GSX1400 Owners .org

Technically Speaking => Brakes => Topic started by: Speedy1959 on Wednesday, 28 March 2018, 05:23 PM

Title: Front Brake surge
Post by: Speedy1959 on Wednesday, 28 March 2018, 05:23 PM
Hi All,

I have an issue which I had once before on a BMW GS1200..
Firstly let me stress that there is ZERO pulsing of the brake lever so I doubt its warped discs!

The problem..
At speeds above say 30mph the brakes work fine and feel very good..
Below around 30mph there is a sort of surging that happens in time with the wheel rotation, so in decreases in frequency as you slow down.
To put it another way its as though there is a patch on the disc/s that is more grippy than the remaining area.

Imagine pulsing your brake lever as you slow..There would be a sort of variation in your slow down rate, instead of the rate being linear.

I must stress again that there is absolutely NO pulsing of the brake lever or any vibration of any kind..
The problem is purely the physical slow down is not a linear smooth rate.

Hard to describe but I have done my best.
Title: Re: Front Brake surge
Post by: Notty on Wednesday, 28 March 2018, 05:30 PM
Quote from: Speedy1959 on Wednesday, 28 March  2018, 05:23 PM
Hi All,

I
Below around 230mph there is a sort of surging that happens in time with the wheel rotation, so in decreases in frequency a
Below 230? what have you got under you Simon?  :smile2:
Title: Re: Front Brake surge
Post by: T 24 on Wednesday, 28 March 2018, 06:18 PM
230 mph. What have you done to your 14, or what bike is it? :shocked:
Title: Re: Front Brake surge
Post by: KiwiCol on Wednesday, 28 March 2018, 06:25 PM
It'll be your pads grabbing, spray 'em with WD40 & you'll have a linear deceleration, only thing is the braking distance will be considerably longer than you're used to, so brake early.

Pleased to help Speedy

Right, who's next . . .
Title: Re: Front Brake surge
Post by: KiwiCol on Wednesday, 28 March 2018, 06:28 PM
Searily though, how about checking the rotor thickness all the way round, not just in 1 spot.  If it were thicker in 1 spot it could throw up that issue.  Dunno how it could get that way - have to be a crook batch of metal used on those rotors or something.
Title: Re: Front Brake surge
Post by: Kiwifruit on Wednesday, 28 March 2018, 06:45 PM
Meanwhile back at the Salt Flats......  :riding:

Having taken Col's advice Speedy applied his brakes at around 6.15, we expect him to be stopped a little after 9.30  :facepalm:
Title: Re: Front Brake surge
Post by: KiwiCol on Wednesday, 28 March 2018, 06:57 PM
I did say to brake early, not after tea. :whistling:
Title: Re: Front Brake surge
Post by: froudy on Wednesday, 28 March 2018, 06:58 PM
Have a read...
http://blackshadow-uk.co.uk/Fitting.html
Title: Re: Front Brake surge
Post by: grog on Wednesday, 28 March 2018, 07:03 PM
my 14 at 230mph, asleep and dreaming, i couldnt care less about the brakes. ride on big girl, mustve been the 98 i filled with. totally impressed.
Title: Re: Front Brake surge
Post by: Kiwifruit on Wednesday, 28 March 2018, 07:07 PM
Good article Froudy.
Title: Re: Front Brake surge
Post by: Sweaty on Wednesday, 28 March 2018, 07:08 PM
Quote from: T 24 on Wednesday, 28 March  2018, 06:18 PM
230 mph. What have you done to your 14, or what bike is it? :shocked:

His name is Speedy after all  ;)
Title: Re: Front Brake surge
Post by: KiwiCol on Wednesday, 28 March 2018, 07:11 PM
Yeah, what does he want brakes for, with a name like that?   :whatever:
Title: Re: Front Brake surge
Post by: Blubber on Wednesday, 28 March 2018, 08:13 PM
Can it be that your discs are oval?

...and thus a variable disc mating / friction area  :whatever:
Title: Re: Front Brake surge
Post by: Mick_J on Wednesday, 28 March 2018, 08:24 PM
Had something very similar last year, MOT tester noticed it, I didn't but got an advisory from him to sort it for this years MOT.  I tried everything like bleeding and spinning bobbins but eventually had to replace disks.  First set of disks went rusty in three months but were replaced by EBC, second set seem to be fine.  Good luck.
Title: Re: Front Brake surge
Post by: Andre on Wednesday, 28 March 2018, 10:39 PM
Besides the obvious checking of the brake system I would take a good look at the tire wear pattern, the suspension setting and fork condition.
Title: Re: Front Brake surge
Post by: Speedy1959 on Thursday, 29 March 2018, 12:23 AM
Thanks everyone for your errrr help.. :happy1:

Tyres are about 1,000 miles old so I cant see it being them..
A few days ago I had a good go at freeing of the bobbins. They were all very tight.. They are less tight now but you cannot turn them by hand as in some of the YouTube videos.
Title: Re: Front Brake surge
Post by: Speedy1959 on Thursday, 29 March 2018, 12:27 AM
Quote from: froudy on Wednesday, 28 March  2018, 06:58 PM
Have a read...
http://blackshadow-uk.co.uk/Fitting.html

That's very interesting Froudy..
I have a nasty feeling you may be onto something there !

Thanks for the link
Title: Re: Front Brake surge
Post by: Andre on Thursday, 29 March 2018, 03:15 AM
emmm... was a little confused with it being at high speed. Editing that "2" out makes the situation slightly different.  :whistling:
Title: Re: Front Brake surge
Post by: seth on Thursday, 29 March 2018, 03:26 AM
Give the bobbins another good clean with brake cleaner they shouldn't be tight  .
If the discs are very slightly warped(You'd need to check with a dial gauge to find out) you could try heat treating them once the bobbins are nice and free (not lose) remove the discs put them in the oven on full blast all day then turn off and leave all night to cool.
this can relive the stress in the discs .
it works if they are no to bad .
I think first thing should be to really clean the bobbins then go give it a good run using the brakes (Not overly tho) to get the discs nice and warmed up and see if it helps .
:cheers:
Title: Re: Front Brake surge
Post by: Speedy1959 on Thursday, 29 March 2018, 04:50 AM
Once again Seth I thank you for your advice...
Earlier I really scrubbed them with a pan scrub and contact cleaner to be totally sure they were grease free.
They are substantially better than they were.. So I don't know if contaminated pads could cause this issue (he said clutching at straws).
What temp in the oven?
I have a gas oven with fan assist..
Title: Re: Front Brake surge
Post by: seth on Thursday, 29 March 2018, 05:39 AM
If it got better then your looking like doing the right things.
Take out the pads and give them a clean too (a run on every paper should do it ) then give it a run and hopefully much better after that.
As for oven temp as hot as it goes for min 6 hours then off and leave over night.
You need the buttons spotless before trying this .
Title: Re: Front Brake surge
Post by: turner on Thursday, 29 March 2018, 05:50 AM
Sorry to come in late to this , but was it after your bike stood in garage for a while,Some sintered pads leave a rust type residue on discs . this can cause a symptom like this.if so clean disc with a scouring pad.
Title: Re: Front Brake surge
Post by: gsxbarmy on Thursday, 29 March 2018, 08:34 AM
My turn!

Whilst I agree about the bobbins 100% (and they should turn reasonably free), I recall you had your wheels powder coated no so long ago Simon - let me ask, were the hubs which the disks bolt onto absolutely and completely free from powder coat (or anything else for that matter), as the slightest variation in the flatness of the hub and the disk won't sit perfectly flat as it should - which could give the symptoms.

Might also be worth checking the torque of all the disc bolt as well, to check they haven't worked loose now you've done a few miles
Title: Re: Front Brake surge
Post by: seth on Thursday, 29 March 2018, 08:39 AM
@gsxbarmy great advice
My heat treating method is a last resort for warped discs and why you should check everything else first .
:cheers:
Title: Re: Front Brake surge
Post by: Speedy1959 on Thursday, 29 March 2018, 04:03 PM
You are correct Dave I had overlooked the fact about powder coating.
I recall the whole wheel was powdercoated inc where the disc sits.
I mentioned to the guy I asked for those areas to be masked off and he said "wont make a difference as the powder coating is the same thickness on all surfaces"!
Grrrrr
Why am I getting problems months later and not immediately?
Dam..... I had totally overlooked powder coating..
Any idea how to remove powder coating from disc areas WITHOUT knackering the alloy ??
Title: Re: Front Brake surge
Post by: seth on Thursday, 29 March 2018, 04:07 PM
A sharp blade and be careful
:cheers:
Title: Re: Front Brake surge
Post by: Andre on Thursday, 29 March 2018, 04:10 PM
Quote from: Speedy1959 on Thursday, 29 March  2018, 04:03 PM
Why am I getting problems months later and not immediately?

Because DTV takes a while to develop (as mentioned in the link Froudy posted above).
Title: Re: Front Brake surge
Post by: gsxbarmy on Thursday, 29 March 2018, 07:16 PM
Quote from: Speedy1959 on Thursday, 29 March  2018, 04:03 PM
You are correct Dave I had overlooked the fact about powder coating.
I recall the whole wheel was powdercoated inc where the disc sits.
I mentioned to the guy I asked for those areas to be masked off and he said "wont make a difference as the powder coating is the same thickness on all surfaces"!
Grrrrr
Why am I getting problems months later and not immediately?
Dam..... I had totally overlooked powder coating..
Any idea how to remove powder coating from disc areas WITHOUT knackering the alloy ??

What a dipstick he was then - as whilst only thin, the powdercoat thickness will move the disc out slightly from where it was before, also he can't guarantee a flat finish.  :facepalm:

I agree about the sharp blade (carefully), but I'd maybe something like this Simon: Scotch Brite Wheel
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Satin-Web-ScotchBrite-Metal-Sanding-Wheel-Fine-4-by-2-Section/302219027761?hash=item465da86531:g:aKwAAOSwJH1ZLu6q

a 4" fine one should do nicely, I use these all the time with a drill for getting lacquer off things like fork sliders etc before polishing - use on a low speed drill and gently and they do a good job. Depending on grade will leave very slight scratching (which you can flat with some 2000 grit wet and dry (wet) if you want to) but because the scotch brite wheels are soft should not damage the hub itself (you can get smaller ones for dremels for those hard to get places if you need them). They wear fairly quickly, typically I'd get through one 6" wheel per fork slider, but they are effective. I haven't tried one on powder coat, but can't see why they wouldn't work. As with everything, try on a small piece first. I'm guessing you'd probably need at least a couple, one for each side of the hub. Make sure also to mask off those areas where you don't want powder coat to come off, "just in case you slip" when using a drill - also be aware of the mandrel, you don't want to catch that on the hub either!

The above is just an example so you can see what they are like, search on eBay on "scotchbrite wheel" (link above is to the guys I use, helpful with advice as well if needed)
Title: Re: Front Brake surge
Post by: Speedy1959 on Friday, 30 March 2018, 02:01 AM
A solution to my issue.
If I modulate the lever inversly to the surging I should be able to cancel out the side effects of the surging.
The side benefit of this is that following cars will witness a rather fetching brake light display!
Another plus point will be my hightened Ninja like reflexes !
Who says being tight doesnt pay !
Title: Re: Front Brake surge
Post by: KiwiCol on Friday, 30 March 2018, 02:05 AM
Also could only use the brake at higher speeds & coast to a stop?
Title: Re: Front Brake surge
Post by: seth on Friday, 30 March 2018, 02:07 AM
Much easier to buy a pair of speed way boots and the good old feet down to stop .
:whistling:
Title: Re: Front Brake surge
Post by: ARH on Friday, 30 March 2018, 02:08 AM
Quote from: seth on Friday, 30 March  2018, 02:07 AM
Much easier to buy a pair of speed way boots and the good old feet down to stop .
:whistling:

Watching sparks fly is better than the brake light dance I would say  :rofl2:
Title: Re: Front Brake surge
Post by: KiwiCol on Friday, 30 March 2018, 02:12 AM
When we had no brakes on our push bikes, we'd jamb our foot in between the front wheel & the frame & use that to slow us down.  Should give that one a try also Speedy, you'll want the speedway boots for it though as we used to bugger our shoes regularly.
Title: Re: Front Brake surge
Post by: Speedy1959 on Friday, 30 March 2018, 02:20 AM
Well you lot are awake...
Where did I put that angle grinder ?
Title: Re: Front Brake surge
Post by: seth on Friday, 30 March 2018, 02:30 AM
Quote from: KiwiCol on Friday, 30 March  2018, 02:12 AM
When we had no brakes on our push bikes, we'd jamb our foot in between the front wheel & the frame & use that to slow us down.  Should give that one a try also Speedy, you'll want the speedway boots for it though as we used to bugger our shoes regularly.

Barmy put a link up in another thread about probolt having a sale this weekend a pair of speed way boots fitted with titanium bolts pretty sparks everywhere.
:lol:
Title: Re: Front Brake surge
Post by: grog on Friday, 30 March 2018, 07:14 PM
my mate put titanium touch down bolts on his rocket, amazing sparks. ill find a photo. speedy, no brake surge before powder coat? if now, thats the prob. clean off, re fit, job done. i got caught out, powder coated wheels, forgot about bearing housing. managed to clean out but took some patience. was thinking a whole new coat if i stuffed up, didnt happen. sharp knife, single edge razor blade, be careful, fingers cut much easier than powdercoat. trust me, i know. get those bobbins turning, a must.