Front brake pulsing

[GVmerle]

I thought I had seen this issue discussed on this forum but a "search" turned up no results.  I have 4300 miles on a 2011 C-14 and the front brakes have had a severe pulse for the past 500 miles.  Is this common.  Am I correct in assuming this should be a warranty item.  I have an appointment to drop it off at the dealer.

[Son of Pappy]

http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?action=search2
Lots of good reading, I typed Warped in the search.  Good luck with your pulsing.

[KawiMick]

I thought I had seen this issue discussed on this forum but a "search" turned up no results.

Merle,
  Search on brake shudder.  I had the same problem on my 2010 about 12k miles and fixed it
by installing Galfer rotors.  Dealer said Kawasaki knows of no front rotor problems.

 

Mick

[sycamoredave]

Merle,
  Search on brake shudder.  I had the same problem on my 2010 about 12k miles and fixed it
by installing Galfer rotors.  Dealer said Kawasaki knows of no front rotor problems.

 

Mick

Yeah, well they told me the same thing.  Bull.  I solved the problem the same way.  Get ready to spend some $.

Dave

[Tactical_Mik]

I had my left rotor replaced under warranty.  The only problem was that it took a month to get fixed.

[Boomer]

All I did was clean mine with some spray brake cleaner.
Pay particular attention to the buttons that attach the rotor to the carrier.
The rotor should be able to move sideways slightly.

I clean mine about every 10,000 miles and have 44,000 miles on the original rotors with no pulsing since the first occurrence.

[Tactical_Mik]

If cleaning doesn't help put a dial indicator and check TIR. 

If runout exceeds the service limit, replace the disc.
Disc Runout
Standard: TIR 0.15 mm (0.006 in.) or less
Service Limit: TIR 0.3 mm (0.01 in.)

Mine indicated a TIR of .22

[KawiMick]

If cleaning doesn't help put a dial indicator and check TIR. 

If runout exceeds the service limit, replace the disc.
Disc Runout
Standard: TIR 0.15 mm (0.006 in.) or less
Service Limit: TIR 0.3 mm (0.01 in.)

Mine indicated a TIR of .22

In my case a micrometer was needed to show the hard spots in the right rotor.
No amount of cleaning helped.

 

Mick

[Laserjock]

All I did was clean mine with some spray brake cleaner.
Pay particular attention to the buttons that attach the rotor to the carrier.
The rotor should be able to move sideways slightly.

I clean mine about every 10,000 miles and have 44,000 miles on the original rotors with no pulsing since the first occurrence.

+1 Same here. Had shudder issue at 8k miles, cleaned with green pad and brake clean. Now at 22K miles and no reoccurence.

=Laserjock=

[GVmerle]

Thanks for the replies.  I dropped it at the dealer today.  Service manager felt that whatever the problem, it should be covered under warranty.  We will see.

[vortex2]

Good luck. I had a rotor that was still within 'spec' but it caused a shudder anyway. Replaced it with EBC rotors, no more problem.

[GVmerle]

I just got a call from the dealer.  The mechanic said the front rotors will be replaced under warranty.  He said this problem was supposed to be resolved on the new models. 

[KawiMick]

Who's your dealer Merle?   

[stlheadake]

Mine were replaced just a couple weeks ago.  I have been fighting with mine for a year now.  But I took a 8 thousand mile trip through ALL kinds of weather from 33 to 112 degrees.  Mine warped because my calipers weren't releasing all the way.  I am certain that's what it was.  I spent about two hours in California at a NAPA store trying to get them to stop dragging.  I never did get them to completely release.  I didn't want to break down the calipers and have to bleed the system in a parking lot, bikes loaded, and baking in the sun.   

The local Kawi dealer wouldn't even discuss it.  He gave me a piece of sand paper and suggested I 'rough' up the rotor.  I kept the sand paper, and knew he was cracked.   Two days after I got home, the dealer had it.  Replaced the warped rotors under warranty.

[GVmerle]

Who's your dealer Merle? 

Dealer is Goodtimes Motorsports in Sacramento, CA.

[Steve Bell]

Mine were replaced just a couple weeks ago.  I have been fighting with mine for a year now.  But I took a 8 thousand mile trip through ALL kinds of weather from 33 to 112 degrees.  Mine warped because my calipers weren't releasing all the way.  I am certain that's what it was.  I spent about two hours in California at a NAPA store trying to get them to stop dragging.  I never did get them to completely release.  I didn't want to break down the calipers and have to bleed the system in a parking lot, bikes loaded, and baking in the sun.   

The local Kawi dealer wouldn't even discuss it.  He gave me a piece of sand paper and suggested I 'rough' up the rotor.  I kept the sand paper, and knew he was cracked.   Two days after I got home, the dealer had it.  Replaced the warped rotors under warranty.

Calipers dragging? Check the lever, mine was preloading the master cylinder right from new. The lever should not press the piston of the master cylinder in when it is installed.