| Author | Message | ||
     Toecutter |
I've only got 2900 miles on my '09 XB12Ss and my front brakes started pulsing yesterday. I took a fine grit sanding sponge to the rotor to remove the obviously uneven deposits, and the brakes are better now. I'm not at all happy with these stock brake pads because of this and I would like to change them out for some Lyndall Gold+ or EBC HH's, but I don't really want to fork out $100 for new pads at 2900 miles. So, I guess I'll live with the stock pads for now, and call the rotor cleaning a "service interval"...Damnit! (Message edited by toecutter on August 16, 2009) | ||
| Toecutter |
Well, after just two days of riding the bike after cleaning the rotor, the pulsing came back. I looked at the rotor, lo and behold, the uneven deposits (black spots) were back. So, are my choices limited to cleaning the rotor every couple of days, or forking over $100 for new pads? Any suggestions? I wonder what my dealer (Hal's) would have to say about this. It just doesn't seem right that I should have to replace my pads at 2900 miles. | ||
| Blake |
Are you absolutely sure that it is the brake causing what you feel as pulsing? When the brake is actuated, it lets more of the engine vibes into the handlebars. More aggressive use of the front brake seems to keep the issue at bay for me. I'm almost to 4K miles, no pulsing. And really if the pulsing you feel is that which is caused by the uneven deposits, it is not something that requires intervention. If you need to brake hard, the pulsing is not evident. It only manifests under moderate braking. So just ride and enjoy.  | ||
| Blake |
One other possible cause of a pulsing front brake is uneven (wedge shaped) wear of the brake pads. I doubt you have that at only 2900 miles, but thought I'd post it for others who might surf through. | ||
| Toecutter |
Thanks for the reply Blake. It was not engine vibration coming through the handlebars that I was feeling (RPM's don't matter in my case), and the harder I pulled the brake lever, the worse it got, but your moderate braking explanation makes some sense. However, I will not accept a braking system that acts like a light switch. Sometimes I want to brake "moderately", and when I do this the bike shouldn't try to shake the front wheel off. I am going to change the pads to the EBC HH sintered anyway (not the PFA's). I would have changed them last night, but my '09 XB factory service manual doesn't include any information about the ZTL-2 caliper. I'm still going to change them, I just want to do it when I have a little more time so I don't frack anything up trying to rush. Is there anything that I should be aware of when changing the pads of the ZTL-2 vs. the ZTL? (Message edited by toecutter on August 31, 2009) | ||
| Blake |
Not that I know. | ||
| Luckyrainman |
You're right. Replace with EBC Brake Pads Front Order # FA454/4HH per Set app. 50,00 EUR. I wonder, why buell stays on these Nissin Brake Pads. (Message edited by luckyrainman on September 14, 2009) | ||
| Fahren |
All that brake dust deposit hasn't jammed up any of the floating connection points on the rotor, has it? There should be flex play when you press on all 8 of the connection points along the rotor. If one is gummed up and not flexing, that could be an issue. Just thinking, as you seem to have deposits sticking to the rotor. | ||
| Luckyrainman |
No, not a matter of sticky floaters. Definitely the poor material of the pads. I had it on the 2007 STT, now I have it on the 2009 Ss .... I changed to EBC and it's gone. No more spots, no pulsing. |
