Front brake vibration from 70mph plus

[howard]

My bike has developed front brake viration from 70mph plus,the faster you brake from the worse the judder.Have done all the normal checks , I have just come back from visiting my local Kawasaki dealer in Limoges(France),after a road test by the foreman who then said they are all like that!.I then spoke to Kawasaki France who were very helpfull,they have now orderered new discs and pads and are fitting them under warranty even though the bike is just out of warranty.
Hopefully the parts are turning up Friday and the job beeing done next Thursday.


Thanks for all the advice,as this bike has done only 8k I am surprised at it developing this fault.Ref cleaning brake discs with brake cleaner sounds like a good idea but iv never had to do that with any of the other bikes I have owened.(About 10 and all various makes).
I think a can of brake cleaner will be a small price to pay to avoid another visit to Kawasaki Limoges!

Still waiting for brake discs to turn up. Have been informed by Kawasaki France they are back ordered and the exspected delivery date of the discs is 2 weeks away.

My brake discs have turned up,they are being fitted next Thursday at Kawasaki Limoges....Kawasaki France have been very helpfull so far,shame there dealers over here are not.....

Discs now fitted and vibration gone ..brill. Shame about the poor service from Kawasaki Limoges,1 hr job took 2.3hrs,bike was not road tested so the brakes were spongy for the 1st few miles and worst of all brake fluid on the paint work where they had for got to remove the resevoir cap when working on the brakes...
I would not recomend any one to
use this dealer.

[Rusty]

Perhaps it was all lost in translation and what the foreman really said was " Wow, those brakes are shit sir , I am really sorry on behalf of Kawasaki and as a gesture of goodwill I shall order you a new set of discs and pads that we shall fit for nothing " .... I'm sure THAT'S what he said  ;D ;D

[Lonewolf]

Howard it sounds to me like you have warped discs. Very, very common apparantly on the GTR. Touchwood so far I have not been afflicted with this condition, (mines a 2007 model) but there are numerous reports of it occurring. I've no idea what the cause is, or why it can suddenly become apparant, when you haven't done anything specific to cause it, i.e.long and continued application of the front brake causing intensive heat transference to the discs.

I can assure you though that all the GTR's do not have vibrations coming from the front discs and brakes. Your dealer is doing what is commonly referred to as telling porkie pies, (lies).  ;D

[Martin#30]

My 17,000 mile old 2010 model is starting to exhibit these same symptoms too, though for me it is when braking fairly gently down from 50 to a standstill. Brake harder and the vibration goes away.

Disappointing really, but if it gets worse, I imagine warranty will sort it.

Martin.

[Boomer]

Go to your local Car Accessories shop and buy a can of spray brake cleaner.
After you wash your bike, spray the disks with it.
Pay special attention to the "rivets" that connect the disk to the carrier.
Takes about 20 secs per disk.

The problem is almost always caused by buildup of brake dust on these rivets.
This prevents the disk from moving sideways which makes it feel warped.
If it feels warped and you don't fix it PDQ, then it will overheat and the disk WILL warp.

Currently @ 46,000 miles and still on the original disks.
About to change the front brake pads for the 2nd time. Got 25k from the OEM pads and looks like about 22K from the EBC HH's.
Rear pads are still the OEM's.

[mecki]

Thanks Boomer that sounds like very good advice.
I'll keep that in mind should my brakes start to feel "funny" one day.

[Rusty]

Yes well done Boomer ... I have not heard of that remedy before ... somewhere like Halfords or a bit more specialist ??

[Lonewolf]

Halfords sell various types of brake + disc cleaners. I think one is called Wurths or something close, thats pretty good.

[Winston Smith]

On my 3rd set of discs after the same issue.

Both changes done on warranty.

Boomer is right though, use a proprietary brake cleaner and stop build up of crud on the bobbins