Warped rotors
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 444
Likes: 166
Warped rotors
Well guys... Had dreaded "brembo brake rotor warp"
Read tons of threads about this and decided to try straightening them myself. After all if it doesnt work i gotta buy new ones anyway. Set up my trusty dial indicator for zero and tested to see how bad they were. Righty wasnt bad at only 5 thou out but lefty was 13 thou out. Beleive me when i say i could feel a very slight vibration at speed without touching brake lever. With brakes applied lots of pulsating lever. Well i started to work my way around the rotor gradually tweaking rotor in or out with an 8 inch credent wrench (does NoT take much!!!). 10 minutes later i only have 1 thou of run out on both rotors. Amazing. Off for a ride... Smooth as a babys bum. Im sure they will warp again but i'll tell ya... If i have to do this process every oil change it sure seems better than spending big bucks on rotors that nobody will guarantee against warping. Not for everybody but give it a whirl if your rotors are "wobbly"
Cheers
Read tons of threads about this and decided to try straightening them myself. After all if it doesnt work i gotta buy new ones anyway. Set up my trusty dial indicator for zero and tested to see how bad they were. Righty wasnt bad at only 5 thou out but lefty was 13 thou out. Beleive me when i say i could feel a very slight vibration at speed without touching brake lever. With brakes applied lots of pulsating lever. Well i started to work my way around the rotor gradually tweaking rotor in or out with an 8 inch credent wrench (does NoT take much!!!). 10 minutes later i only have 1 thou of run out on both rotors. Amazing. Off for a ride... Smooth as a babys bum. Im sure they will warp again but i'll tell ya... If i have to do this process every oil change it sure seems better than spending big bucks on rotors that nobody will guarantee against warping. Not for everybody but give it a whirl if your rotors are "wobbly"
Cheers
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,833
Likes: 35
From: Southern Maryland
interesting....i have a bit of a shimmy when my brake is applied. tell me more about your "dial indicator". sorry, not a wrencher or mechanical tech so can you tell me more about it, what it does and how to use it? i know....sound like a dumb a$$ but i guess its how i learn.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,090
Likes: 7
interesting....i have a bit of a shimmy when my brake is applied. tell me more about your "dial indicator". sorry, not a wrencher or mechanical tech so can you tell me more about it, what it does and how to use it? i know....sound like a dumb a$$ but i guess its how i learn.
In measuring rotor lateral runout, the gauge must be fixed to a stationary point such as the front fork. The peg on the gauge is then touched to the rotor and the rotor is turned while watching the movement of the needle on the gauge. As the rotor turns, it will move in and out (depending on the amount of runout) and the gauge needle will move back and forth. Typically anything over 3 thousandths (.003) will be perceptible to the rider.
Hope that helps...
Trending Topics
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,833
Likes: 35
From: Southern Maryland
cool.....thanks for the explinatoin. i might have to look into that to "adjust" my rotors. starting to feel it when i break. other than a little annoying, no problem braking.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 5,105
Likes: 16
From: Blaine, WA
Not limited to touring models either, in fact - the rotors aren't Brembo, I think they are by Sumitomo - a Japanese brake manufacturer but as mentioned, they float so therefore can move, not really warped. They are actually semi floaters, a true floating rotor rattles around and moves all the time which is what they are supposed to do but people wouldn't accept that on a road bike.