim (using new rotor bolts). Never had a front brake issue. From new, when you spin the front tire you can hear the pads rubbing slightly (which by reading on HDF is normal) and I have diagnosed the rubbing pads to be on the left caliper (same side as the hotter rotor).
So with all that info do I have the "normal" warped front rotor syndrome I have read about? Sticking caliper? Or both? How could the bike have been fine for 660 miles, then when parked over night the rotors warped? Do they warp when they cool?
Plan of attack is:
Clean the calipers with brake clean like stated here http://www.lyndallracingbrakes.com/service_tech.htm
If that doesn't help then I'm going to replace the rotors with Full Floating rotors and new pads.
Anyone have any other suggestions?
Taking off Wednesday on another 300-500 mile trip and need to get this sorted out Tuesday. Thanks in advance!
The bike is an '09 Street Glide. Yesterday (Sunday) rode home 660 miles from Tennessee and all was well with the bike when I parked it. This afternoon I washed the bike (cooled all night and most of the day). While washing I cleaned the brake dust off the rotors with a little Westley's Bleach White (cuts brake dust great) and a 3M Scotch Brite pad.
Tonight went to dinner with a riding buddy and noticed a vibration when applying the front brake, so after riding a total of 10 miles we stopped to check the front end. The Left front rotor (Clutch lever side) was noticeably hotter than the right side (Brake lever side) - sticking caliper....???
Now a little back story - 4500 miles ago I changed the stock 17 inch front tire & rim to a stock 18 inch tire & rim from a new 2010 FLHX and moved my original rotors to that rim (using new rotor bolts). Never had a front brake issue. From new, when you spin the front tire you can hear the pads rubbing slightly (which by reading on HDF is normal) and I have diagnosed the rubbing pads to be on the left caliper (same side as the hotter rotor).
So with all that info do I have the "normal" warped front rotor syndrome I have read about? Sticking caliper? Or both? How could the bike have been fine for 660 miles, then when parked over night the rotors warped? Do they warp when they cool?
Plan of attack is:
Clean the calipers with brake clean like stated here http://www.lyndallracingbrakes.com/service_tech.htm
If that doesn't help then I'm going to replace the rotors with Full Floating rotors and new pads.
Anyone have any other suggestions?
Last edited by NAUIdvr1; Jun 24, 2011 at 11:01 PM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,595
Likes: 8
From: Vancouver Island British Colombia Canada
I am thinking it is your caliper. It might be getting sticky. A bad flex line can cause this by collapsing when the brake is released or in your master cylinder, you have a small return hole that might be plugged up with a small amount of debris.
bleed your brakes to flush out your old fluid & have your front tire off the ground. Spin the tire as you release the brakes to see if that caliper is staying engaged!
Hatch.
bleed your brakes to flush out your old fluid & have your front tire off the ground. Spin the tire as you release the brakes to see if that caliper is staying engaged!
Hatch.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,350
Likes: 46
Open up the bleeder after a ride & see how much pressure is in it(with the brakes not engaged). Then see how hard it is to push the piston back in.Is it is possible that when you cleaned the rotor, you didn't get where the caliper was & it is still dirty, so when it rotates to that spot it drags a little more. How much heat difference is there? Good luck
Toby
Toby
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,639
Likes: 2
From: Australia
How bad is the vibration? Does it get worse or better as the brakes heat up?
When you stopped the bike after 10 miles and found the left rotor hotter did you use the front brake?
If you stop the bike using the rear brake is the left rotor still hot or noticeably warmer?
If you stop the bike using the front brake is the right rotor hot?
I have an infra red thermometer for diagnosing this stuff, they are really handy btw.
When you stopped the bike after 10 miles and found the left rotor hotter did you use the front brake?
If you stop the bike using the rear brake is the left rotor still hot or noticeably warmer?
If you stop the bike using the front brake is the right rotor hot?
I have an infra red thermometer for diagnosing this stuff, they are really handy btw.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 434
Likes: 1
From: Port St Lucie, FL
Hatchetman - caliper not "staying engaged" but pads still rubbing a bit
Twistedcherokee - nope the rotors are cleaned good - now I gotta clean the calipers
KKK - Vibration is the same as the brakes heat up.
Yes I had used the front brakes on the 10 mile ride.
Yes, left rotor stays hotter than right if I use the rear brake only.
I also have an infra red thermometer, just did not have it with me at the time.
I'm out cleaning the calipers right now and calling around for parts (floating rotors).
Twistedcherokee - nope the rotors are cleaned good - now I gotta clean the calipers
KKK - Vibration is the same as the brakes heat up.
Yes I had used the front brakes on the 10 mile ride.
Yes, left rotor stays hotter than right if I use the rear brake only.
I also have an infra red thermometer, just did not have it with me at the time.
I'm out cleaning the calipers right now and calling around for parts (floating rotors).
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 424
Likes: 4
From: Denver, CO
Unfortunately or fortunately... I just had to replace both front rotors and brake pads and have the entire front brake system double-checked on my 2011 RKC.
I kept noticing lately there was a vibration when I leaned into a turn and from experience, this bothered me! Vibrations emanating from the front end are usually safety related issues... big time.
I went to my dealer whom I have an excellent relationship with. Of course, being under warranty, they wanted to help and asked me to trouble-shoot the issue. What the service advisor should have done at that moment was to get on the bike, take it for a ride and/or put it on the lift and check out the front end.
That night, I used my J&S jack for the first time to do an oil change (GREAT lift!) and I immediately went to the front and spun the wheel.
Sure 'nough, the wheel was binding on the left brake big time and I could see where the vibration was coming from.
Next morning, I rode it down to the dealer, told 'em what was happening, they gave me a ride home and four hours later got a call from the service manager.
The left rotor was WARPED (from the factory) and was rubbing on the brake pads. The rotor was being destroyed and glazed and the pads were shot.
At first, they wanted me to pay for the new rotors and pads... then only the pads.
I called the general manager, with whom I have a close relationship and he called the factory and being that the brake problem was a factory problem, the complete rotor, pad, et al repair was covered by the factory under warranty.
Bottom line: trust your own judgment, your own feelings and experience and if you have a front end/brake concern. You seem to be spot-on it right now!
I had to 'push' at first to have it covered under warranty... but the dealer and factory both understood that it was a warranty issue.
Good luck!
I kept noticing lately there was a vibration when I leaned into a turn and from experience, this bothered me! Vibrations emanating from the front end are usually safety related issues... big time.
I went to my dealer whom I have an excellent relationship with. Of course, being under warranty, they wanted to help and asked me to trouble-shoot the issue. What the service advisor should have done at that moment was to get on the bike, take it for a ride and/or put it on the lift and check out the front end.
That night, I used my J&S jack for the first time to do an oil change (GREAT lift!) and I immediately went to the front and spun the wheel.
Sure 'nough, the wheel was binding on the left brake big time and I could see where the vibration was coming from.
Next morning, I rode it down to the dealer, told 'em what was happening, they gave me a ride home and four hours later got a call from the service manager.
The left rotor was WARPED (from the factory) and was rubbing on the brake pads. The rotor was being destroyed and glazed and the pads were shot.
At first, they wanted me to pay for the new rotors and pads... then only the pads.
I called the general manager, with whom I have a close relationship and he called the factory and being that the brake problem was a factory problem, the complete rotor, pad, et al repair was covered by the factory under warranty.
Bottom line: trust your own judgment, your own feelings and experience and if you have a front end/brake concern. You seem to be spot-on it right now!
I had to 'push' at first to have it covered under warranty... but the dealer and factory both understood that it was a warranty issue.
Good luck!
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Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 434
Likes: 1
From: Port St Lucie, FL
Found the issue.
The left caliper where I said the pads were ever so slightly rubbing "normally". On a 600+ mile ride, with stops for fuel only, this slight rubbing creates a lot of heat. This caused the rotor to heat up and when it finally cooled, it warped.
The cause of this slight rubbing was due to brake dust build up on the caliper piston and not allowing the piston the fully retract when the brake lever was released.
I have new floating rotors & Lyndal gold plus pads being delivered by Friday. When they get here I will clean the pistons or rebuild the calipers, whichever is necessary.
Thanks for the reply's everyone. I will post a follow up post with pictures on the job.
The left caliper where I said the pads were ever so slightly rubbing "normally". On a 600+ mile ride, with stops for fuel only, this slight rubbing creates a lot of heat. This caused the rotor to heat up and when it finally cooled, it warped.
The cause of this slight rubbing was due to brake dust build up on the caliper piston and not allowing the piston the fully retract when the brake lever was released.
I have new floating rotors & Lyndal gold plus pads being delivered by Friday. When they get here I will clean the pistons or rebuild the calipers, whichever is necessary.
Thanks for the reply's everyone. I will post a follow up post with pictures on the job.
Last edited by NAUIdvr1; Jun 21, 2011 at 08:57 PM.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: El Cajon Ca.
It's pretty normal to have to clean the caliper pistons on these bikes. They tend to get dirty and start dragging after some miles. It is possible to straighten a warped rotor. i have done it with a 12" cresent wrench. They do tend to warp again in time though.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 434
Likes: 1
From: Port St Lucie, FL
Yeah, I know I could straighten it, but I have been wanting floating rotors since last year so this is my excuse to buy them. Plus also forces me to clean the calipers & get real familiar with them.