Galfer rotors
- Thread starter Ezduzit
- Start date
Rainbow7
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That does indeed sound like warping. Unless you have air bubbles in your brake lines?
Ezduzit
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I guess that's my next step is to bleed them.
I would have thought you'd remember riding hard enough to warp them - so unless you moved off with a disc-lock still on I would do some basic checks first.
If you can get the bike up on paddock stands, give the front wheel a spin and visually inspect the rotor against a fixed point as it spins - you would see a bad warp. Also, when you brake - does your brake lever have more travel than it used to, or do you have to pull the lever a couple of times to get 'feel'? A warped rotor tends to push the pistons back in to the caliper - hence losing lever feel.
If none of the above applies - then check that the rotors are mounted 'out of sync' with each other - i.e. make sure that the peak of one rotor matches the dip of the other. Galfer recommend this to help eliminate pulsing. I know you've had them on there for a while and it sounds like this has only recently started - so check for any contaminants on the pads from either a leaking fork seal, or brake fluid.
I've had Galfers on both my GSX-R and busa and have experienced pulsing at low to stopping speeds on both bikes. The busa is fine with them mounted out of sync, and I'm using Vesrah pads.
Hope some of this helps.
If you can get the bike up on paddock stands, give the front wheel a spin and visually inspect the rotor against a fixed point as it spins - you would see a bad warp. Also, when you brake - does your brake lever have more travel than it used to, or do you have to pull the lever a couple of times to get 'feel'? A warped rotor tends to push the pistons back in to the caliper - hence losing lever feel.
If none of the above applies - then check that the rotors are mounted 'out of sync' with each other - i.e. make sure that the peak of one rotor matches the dip of the other. Galfer recommend this to help eliminate pulsing. I know you've had them on there for a while and it sounds like this has only recently started - so check for any contaminants on the pads from either a leaking fork seal, or brake fluid.
I've had Galfers on both my GSX-R and busa and have experienced pulsing at low to stopping speeds on both bikes. The busa is fine with them mounted out of sync, and I'm using Vesrah pads.
Hope some of this helps.
Ezduzit
Registered
Ezduzit
Registered
Can you really feel the lever going in and out? Or, is it more of a judder and shake from the front just before the bike comes to a stop?
If it's a judder, then I've experienced the same thing - and it sometimes happens with stock rotors and pads, but due to the increased stopping power from decent pads, it makes it much more noticeable.
Obviously, I can't see your set up, but I don't think there is anything wrong with your rotors. Have you changed your suspension settings lately? or, has summer arrived where you live and the temperature changed? I've not conclusively found out what causes this judder, but one theory is that the forks are having a strange compression/rebound oscillation...
Things to try:
Note your current spring/compression/rebound settings and make minor adjustments to see if problem gets better or worse.
Check out the install video here:
How to Install Brake Rotors on Street / Sport / Racing Motorcycles (Video)
Also, check your head bearings for wear if you wheelie often - this could also give you judder.
If it's a judder, then I've experienced the same thing - and it sometimes happens with stock rotors and pads, but due to the increased stopping power from decent pads, it makes it much more noticeable.
Obviously, I can't see your set up, but I don't think there is anything wrong with your rotors. Have you changed your suspension settings lately? or, has summer arrived where you live and the temperature changed? I've not conclusively found out what causes this judder, but one theory is that the forks are having a strange compression/rebound oscillation...
Things to try:
Note your current spring/compression/rebound settings and make minor adjustments to see if problem gets better or worse.
Check out the install video here:
How to Install Brake Rotors on Street / Sport / Racing Motorcycles (Video)
Also, check your head bearings for wear if you wheelie often - this could also give you judder.
@skydivr
I wouldn't worry too much - the Galfer rotors are fine. I read through your other thread and it does seem that one rotor is not running where it should rather than a caliper being seized, almost like the aluminum center carrier is 'dished'
Despite your fine photos, there's nothing like staring at something with your own eyes :watching:
Ezduzit
Registered
Yes sir!
880jedi
Registered
I went through this nightmare a few years ago. I had a set of Galfer rotors and pads installed. All good, and wore them out to below spec. When time to replace, I bought new pads, rotors and new Suzuki OEM calipers. I didn't want to hassle with rebuilding, and the bike had about 75K at the time, so everything was replaced.
A month later, the left rotor was warped real bad. If you grabbed the lever at speed, the shaking was terrible. I called Galfer and they said to send the rotors to them for inspection. They confirmed that one was way out of spec, and they sent me a new pair. I had bought a set of Brembo full floating rotors to try, and saved the new Galfer for a rainy day.
The new Brembo rotors and pads were installed, (and paying the mechanic bunches of money again), Guess what? Yup, warping of the new rotors in about 3 months. F***. What was causing all of this?
It turns out it was a defective caliper. Hydraulic issue would not let the pistons retract completely, which would drag the pads ever so slightly, causing heat, and the warping the rotor.
Only after doing a spin test on each caliper, did we figure it out. Take off one caliper, spin the wheel and count the rotations, and then do it again on the other side. It was quite obvious after that what was the problem.
I had the old calipers rebuilt after all, and the problem went away, but I was out a bunch of time and money, and no one in the food chain would warranty, or refund my money for parts and labor because the time and mileage elapsed was too long.
The problem was very slight, and took time to warp the rotors. The lesson I learned is that just because it's all new parts doesn't mean it will be perfect.
A month later, the left rotor was warped real bad. If you grabbed the lever at speed, the shaking was terrible. I called Galfer and they said to send the rotors to them for inspection. They confirmed that one was way out of spec, and they sent me a new pair. I had bought a set of Brembo full floating rotors to try, and saved the new Galfer for a rainy day.
The new Brembo rotors and pads were installed, (and paying the mechanic bunches of money again), Guess what? Yup, warping of the new rotors in about 3 months. F***. What was causing all of this?
It turns out it was a defective caliper. Hydraulic issue would not let the pistons retract completely, which would drag the pads ever so slightly, causing heat, and the warping the rotor.
Only after doing a spin test on each caliper, did we figure it out. Take off one caliper, spin the wheel and count the rotations, and then do it again on the other side. It was quite obvious after that what was the problem.
I had the old calipers rebuilt after all, and the problem went away, but I was out a bunch of time and money, and no one in the food chain would warranty, or refund my money for parts and labor because the time and mileage elapsed was too long.
The problem was very slight, and took time to warp the rotors. The lesson I learned is that just because it's all new parts doesn't mean it will be perfect.
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