Front rotors pulsating horribly

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Aug 11, 2012 | 05:49 PM

Black Sunshine

Thread Starter

Cruiser

Joined: Jun 2012

Posts: 144

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From: Purgatory, Fl

brakes pulse after switching sides on rotors

I purchased a RC Components Calypso 21/18 wheel tire combo from my dealer when I purchased my bike in april. 2012 street glide, new. I had been looking at the front rotors thinking that they didn't look right for a while and finally realized that the reason they didn't look right is because they were mounted on the wrong sides of the wheel. the right rotor was mounted to the left of the wheel and the left rotor on the right side of the wheel. so I called the dealer and told them and they said that they would swap them for me. they did, this morning, and then I leave and almost instantly the whole braking (front) feels different. I get a pulse feedback in the front brake lever that I feel at any speed, more obvious when slow, and the front end feels like someone is hitting it with an air hammer whenever I apply the front brakes at higher speeds. I had ZERO warpage before and they were smooth as can be. should they have replaced the rotors instead of swapping them side to side? they only have 2500 miles on them. I would have hoped that the dealer would have told me this if this is the case. I was told that they were sent to the dealer with the wheels and rotors already assembled from RC but the dealer was willing to warranty the time since they didn't catch it either. what I'm wondering is if I am going to need a brand new set of rotors since obviously this vibration is not going to cut it.

Last edited by Black Sunshine; Aug 11, 2012 at 06:14 PM.

Aug 11, 2012 | 06:35 PM

mkguitar

Extreme HDF Member

Joined: Sep 2010

Posts: 14,744

Likes: 402

From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins

put it back in the hands of the people who you paid for a professional service.

this is a safety issue- they have liability once you inform them of the problem with their work or the parts

mike

Aug 11, 2012 | 06:46 PM

dh2683

Supporter

Joined: Aug 2008

Posts: 1,272

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From: North East Ohio

Those rotors are pretty soft. doesn't take much to bend or warp them. Could have easily been bent by a careless tech while swapping them back.

Aug 11, 2012 | 06:53 PM

asnowmobiler

Advanced

Joined: Mar 2010

Posts: 73

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From: JIM THORPE, PA.

Mine were warped badly by 3000 miles and they were on the right side.
Warranty covered them no questions asked.

Aug 12, 2012 | 11:00 AM

dugan

Outstanding HDF Member

Joined: Jun 2006

Posts: 2,196

Likes: 13

From: Maryland

I had my RC Components wheels and rotors installed two weeks ago, HD Tech said the rotors are warped. Been trying to settle up with RC and the dealer that I bought them from ever since.

Aug 12, 2012 | 02:23 PM

ackman1968

Elite HDF Member

Joined: Aug 2006

Posts: 3,863

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From: Kennewick, WA

I just swapped out the originals on mine with 12k on them this morning. They were so bad that I couldn't use them a slow speeds because with just a little too much pressure it would hit the sweet spot and lock up the wheel. Thankfully there are a **** load of cheap take offs around and I now have smooth braking again.

Aug 12, 2012 | 02:27 PM

geopac

Cruiser

Joined: Apr 2012

Posts: 129

Likes: 3

From: White Rock, B.C.

Mine also were warped at 5000K. Justy got them replaced on Warranty yesterday.

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Aug 12, 2012 | 04:01 PM

Black Sunshine

Thread Starter

Cruiser

Joined: Jun 2012

Posts: 144

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From: Purgatory, Fl

Took it back to Orlando Harley this morning and had them check it out again. Said that the rotors themselves are in spec but the center hubs on the rotors are out of spec. They cleaned everything up and put it back together (although they now don't match the spokes on the wheel and they're not both on the same way) and now the vibration is gone. They said that they are going to warranty a new set of rotors anyway, just to be safe. This pleases me greatly since they scored a line in the chrome all the way around both rotor hubs with the runout gague. Par for the course, I guess. And they are probably misaligned to get the least runout till they get the new ones in. All in all I'm happy that they're going through all this to get it right, just wish they had only wasted my Saturday and not my Sunday too with one more wasted riding day coming.