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Thread: Aftermarket rotors?

Created on: 10/10/09 02:24 PM

Replies: 9

KAK



Location:

rockandahardplace

Joined: 02/16/09

Posts: 761

Aftermarket rotors?
10/10/09 2:24 PM

Any brand you recommend? Mine are slightly warped and I'm thinking of changing them when I get the wheels chromed and other work done. I can't believe they warped on me when I never ride hard and never got them hot. I always heard rotors can't warp until they get too hot but mine did under light use.
Mine aren't too bad but if they get any worse I'll be wishing I just replaced them when I had everything apart.

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smokemifugotem


smokemifugotem's Gravatar

Joined: 10/10/09

Posts: 24

RE: Aftermarket rotors?
10/15/09 11:15 AM

i have a theory about warped motorcycle brake rotors. i am convinced that 99% of the thin lightweight rotors that are warped were bent ever so slightly while the front wheel was removed for brakes, tire changes, or whatever reason. the service manual and owner's manual both tell you that while the front wheel is removed, not to let the brake rotors <TOUCH> anything because they may be bent and damaged. i made a device to mount my tire that goes thru the axle hole and doesn't let the rotors contact anything. over 10,000 miles of hard mountain curves and so far, so good.



he would have ridden a zx14

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ninjamaster


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Location: Cody,Wy.

Joined: 03/04/09

Posts: 415

RE: Aftermarket rotors?
10/15/09 12:37 PM

Try cleaning them first.There was a good article in one of the motorcycle mags about a long term Concours that had the same problem.He just cleaned them up and they were good again.I think a coat of "brazing" gets on it after awhile.Done pretty good on mine so far.I clean up the front rotors everytime I put a new front tire on!
I lightly sand them with 80 grit sandpaper and the pads a little too!



Green means GO!!!!!!!!!!!!
2006 ZX14
2004 ZX10R
2004 Aprilia Mille Factory RSVR
2009 ZX6R Monster
1994 ZX7
1987 Yamaha YSR50
2003 ZX6RR
1986 Ducati 750 F1A
2008 KLR 650
1993 ZX11
1976 Honda CB550 Caferacer project
2011 Concours 14
2009 Aprilia RS125
2 pocket bikes(Blata and Vittorazi)they count too!!!!

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rcflyer1388


rcflyer1388's Gravatar

Joined: 04/19/09

Posts: 141

RE: Aftermarket rotors?
10/15/09 1:02 PM

smokem has a good point, those things are pretty sensitive to anything and there are like warnings everywhere in the manual about it, even pulling the brake caliper off a little cocked instead of straight back can bend them apparently

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gumbybob


gumbybob's Gravatar

Location: Litchfield, NH

Joined: 02/11/09

Posts: 132

RE: Aftermarket rotors?
10/16/09 10:58 AM

Ninjamaster is right.
I brought mine back under warrantee thinking the rotors were warped. Shook like Hell in hard front braking. The mechanic said they were NOT warped and that he cleaned them (including cleaning inside the vent holes) and gave it back to me. Sure enough, they were smooth as silk. I couldn't believe it. They are starting to shake a bit again and I'm gonna commence to cleaning them up and give it another shot.
I've read that if you heat the brakes up while riding and then come to a stop and HOLD the front brake on at a long red light or in traffic, a minute part of the pad may stick/melt on the rotor. Now you feel like you have a warped rotor.
So clean them up first. It's easy. It's cheap. And it may do the trick.




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bgordon

Forum Administrator

bgordon's Gravatar

Location:

Grand Junction, CO

Joined: 07/19/09

Posts: 1531

RE: Aftermarket rotors?
10/16/09 12:40 PM

he cleaned them (including cleaning inside the vent holes)


Any idea what he cleaned them with, or was it sandpaper, as ninjamaster said? Thanks. -bg

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gumbybob


gumbybob's Gravatar

Location: Litchfield, NH

Joined: 02/11/09

Posts: 132

RE: Aftermarket rotors?
10/16/09 2:34 PM

I'm thinking brake cleaner with a light sanding on the flat surfaces, but I don't know for sure.




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Romans


Romans's Gravatar

Location: Toronto,ON

Joined: 02/13/09

Posts: 5933

RE: Aftermarket rotors?
10/16/09 6:58 PM

I use a Scotch Bright Pad soaked in brake cleaner solvent. It Works and is easy to do. Try. Fast and easy.

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Grn14


Grn14's Gravatar

Location: Montana

Joined: 02/25/09

Posts: 15511

RE: Aftermarket rotors?
10/16/09 11:35 PM

Ya-put new Galfer's on mine a while back.Lightly sanded the rotors and the new pad faces.NO pulsing/juddering since!!

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KAK



Location:

rockandahardplace

Joined: 02/16/09

Posts: 761

RE: Aftermarket rotors?
10/20/09 6:18 PM

Thanks for the help. Darn computer was down for awhile.
I can try cleaning them as you say. Nothing to lose.
On the old site there was some discussion about the front end shuddering and warped rotors.
Some said the rotors were confirmed warped. Others claimed front tire cupping and a new tire fixed things.
Not much was said about dirty rotors. I can say for sure that I've never gotten them very hot and I've always heard they have to get hot to warp.
I only have a shudder when I brake at 70/75 mph and down to about 55. It's strongest at 75 and goes away as you reach 55. So far nothing above or below those speeds. I do however get an off-and-on squeak sometimes at a slow stop.
I hate to change rotors because they're expensive and I like the looks of the stockers too.
I'll try a good cleaning and if it doesn't fix it I think I'm leaning toward some Brembo's. I don't want to put too much hope that it could be the tire. I doubt it. I'll be getting new tires when I re-do the wheels but I don't want to take things apart twice. So if a cleaning doesn't help then it's new Brembo's and tires.
I appreciate the help.

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