AGAIN with this stuff!?!?
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 269
Likes: 0
From: Springfield, MO
I wondered myself why this wouldn't affect cars as well. What I do know is no - I don't ride the brakes or over use the brakes (front or back) and yes - I have a left front warped rotor. No lay downs, impacts, etc. Bike is 10 months old with 10k on it, lots of brake pad left. It has one spot about 3 to 4 inches worth of outside diameter that is warped slightly but it makes a hell of a chatter if you need to use the front brakes with conviction.
I also know that my dealer confirmed that if the rotor is out of spec then it will be covered by warranty so I do have that going for me.
I also know that my dealer confirmed that if the rotor is out of spec then it will be covered by warranty so I do have that going for me.
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
From: Kansas City, MO
This may actually have nothing to do with how you operate the brake, which may surprise you given that every other response here is quick to blame your riding style.
You appear to have an aftermarket wheel, probably lower legs, but I'm guessing stock caliper(s)?
My buddy went to a 21" wheel, some no-name lowers and a single rotor setup. He warped every rotor almost immediately and just stopped using the front brakes.
It turned out that the caliper was not perfectly shimmed (and never would be) because of the lower-legs. What he needed was a true floating rotor setup, not the fake / cosmetic floating rotor that Harley sells, but a rotor that will actually move to center itself between the pads. The setup is expensive and my buddy isn't prepared to go there so I shimmed it the best I could, but as the pads wear down, if they don't wear perfectly even, the new rotor will warp.
I don't know that this is your issue, but it may be. Check your pads, are they wearing evenly; meaning is the pad itself the same thickness all the way across and is it the same thickness as it's opposing pad?
Good luck.
You appear to have an aftermarket wheel, probably lower legs, but I'm guessing stock caliper(s)?
My buddy went to a 21" wheel, some no-name lowers and a single rotor setup. He warped every rotor almost immediately and just stopped using the front brakes.
It turned out that the caliper was not perfectly shimmed (and never would be) because of the lower-legs. What he needed was a true floating rotor setup, not the fake / cosmetic floating rotor that Harley sells, but a rotor that will actually move to center itself between the pads. The setup is expensive and my buddy isn't prepared to go there so I shimmed it the best I could, but as the pads wear down, if they don't wear perfectly even, the new rotor will warp.
I don't know that this is your issue, but it may be. Check your pads, are they wearing evenly; meaning is the pad itself the same thickness all the way across and is it the same thickness as it's opposing pad?
Good luck.
Thread Starter
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Supporter
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,685
Likes: 36
From: Hoboken, NJ
The thing is that this problem first arose with the PM Heathen rotors that came with the wheels. BOTH warped. They were removed, sent to PM, trued and sent back to me. In the interim, I had the current HD ones installed and five months later... same problem. Two different manufacturers, same problem. The issue HAS to be the calipers, no?
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,345
Likes: 3
From: Rhode Island, USA
i just took my FLHTK into the dealer for the 10000 mile service and mentioned a vibration in the front and suggested the rotors might be warped.....they checked and yup, warped. replaced under warranty. zero $$
brake pads were still well within specifications. interesting thought about holding the front brake....i do.....maybe i won't and see what happens.
brake pads were still well within specifications. interesting thought about holding the front brake....i do.....maybe i won't and see what happens.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,124
Likes: 4
From: pittsburgh, pa
The dealer I bought my '12 RGU from installed the HD Airstrike wheels during the 1000 mile service. In less than 1000 miles both front rotors were warped. I took it to aniother dealer since the selling dealer's service department had a bad tendency to overtorque everything and damage components. HD replaced both under warranty. I believe that the first dealer overtorqued or unevenly torqued the components when installing the new wheels. No problems since, and I've never had a history of having rotor problems.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,889
Likes: 104
From: Mississippi
The dealer I bought my '12 RGU from installed the HD Airstrike wheels during the 1000 mile service. In less than 1000 miles both front rotors were warped. I took it to aniother dealer since the selling dealer's service department had a bad tendency to overtorque everything and damage components. HD replaced both under warranty. I believe that the first dealer overtorqued or unevenly torqued the components when installing the new wheels. No problems since, and I've never had a history of having rotor problems.
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 411
Likes: 9
From: Orig Surfers Paradise Australia, then Riyadh Saudi Arabia, Tokyo, Toronto, now So Cal
I did a search for warped rotors to see what others had experienced and came across this thread. It makes sense about holding your front brakes keeping part of the rotor hot leading to warping although don't most people hold their car brakes at stops? I have one warped now, guess I will find out about coverage under warranty or not. Going to have to retrain myself not to hold the front brake at stops, not that I always do it but I know I do it some. Of course sometimes in the Ozarks you don't have much choice as your stopped on a grade.
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,456
Likes: 132
From: Deep South, Louisiana
Do you hold the front brake after coming to a stop? I've read and found that those who hold the front brake tight after coming to a complete stop seem to experience more rotor warping than those who come to a complete stop, then release the front brake. Something about the rotors being held while hot between the brake pads. Just a thought. I've got after market rotors from HogPro on my bike and so far have had no signs of warping. I come to a complete stop, then release the front brake. Maybe worth a shot on your next set of rotors.