Front discs repeatedly warp causing pulsation hard braking
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Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 186
Likes: 2
From: los angeles
Front discs repeatedly warp causing pulsation hard braking
I practice hard braking so in the event of a panic stop I can get the best results . I have trued my rotors to .002 run out and cleaned the calipers thoroughly meaning not taking them apart but cleaning the exposed surfaces of the pistons. Can the calipers be causing the pulsation? 40k on bike. Have cleaned and sanded surface of pads. Would a caliper rebuild help this condition? Input appreciated.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,553
Likes: 13
From: Sussex, South of England
You may find that if (and I'm not saying that you do) after hard breaking and keeping your brakes on, the discs warp a little due to the heat being stored in the mass of the discs and pads. The rest of the disc cools down faster causing the warping.
Road Captain
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 745
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento
i had less than 3K on the bike when i started noticing the fronts warped & the stealer said there within spec. so here i am at just over 10K & there still warped & they still say there within spec.
think im going to take a hammer to mine & then take it in...lol
but when i do change them im going to upgrade to the better rotors.
i dont think this helps you but its my 2 cents.
think im going to take a hammer to mine & then take it in...lol
but when i do change them im going to upgrade to the better rotors.
i dont think this helps you but its my 2 cents.
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 637
Likes: 3
From: Laurel, Maryland
Stop it!
I practice hard braking so in the event of a panic stop I can get the best results . I have trued my rotors to .002 run out and cleaned the calipers thoroughly meaning not taking them apart but cleaning the exposed surfaces of the pistons. Can the calipers be causing the pulsation? 40k on bike. Have cleaned and sanded surface of pads. Would a caliper rebuild help this condition? Input appreciated.
Save it for when you need it.
Yes, 40,000 miles of doing this will warp your rotors.
Resurfacing the face of the rotors won't remove the warp.
No, rebuilding the calipers won't help either.
I'm not sure if you can remove the rotors and have them machined enough to remove the warp like you can on a car or truck. They're pretty thin to begin with.
Replace your front rotors and brake pads and stop being so hard on them.
Train yourself to apply the rear brake first and then apply the front. You'll get a lot more life out of your rotors and pads. JMHO
GSF
Advanced
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
From: Arizona
If the rotors are out even a little you will feel it when breaking. I have a 2011 Limited and did the hard breaking a couple of times after I broke her in just to get the feel for the ABS. I don't feel the need to continue stressing the ole girl out by breaking hard as a practice. We should be good to go if the need arises.
Up grade your rotors and trust your skills and your bike, and enjoy your riding.
Up grade your rotors and trust your skills and your bike, and enjoy your riding.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,156
Likes: 41
From: So Cal
As long as the calipers are not sticking and are operating correctly, then the warping is being caused by your riding style (hard braking, practicing panic stops , running in the "friction zone" etc) and you can expect that to happen. Replace the rotors with a "floating set" they dissipate heat much better and will improve your stopping distance when hot.
Keep up the practice, it can save your life. Almost every ride Im on 3 or 4 times a week , I practice at least 1 or 2 of the "Ride Like a Pro" skills, like full lock turns, start in full lock turn, walking speed riding and an occasional 60 -70 mph panic stop. You can never be too prepared and it may save your life.
Keep up the practice, it can save your life. Almost every ride Im on 3 or 4 times a week , I practice at least 1 or 2 of the "Ride Like a Pro" skills, like full lock turns, start in full lock turn, walking speed riding and an occasional 60 -70 mph panic stop. You can never be too prepared and it may save your life.
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Road Master
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,081
Likes: 7
From: Canada
The main reason for pulsating in the brake system is coming to a hard stop and staying stopped with the brake on. The area between the pads doesn't cool down at the same rate and the result is a bend in the rotor. Generally you can't even see the imperfection, but you will feel it in the lever. It's also a good idea to remove calipers for long term storage such as over the winter as with the pads against the rotors there is a possibility of scoring the rotors.
If you keep praticing panic stops (which I think everyone should do) do it in such a way that you can keep riding for a bit to cool off the brakes and stay stopped especially with the brakes applied.
cheers
If you keep praticing panic stops (which I think everyone should do) do it in such a way that you can keep riding for a bit to cool off the brakes and stay stopped especially with the brakes applied.
cheers
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Joe Kucinski
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
yup, as pointed out above hot pads on rotors.
I try as much as possible to not keep hot pads on one portion of the rotor, when stopped I release the front brake.
if on a grade I'll slip the rear brake so as to allow the pads to contact different parts of the rotor.
I am also in the habit of flashing the brake light when stopped to attract the attention of the on coming driver who is texting.
so this all works together
Mike
I try as much as possible to not keep hot pads on one portion of the rotor, when stopped I release the front brake.
if on a grade I'll slip the rear brake so as to allow the pads to contact different parts of the rotor.
I am also in the habit of flashing the brake light when stopped to attract the attention of the on coming driver who is texting.
so this all works together
Mike
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,294
Likes: 1
From: South FL
I practice hard braking so in the event of a panic stop I can get the best results . I have trued my rotors to .002 run out and cleaned the calipers thoroughly meaning not taking them apart but cleaning the exposed surfaces of the pistons. Can the calipers be causing the pulsation? 40k on bike. Have cleaned and sanded surface of pads. Would a caliper rebuild help this condition? Input appreciated.