 Front Brakes Warped (again)
|
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 529
Adjunct
|
OP
Adjunct
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 529 |
When I bought my '05 America (second hand) back in Aug 2008, I noticed the bike would "pulse" when I applied the front brakes. When I brought it in for the 6k checkup the shop replaced the front disc and problem went away. I just went over 11k this weekend and the problem is back. The disc is 7-8 months old with only just over 5k miles on it. Is this even remotely normal? Could it be a bad riding habit I have and don't know about it?
I was doing a Saddle Sore 1K this weekend and it rained all Saturday night. Sunday morning the disc is warped again. Not sure how that could have that much of an impact, but replacing that disc every 6000 miles is bull feces.
2005 America, green/gray, gutted stock pipes, tall sissy bar w/ luggage rack, Saddleman's dual touring seat and Tourmaster saddlebags (and sissybar bag).
|
|
|
Re: Front Brakes Warped (again)
|
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,668
Learned Hand
|
|
Learned Hand
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,668 |
Seems to be about average. It's very common. I went with a EBC floater and that seemed to be the fix. I went more than 20,000 miles with no more warpage before converting to speedmaster wheels and dual front discs. So far, so good with around 5000 miles on this stock speedy setup.
Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come; He will guide you in all truth:
|
|
|
Re: Front Brakes Warped (again)
|
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,219 Likes: 61
Fe Butt
|
|
Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,219 Likes: 61 |
I thought the new rotor design was supposed to fix that problem.
I think it could be from getting the breaks hot then sitting at a light and still holding the break causing heat in that one spot for a while. Maybe not though.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
|
|
|
Re: Front Brakes Warped (again)
|
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 497
Adjunct
|
|
Adjunct
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 497 |
Quote:
I went with a EBC floater and that seemed to be the fix.
How would the floating disc solve the problem? Does this imply
that Triumph uses substandard parts? These are things I want
to know before buying the bike and learning the hard and
expensive way.
If there's nothing wrong with me,
maybe there's something wrong with the universe!
-Dr. Crusher
|
|
|
Re: Front Brakes Warped (again)
|
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,419
Oil Expert
|
|
Oil Expert
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,419 |
What The Dog33 said - hot brakes and stopping at the lights with the brakes applied.
Cheers, Richard
~~~~~~~~~~~~
09 America, Staintune Pipes, K&N, Breathe, Hagon Nitros, AI & O2 removed, tune 20184 (modified), MTX-L a/f gauge
|
|
|
Re: Front Brakes Warped (again)
|
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,440
Learned Hand
|
|
Learned Hand
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,440 |
Quote:
What The Dog33 said - hot brakes and stopping at the lights with the brakes applied.
Is this for real??? I always hold the bike at lights using the front brake.
'08 America Blue/White; Custom Headlamps, Custom Lowers, Clearview 20", Bafflectomy
|
|
|
Re: Front Brakes Warped (again)
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,932 Likes: 2
Loquacious
|
|
Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,932 Likes: 2 |
mine have been warped on my Speedy for close to 2 years now.
we should do this every weekend!
|
|
|
Re: Front Brakes Warped (again)
|
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,440
Learned Hand
|
|
Learned Hand
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,440 |
Quote:
These are things I want
to know before buying the bike and learning the hard and
expensive way.
You might be missin' the bigger picture here. For the difference in price between these bikes and their nearest competitor, you could buy an entire second America/Speedy as a spare. Seriously, my local Triumph delaer has a BWM on the floor that I figure is likely to be one of the few that outperforms these in terms of reliability. It's $34,000.
'08 America Blue/White; Custom Headlamps, Custom Lowers, Clearview 20", Bafflectomy
|
|
|
Re: Front Brakes Warped (again)
|
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,419
Oil Expert
|
|
Oil Expert
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,419 |
I reckon in normal riding the brakes don't get hot enough to be a problem. But if your riding style or terrain means you're on the brakes hard - they're probably getting hot - that's when you don't want to sit stationary with them applied.
Cheers, Richard
~~~~~~~~~~~~
09 America, Staintune Pipes, K&N, Breathe, Hagon Nitros, AI & O2 removed, tune 20184 (modified), MTX-L a/f gauge
|
|
|
Re: Front Brakes Warped (again)
|
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,463
Loquacious
|
|
Loquacious
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,463 |
Quote:
Quote:
What The Dog33 said - hot brakes and stopping at the lights with the brakes applied.
Is this for real??? I always hold the bike at lights using the front brake.
I'm a bad rider and very rarely use the front brake. However I also have two Americas and so I can categorically state it's not my riding style (so therefore anyone elses) that causes disc warping. I had no problems with the 03, yet the 06 has had the disc replaced twice. I've upgraded both to the TBS wheel, and so far..... no problems.
And yes... they both get ridden the same way - like a bat out of ......!!! 
If it was determined to be riding style - like holding on the brake at lights(like we're told to do on riding courses), Triumph wouldn't keep replacing them.
Gina
03 America - Pretty stock - except the TBS wheel... 
06 America - missing, presumed in bits. With it's TBS wheel... 
09 America - It's very blue....
|
|
|
Re: Front Brakes Warped (again)
|
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 529
Adjunct
|
|
OP
Adjunct
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 529 |
Thanks for the posts thus far everyone. At least I know it's not just me. Doesn't help the wallet but I'm seeing the bigger picture here.
2005 America, green/gray, gutted stock pipes, tall sissy bar w/ luggage rack, Saddleman's dual touring seat and Tourmaster saddlebags (and sissybar bag).
|
|
|
Re: Front Brakes Warped (again)
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537
Check Pants
|
|
Check Pants
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,537 |
A "Floating Disc" isn't as rigidly mounted to the wheel, allowing some movement. Mounted this way, less heat is generated by braking and less heat means better braking, less warpage, etc. It's become the standard for sport bikes, but not as necessary in a cruiser-style bike. "Motorcyclist" magazine had an interesting article on bike brakes a month or two back, so I learned something at the beach.... Quote:
Quote:
I went with a EBC floater and that seemed to be the fix.
How would the floating disc solve the problem? Does this imply
that Triumph uses substandard parts? These are things I want
to know before buying the bike and learning the hard and
expensive way.
Al
|
|
|
Re: Front Brakes Warped (again)
|
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 86
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 86 |
If it was determined to be riding style - like holding on the brake at lights(like we're told to do on riding courses), Triumph wouldn't keep replacing them.
The Course in QC says to keep your right foot on the peg ( thus meaning aplying the brake ) and stand only on your left feet at stops. The rear brake is used less then the front, so if you want to apply brake at a stop, I think the obvious choice is the rear brake, since it is heating less from the usage you "should" be doing as a front/rear brake ratio.
The driving abilities comes into play as well. I know I barely use both brakes, and play with my transmission to slow down. I'm still on my original front pads after 17k miles ( there's not much meat left altho ) and my rear was changed at 14k. Never had the slightest problems with the pads.
|
|
|
Re: Front Brakes Warped (again)
|
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,219 Likes: 61
Fe Butt
|
|
Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,219 Likes: 61 |
I had Wendy's replaced last summer. Her bike is an 04 and they covered the parts but I had to do the installation. The new rotor is a little different and supposed to take care of the warping problem. My 04 SM disc are fine and have never had a problem with them.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
|
|
|
Re: Front Brakes Warped (again)
|
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 316
Adjunct
|
|
Adjunct
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 316 |
I bought my 05 speedmaster from my mate who bought it new. He had both front discs replaced under warranty after 3,000miles. I had the bike a few months and had done 1000 miles and the discs warpped again so rather than replace with faulty triumph discs I replaced them with sawtooth discs made in England and liked them so much I just replaced the rear one too. 
|
|
|
Re: Front Brakes Warped (again)
|
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,219 Likes: 61
Fe Butt
|
|
Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,219 Likes: 61 |
Those are cool Doug, how much? and where did you get them? Are they listed for our bikes or do you have to buy for some other bike that fits ours? I might want a set just for the look.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
|
|
|
Re: Front Brakes Warped (again)
|
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 497
Adjunct
|
|
Adjunct
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 497 |
So should one replace the OEM disc with a floating disc soon after
getting the bike to avoid problems? Would the warped disc wear
the pads prematurely?
I do some basic maintenance but know little about brake systems.
If there's nothing wrong with me,
maybe there's something wrong with the universe!
-Dr. Crusher
|
|
|
Re: Front Brakes Warped (again)
|
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,219 Likes: 61
Fe Butt
|
|
Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,219 Likes: 61 |
The warpage on Wendy's is so slight that I have yet to replace it and it seems the BA is more prone to the problem than the SM. I think it has to do with the difference in amount of breaking force needed per pad on the single disc vs. the dual disc. With the dual disk less force is needed on each pad to attain the same stopping power so it generates less heat. I wouldn't just replace one preemptively since it doesn't happen to all of them.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
|
|
|
Re: Front Brakes Warped (again)
|
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 247
Adjunct
|
|
Adjunct
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 247 |
8000 + mi. front brakes smooth as glass. I use the front as primary brake force, but I use them both together. When and if they start to warp, I'll go to floating discs.
Chip Sciarra "07" America, N.C.Switch Blade windshield, Moto Lights, Tri. Off Road pipes
|
|
|
Re: Front Brakes Warped (again)
|
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 316
Adjunct
|
|
Adjunct
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 316 |
|
|
|
Re: Front Brakes Warped (again)
|
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,457
Learned Hand
|
|
Learned Hand
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,457 |
I noticed when I changed to alloy wheels my front started pulsing immediately. I installed my perfectly good front disc from the wire wheel onto the alloy. It wasn't warped. I think there is enough slop the way the disc mounts so that the grooves in the disc and pads don't line up anymore. Its gotten better the last couple of thousand miles. If I ever have to remove disc for any reason, I'll go back with new pads.
|
|
|
Re: Front Brakes Warped (again)
|
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 529
Adjunct
|
|
OP
Adjunct
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 529 |
Okay so a couple of you mentioned a floating disc. Since I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night and therefore dumb as a box of rocks, what is that and how does it differ from stock?
2005 America, green/gray, gutted stock pipes, tall sissy bar w/ luggage rack, Saddleman's dual touring seat and Tourmaster saddlebags (and sissybar bag).
|
|
|
Re: Front Brakes Warped (again)
|
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,606 Likes: 2
Loquacious
|
|
Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,606 Likes: 2 |
Triumph had some issues with the front rotors on the America's thru 06 I believe...I know on my 05 the first rotor went within 4000 miles and the second went within 3000 both were replaced under warranty...but I know they were replacing them on bikes that were out of warranty also...I worked a deal with my dealer...they ordered a EBC (non floater) and kept the Triumph replacement for their own inventory...I just payed the difference between the Triumph rotor and the EBC and they replaced the bad 2nd rotor with the EBC...no issues since...12K miles and still going...(hmmm...now that I post this I think it might be time for some new pads...I'll look into that soon!)
THE VOICE OF REASON
per: Stewart
AF&AM/Shriner/Scoutmaster
130/45 TBS 2shim SS Uni 18/42
|
|
|
Re: Front Brakes Warped (again)
|
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,219 Likes: 61
Fe Butt
|
|
Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,219 Likes: 61 |
Quote:
Okay so a couple of you mentioned a floating disc. Since I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night and therefore dumb as a box of rocks, what is that and how does it differ from stock?
The actual breaking surface the pads ride on is a separate piece from the part that bolts to the wheel. The two are held together with small disc like pieces allowing the breaking surface to move a little. 
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
|
|
|
Re: Front Brakes Warped (again)
|
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,971
Loquacious
|
|
Loquacious
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,971 |
I talked to the service manager at Gengras Triumph in Hartford, CT, and he told me he had never heard of warped rotors. (Cough - bull----) Just out of curiosity I asked Herm Baver of Hermy's about rotors, and he said "Oh yeah, the rotors on [whatever] were a problem, etc." Nice to find an honest dealer for a change. Thanks Ian, for steering me toward Herm. Before Dog turned me on to Hermys, I had already bought a set of floating EBCs and pads from Brent or Eddy. They are in a word, awesome. They even sound good - a nice crisp zzzzzzzzz when you yank down on 'em, with a very secure and even feel throughout light to heavy braking. Much better than the Buckin' Bronco rotors of yore. Good to know about front brakes and stop lights. Never thought of that before. 
|
|
|
Re: Front Brakes Warped (again)
|
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,219 Likes: 61
Fe Butt
|
|
Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,219 Likes: 61 |
Herm and his wife are good people, I have known them for years. Glad you have had good experience with him. I have always found him to be an honest and helpful man.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
|
|
|
Re: Front Brakes Warped (again)
|
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 513
Adjunct
|
|
Adjunct
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 513 |
Also an EBC floater here with no more problems. 30K plus miles on the bike 06TBA. Save your money and go aftermarket on the brakes unless your dealer is replacing the rotor under warranty. There's threads on this site relating to this same issue. I find it hard to accept that the dealers have not heard of the problem.
Last edited by Dr_PC; 05/20/2009 12:43 AM.
Its more fun to be ridin'! I'm still ridin 
|
|
|
Re: Front Brakes Warped (again)
|
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,382
Learned Hand
|
|
Learned Hand
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,382 |
My '06 BA started doing the same thing after about 12,000 miles. Dealer replaced with a new '07 stock rotor and it's been fine ever since.
'06 TBA - Black, AI and Snorkel removed, K&N Drop In, Gutted Stock Pipes, 145/42, 2 turns out.
|
|
|
|
|
