jireynolds67
New member
I have a problem with the rear brake on my 2003 R1150RT-P. The following is an explanation of what has and is happening. I know it is going to be long, sorry about that, but I feel that I need to explain it the best I can.
I had my mechanic install new tires. While doing so, he noticed the rear brake rotor would move a bit. He pointed that out to me and told me the rotor should be replaced. I ordered a new rotor online and went to the local stealer and bought five new mounting bolts. When I received the new rotor, I made arrangements with my mechanic to have the rotor replaced. I took the rotor, new bolts and new brake pads to him and watched him replace the rotor and pads. The mounting holes in the old rotor were worn a bit and were oblong. There were no indicated problems with the new rotor installation. The rear wheel could be spun by hand with the bike on the center stand and the brake caliper was working correctly and I rode away thinking that the rotor would be good for thousands of miles. One day I went for a ride of about 350 miles and on the way back home, I was within three blocks of my mechanics shop and thought I would stop by and say hi. I squeezed the brake lever to slow a bit for a corner and I heard noise from the rear brake. I had not heard that noise from the brakes before. I rode to the shop and when I stopped, I heard the noise again. I went in and told my mechanic and we went out to look at it. He removed the right saddle bag and took a close look. Both brake pads were essentially gone and the rotor was scored on both sides. It had been less than 1000 miles since the new rotor and pads were installed. I caught a ride home with a friend who had just dropped his BMW off to have some work done on it. I still had the old pads at home so I took them back to my mechanic. Later that day, he replaced the pads with the ones I had taken to him. I picked my bike up the following day.
I ordered another new rotor and new pads and again went to the stealer and bought five mounting bolts. I received the new rotor and pads earlier this week and arranged to have them installed. Again, my mechanic changed the rotor and pads and again, everything looked good. With the bike on the center stand, the rear wheel could be spun by hand and the rear caliper was working correctly. The mechanic said he would take it for a ride to check the brake function. He was gone for about a minute and said he probably rode it less than a hundred yards. When he returned, I looked at the rotor and could see it was already showing scoring. I left the bike with my mechanic as I donÔÇÖt want to ride it and have a repeat.
The first time, my mechanic said the pad material must have been bad. I contacted the people whom I bought the pads from. They said that they have sold thousands of them and never had a complaint. I contacted the people that I bought the rotors from and sent pictures of the rotors and the worn out pads. They contacted their distributor by phone and discussed it quite a bit. Yesterday, I had a phone conversation with a person from the company where I bought the rotors and the second brake pads. They sold several of the same rotors between my ordering the two from them. Neither the people I bought the rotors and second pads from, nor their distributor, have had any complaints about the rotors. The distributorÔÇÖs parent company makes and sells thousands of rotors.
My mechanic will not be at his shop again until Monday. I need to find a way to resolve the problem. The distributor has offered to sell me a new rotor and pads at a reduced price but as I see it, that would not help. Something which neither my mechanic nor I have noticed, or been able to find so far, is causing the problem. The original rotor had thousands of miles on it and was not wearing the pads out rapidly and of course the rotor was scored, but not badly. My question is, has anyone ever had the same kind of problem? If so, what was found that was causing it? I would certainly appreciate any good suggestions as to what the problem might be.
I had my mechanic install new tires. While doing so, he noticed the rear brake rotor would move a bit. He pointed that out to me and told me the rotor should be replaced. I ordered a new rotor online and went to the local stealer and bought five new mounting bolts. When I received the new rotor, I made arrangements with my mechanic to have the rotor replaced. I took the rotor, new bolts and new brake pads to him and watched him replace the rotor and pads. The mounting holes in the old rotor were worn a bit and were oblong. There were no indicated problems with the new rotor installation. The rear wheel could be spun by hand with the bike on the center stand and the brake caliper was working correctly and I rode away thinking that the rotor would be good for thousands of miles. One day I went for a ride of about 350 miles and on the way back home, I was within three blocks of my mechanics shop and thought I would stop by and say hi. I squeezed the brake lever to slow a bit for a corner and I heard noise from the rear brake. I had not heard that noise from the brakes before. I rode to the shop and when I stopped, I heard the noise again. I went in and told my mechanic and we went out to look at it. He removed the right saddle bag and took a close look. Both brake pads were essentially gone and the rotor was scored on both sides. It had been less than 1000 miles since the new rotor and pads were installed. I caught a ride home with a friend who had just dropped his BMW off to have some work done on it. I still had the old pads at home so I took them back to my mechanic. Later that day, he replaced the pads with the ones I had taken to him. I picked my bike up the following day.
I ordered another new rotor and new pads and again went to the stealer and bought five mounting bolts. I received the new rotor and pads earlier this week and arranged to have them installed. Again, my mechanic changed the rotor and pads and again, everything looked good. With the bike on the center stand, the rear wheel could be spun by hand and the rear caliper was working correctly. The mechanic said he would take it for a ride to check the brake function. He was gone for about a minute and said he probably rode it less than a hundred yards. When he returned, I looked at the rotor and could see it was already showing scoring. I left the bike with my mechanic as I donÔÇÖt want to ride it and have a repeat.
The first time, my mechanic said the pad material must have been bad. I contacted the people whom I bought the pads from. They said that they have sold thousands of them and never had a complaint. I contacted the people that I bought the rotors from and sent pictures of the rotors and the worn out pads. They contacted their distributor by phone and discussed it quite a bit. Yesterday, I had a phone conversation with a person from the company where I bought the rotors and the second brake pads. They sold several of the same rotors between my ordering the two from them. Neither the people I bought the rotors and second pads from, nor their distributor, have had any complaints about the rotors. The distributorÔÇÖs parent company makes and sells thousands of rotors.
My mechanic will not be at his shop again until Monday. I need to find a way to resolve the problem. The distributor has offered to sell me a new rotor and pads at a reduced price but as I see it, that would not help. Something which neither my mechanic nor I have noticed, or been able to find so far, is causing the problem. The original rotor had thousands of miles on it and was not wearing the pads out rapidly and of course the rotor was scored, but not badly. My question is, has anyone ever had the same kind of problem? If so, what was found that was causing it? I would certainly appreciate any good suggestions as to what the problem might be.