Front disc warping after 6k miles??

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Apr 8, 2012 | 10:32 AM

#11

boom23

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Joined: Jul 2009

Posts: 493

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From: SoCal

Sometimes, when you brake with the front brakes, you feel the irregularities of the road more as the front fork is compressed. Roads may seem flat but they may not be. So, check the runout.

Also, from my car racing days, stock pads would fade and warp the rotors after 1 hot lap. The cure for that is better cooling (which is not a problem for bikes) and brake pads that handle heat better. A good brake pad will grab better, be rotor friendly, make less dust (hopefully), last longer, and will not warp the rotors.

Ask brake pad manufacturers what pads the racers use and if they are rotor friendly or if they work, or squeal, when they are cold. Tell them you want something for aggressive street riding. They should know. For my race car I was using Porterfield brake pads and they made night and day difference.

Last edited by boom23; Apr 8, 2012 at 10:47 AM.

Apr 8, 2012 | 12:05 PM

#12

2black1s

Elite HDF Member

Joined: Nov 2010

Posts: 3,846

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From: Simi Valley, CA

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlanStansbery

My experience is, the stock Harley rotors--those provided with pre-08 bikes as well as those (11.8") provided with Brembos--warp pretty readily. I suspect at least in my case, one hard stop is about all it takes, or one 10 or 15 mile ride downhill on a twisty mountain road. They heat up, and warp. I think it's the design, single piece. Maybe I'm hard on brakes.

I bought some Harley 'floating' discs and haven't had a problem since.

I'd ask the dealer to give me credit for the stock replacement rotors, and use it toward the upgrade to a set of the HD 'floaters'.

Alan

Are you using the brakes to control your downhill speed on those 10-15 mile stretches? If so, yeah you're right - you are hard on brakes.

Apr 9, 2012 | 05:21 AM

#13

smg614

Intermediate

Joined: Dec 2008

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Hate to say it, but gotta upgrade to the "floating" rotors. All it takes is one hard stop and they are done. Same thing happened on my 08SG and now on my 12SG. I don't know why HD doesn't just put ""floaters" on from the start. I spoke with an HD tech that I trust and he said that he has changed out many of the stock rotors for either warranty or to upgrade because the stock ones are junk.

Apr 9, 2012 | 06:10 AM

#14

sporacer

Road Master

Joined: May 2008

Posts: 1,196

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From: connecticut

My Floaters are warped so dont think they are the cure all.

Apr 9, 2012 | 08:27 AM

#15

68 Shovelking

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Joined: Feb 2012

Posts: 383

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From: Seattle

My 09 RKC has a warped rotor at 3600 miles. I'd be cool upgrading if I thought buying the HD floaters would be the end of it, but I'm not cool with buying rotors as frequently as many are reporting. Has any body had better success with aftermarket full floating rotors?

Apr 9, 2012 | 08:46 PM

#16

DeneFXDWG

Thread Starter

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Joined: Mar 2010

Posts: 1,505

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From: Vancouver Island, British Columbia

Quote:

Originally Posted by 68 Shovelking

Good question, anybody got some input?

Apr 11, 2012 | 08:51 PM

#17

don g

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Joined: Jan 2010

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From: Marquette MI.

Rotors don't cause pulsing for no reason. Many rotors that are said to be warped are not warped but have worn unevenly around the disk. In any case if your brakes are pulsing you should evaluate your braking habits. Applying the brakes when stopped while the rotor and pads are hot will cause the metal of the disk to change its composition. This will cause the disk to wear uneven. If the disk have worn in one area of the disk from this circumstance and you have two front disk you can rotate one of the disk 180' and see if it stops the pulsing.