| Author | Message | ||
     Xb12lp |
How many others out there have your front brake pulsate when braking. I have about 6000 miles on my Uly and the pulsation just started on hard stops. My XB12s that I had about 10000 miles on pulsated also. whats up with the front rotor, or is it pad material stuck to the rotor? | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Yup. Dust build up. Switch pads. I like Lyndalls. Others like EBC. | ||
| Bertotti |
Can't you just clean them up? | ||
| Adrian_8 |
No cleaning will help...it will not get any better...you have a slightly warped rotor...been down that road TWICE...on my third rotor....covered under warranty...Wait until you can't stand it then take it in...In the mean time practice your "panic stops"....Lyndalls really put the warpo to the rotor..... (Message edited by Adrian_8 on October 19, 2007) In the opinion of knowledgeable and experienced Buell folk, the above is inaccurate in that both a good cleaning of the blotchy residue deposits from OEM pads and/or swapping to different pads has solved the pulsing brake issue for many folks. (Message edited by blake on October 20, 2007) | ||
| Jmhinkle |
I have to disagree. Mine started pulsing around 4000 pretty bad. I just buffed them with emery cloth and installed Lyndalls at the 5k mark. No pulsing at all. I think if you catch them early enough you can clean the crud off before they overheat and get warped. | ||
| Pso |
I was following this thread ahwile back about the brakes. The second mine started that very light pulse I got the Lyndal golds, took care of the problem. Have about 10k miles and no problem. | ||
| Florida_lime |
I had the pulsing start to get annoying after 4000 miles or so, and replaced them with the Lyndall's also. However, these are the newer versions that supposedly don't require a break-in. The pulsations dropped down, but have returned some. I have never been thrilled with these pads, though. A little wooden feeling -- decent stopping power if you give a firm squeeze, but still not like some brakes out there. (I do have a Ducati Hypermotard S with the Brembo monobloc calipers for comparison !) I am at just under 10,000 miles now, and would like to eliminate the pulsing completely. It's only enough to be annoying again right now.  I heard that the 1125R caliper set-up will bolt up. When are they going to be available ?  | ||
| Etennuly |
I now have 23,000 miles on the original pads. They are looking thin lately. When I got to about 6,000 miles the pulsing became almost unbearable. Following some advice from some folks here,I cleaned the rotor and pads with brake cleaner and a scotch-brite pad. That worked temporarily, but it was easy to do, so I did it frequently. You might also want to re-torque your steering head bearings. To me, it seems like the pulsing causes the bearing looseness, which in turn, magnifies the pulsing problem. The front brake has not been bad for the last half of the pad life. The cleanings are needed less and the pulsing has nearly diminished. I am planning on replacing them soon with the Lyndal Golds. There have been many good reports about them. My only question is, are they eating up the rotors? | ||
| Adrian_8 |
Mine always starts with the slight pulsing. I put on the Lyndall Gold pads followed the break-in proceedure....things seemed fine for a short while.. On my trip out West.. Super Warpo.. and I mean WARPO...I tried the "cleaning"..no workee....Rotor #3, as of now good... | ||
| Bertotti |
Apparently I have never experienced the pulsing. What will it feel like? Is it like pinging, when you get it you know it? | ||
| Adrian_8 |
You feel the front brake lever pulsing in your fingers with a steady pull on the brake instead of the smooth sensation it should be...when it gets real bad you think the wheel is egg shaped...there is no noise... | ||
| Bertotti |
Wasn't trying to suggest that there was a noise but like pinging if you have to ask you ahven'thad it. I figured the same could be true of the pulse. I haven't had it happen yet as described but I think I will do some proactive cleaning. Maybe if I take care of the brakes now it won't appear in the future. I'm at just over 3k miles. Thanks | ||
| Etennuly |
The pulsing is like ABS brakes gone amuck. They have a real fast and very strong grab release, and it can be very intense under hard braking. If it does it, you will know. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I rode Vern's bike at the peak of pulse. It was PRONOUNCED. If he got his to go away, anyone can. I second the head bearing comments as well. It makes the pulsing feel so much worse. Strangely, my dealer said that he sees more pulsations being created BY the loose head bearings than the brakes. I don't know if that is true, but it was an interesting observation. | ||
| Bdgreaseman |
Has anyone checked axial runout, parallelism and flatness? | ||
| Ftd |
I have found that a MAG wheel cleaner product and a scotchbrite pad works much better than using brake cleaner. YMMV Frank | ||
| Dr_greg |
Well, I just got a new front rotor (2 days before my warranty expired) which COMPLETELY cleared up my "pulsation." My pulsation was so bad that when coming to a stop I would always end up almost going over the bars when the final "sticky spot" grabbed. The problems began some time after I installed Lyndall Gold pads. Needless to say I installed a new set of stock pads with the new rotor. Silky smooth now. Almost as good as my Aprilia Mille. | ||
| Wademan |
My brakes pulse too. It is gay. Tried the new lyndall pads, no help, must be actually warped. Will have dealer check for a second time if it is out of spec. | ||
| Wademan |
On another note I really like the 'new' lyndall pads. YES they do require more pressure to stop at the same rate as the stock pads BUT the soft initial bite and very progressive feel make them more user friendly. Sorry back on topic... My brakes pulse too, and it is gay. | ||
| M2nc |
+1 on pulsating front brake. Rotor was replaced at 19,000 miles under warranty. | ||
| 12x9sl |
Also got my rotor replaced a week before the warranty went out by the Appleton (WI) Buell shop. The tech was doing some other warranty work-said he wouldn't even take it out on public roads the way it was until he replaced the rotor. Since then super smooth. Before replacement it was just like Dr. Greg's. | ||
| Oddsc |
I had mine replaced under warranty because of pulsing too. Someone mentioned on an earlier thread not to hold the front brake when stopped, the problem hasn't come back, so maybe that has something to do with it? | ||
| Buelltoys |
Well my brakes are not pulsing but I am hearing a noise from the front wheel only when I apply my brakes firmly. There is a pattern like it is hitting the rotor bolts but I do not see this possible and have inspected the bolts and see no damage. The brakes look still in good condition. I have just over 30,000 on the bike and never had a problem with the brakes until this noise appeared about 2 months ago. I was thinking rotor or pads but not sure. What would be the best thing, replace or just clean? | ||
| Bertotti |
Well seeing as cleaning doesn't cost much I would try that first. How are the wheel bearings looking. | ||
| Adrian_8 |
Dr Gregg and I are on the same page..the hard stopping Lyndalls seem to build up more heat and warped the hell out of my rotor....I hate to say this BUT...I wish my Buell had a standard dual front caliper like a radial Brembo..this rotor replacement deal is going to get expensive when my warranty expires. I know, I know ...some guys get 12,000 miles out of Dunlops 616's too...me 2,500. | ||
| Chadhargis |
Don't know what you guys are doing to your rotors, but I ride my bike pretty hard, and have even done a few track days with it and have no warpage, even with the Lyndalls pads. The key is corner speed. Who needs brakes?? LOL!  | ||
| Buelltoys |
Never thought about the wheel bearings will check them out and clean breaks to see if it will solve the problem. Thanks, |
