Replacing rotors and reusing pads

[tommytool]

Blimey, stick to the ruddy thread! I too need front rotors soon. Can anyone comment from experience regarding those Arashi discs. They look very good and a very reasonable price.

Incidentally my battery thread: cancelled my order for the high capacity, HD battery, I'm getting a standard BTX 14 12v 12aH job. Again, duff advice from Exeters finest motorcycle dealership - bunch of cretins?
Thanks to Bournemouth again for honestly clarifying things.

[Boomer]

I have 11000 miles on the Arashi rotors and I like them. There is a bit of a vibe when you hit the brakes hard due to the large slots but otherwise they stop well and wear well. I have Ferodo HH pads on mine but will be replacing with EBC HHs. I clean them with brake cleaner and a green Scotch pad every 3 months or so. They do not suffer from the sticking rivets like the OEM rotors do. For the money they are superb. However, money no object I woukd buy the EBC rotors or Brembos if available.

[Martin#30]

I have used the Arashi disks for the last 9,000 miles, but have recently got fed up with their downsides and taken them off.

They wear very well, their overall stopping power is perfect, but their finesse is just not right for me to trust them. As Boomer says, the grooves cut into the disks are just too big, and it means the braking force varies slightly as each groove feeds through the calipers. On my bike, this translates into a light pulsing of the brakes, as if I was increasing and reducing brake lever pressure slightly many times a second.

The severity of this pulsing seems to vary depending on brake pad choice. It was quite small with OEM Kwak pads, and it was truly horrible with SBS pads. Chamfering the leading edge of each pad helps, but I never got rid of the pulsing completely.

Overall, they are great value, and fit perfectly once you space the front wheel speed sensor out half a mm. I just never completely trusted them due to this pulsing, so I am back to expensive OEM.

Just sharing my experience,

Martin.

[Kwikasfuki]

On the last GTR I put on EBC and they were fine.

I'm in two minds now whether to cancel the order of the Arashi and just stick to EBC ones

[Lonewolf]

For what its worth on something as important as discs/brakes, I'd stick to what you know and trust.

[Martin#30]

Asif,

If you want to try the Arashi's and make up your own mind, I would be happy to send them to you FoC. I have no desire to use them again.

Martin.

[Kwikasfuki]

For what its worth on something as important as discs/brakes, I'd stick to what you know and trust.

Yes, I think I'm going to go for the EBC

Had them before and they were fine. Its going to cost £100 more, but at least I know they will be ok

I'll get new pads as well as that's what EBC recommend, but then will reuses the existing ones on the next brake pad swap

[Kwikasfuki]

Asif,

If you want to try the Arashi's and make up your own mind, I would be happy to send them to you FoC. I have no desire to use them again.

Martin.

Many thanks for the kind offer Martin, but from reading this thread I've decided to stick with the EBC ones.

Everyone on this thread has said the 'Ashari are good, but ...' and its the 'but' part that worries me.

[Kwikasfuki]

It might be worthwhile collating all this info and publishing it into the useful info thread.

All I need to know is the brand of the discs, the pads, whether you recommend them, and a little snippet on your feedback/issues

e.g. (from this thread)

OEM discs, OEM Pads, Recommended, habit of discs warping even on later models, cause unknown. Expensive as OEM
EBC Pro Contour, EBC HH Pads, Recommended, no issues. Mid range to expensive
Arashi, OEM Kawasaki, No, Grooves in disc too big leading to pulsing, pads need chamfering, good value if you can live with the pulsing
Arashi, SBS, No, Too much pulsing with SBS pads
Arashi, Ferodo HH, yes, chamfering required as they have light pulsing

[trousersnake01]

Arashi and EBC pads, had them fitted two weeks ago, was disappointed with them when I rode home because of the minor pulsing or light vibration feel, but decided to give them a go and let them bed in as all was new.

But I concur with the above. They stop you really well when you yank on the brake however for gentle slowing you get this very small pulsing which has changed my braking style either making it harsher to stop the pulsing or slowing earlier with a bit more back.
Shame really, its obviously the large cooling slits as you can judge them passing past the pads.
I was really looking forward  to nice smooth braking after having warped disks replaced.

[Kwikasfuki]

Arashi and EBC pads, had them fitted two weeks ago, was disappointed with them when I rode home because of the minor pulsing or light vibration feel, but decided to give them a go and let them bed in as all was new.

But I concur with the above. They stop you really well when you yank on the brake however for gentle slowing you get this very small pulsing which has changed my braking style either making it harsher to stop the pulsing or slowing earlier with a bit more back.
Shame really, its obviously the large cooling slits as you can judge them passing past the pads.
I was really looking forward  to nice smooth braking after having warped disks replaced.

I've been doing a bit more research on the Arashi (not that I'm going to buy them). When viewing both discs on the wheel, are they symmetrical? If they are, it might be worthwhile taking one disc off and rotating it until the pattern is asymmetrical. Not 100% if that is entirely possible though

[shaggs147]

Is it worth reporting the pulsing back to the manufacturer? Maybe they'll re design their discs on this feedback giving them more sales, and giving us value for money.

[virginiajim]

Kawasaki?  If so, they know about it but the more that complain...

[shaggs147]

Sorry, I meant Arashi.

[trousersnake01]

I've been doing a bit more research on the Arashi (not that I'm going to buy them). When viewing both discs on the wheel, are they symmetrical? If they are, it might be worthwhile taking one disc off and rotating it until the pattern is asymmetrical. Not 100% if that is entirely possible though

Thats an interesting thought, I'll have a look in the light