my rear brake suddenly has a pulse.

[cokebottle10]

I'm having problems posting photos. I need to find my member number. Can someone e-mail it to me again?

I rode to the FL Keys and back to Fletcher NC without any problems with the bike (2159 miles). 99 I/S now with 23k+ miles. I then rode it to Cleveland TN for work on Monday. About 200 miles with no problems. I had to stay overnight so I got a hotel room. Because I had run through some rain on my ride back from FL I went to wash the bike at a car wash, then back to the hotel. I started out today from the hotel next to I-75 exit 27 and went to get off at exit 20. When I hit the brakes on the exit ramp the rear brake started to pulse. I did not know what it was at first. Something on the road? Tire coming apart? When I got to work I looked at the pads still mounted on the bike and it looks like I still had about a 1/4 inch on each pad. But the rotors look like something was welded to them then grounded off in about four places. These are now lumps in the rotor. Like metal was transfered to the rotor. All was good until I traveled that 7 miles between exits 27 and 20.

I never smelled any brakes. After getting off I-75 I went about 4 more miles to work. The rotor was warm but i could easily keep my hand on it. I don't know what caused this in such a short time.

My slow down coming off I-75 was normal with both front and rear brakes applied. Not hard at all.

I still need to ride back home to Fletcher NC. I love riding through Ocoee and Nantahala but I think that it would be best to take the interstates back and keep off the rear brake as much as I can.

[Skinhead]

Sounds like either the pads rusted to the rotor and perhaps some of the metallic components of the pads may have transfered to the rotor surface.  I would think some continued brake applies should clear it up. 

The only other thought, (and I doubt this is it), is the high pressure spray may have forced debris between the piston and caliper causing the piston to hang up.  I would go with the first senerio.

[Rio Wil]

Any chance you accidentally rested the toe of your shoe on the brake lever and heated the rotor up to....like cherry red...

You might want to pull the rear brake pedal off and clean the rust and crud from the pivot bolt....

[cokebottle10]

Yes, I could have rested my foot on the brake for the first two miles of the seven miles from exit to exit. The bike did feel a little sluggish when I first got on the freeway. I though it was just cold and still warming up. I had on my steel toe boots (going to work) and not my riding boots. But I have to tell you that I have never seen a rotor that looks like this.

On my way back home from Cleveland TN I stoped by Autocycles in Madisonville TN just off 411 and picked up a used rotor for $45. Also picked up a alt cover for $20. Its a shame to see so many smashed Valkyries in one place. He had three that were not fully taken apart yet. Many more parts on the racks.

I hope the photo posting works. This is the worst spot. There are 4 more spots like this on the rotor. I is like a hump in the rotor. I will take more photos of it when I get it apart.


Thanks,
David in Fletcher NC

[custom1]

Does the other side of the rotor look the same at that spot? looks like its cracked, starting at the drill hole.   

[Daniel Meyer]

Does the other side of the rotor look the same at that spot? looks like its cracked, starting at the drill hole.   

Certainly does look cracked in that pic...otherwise...that's just weird! If not a crack...will something sharp/metal...like a screwdriver...scrape it off?

[cokebottle10]

I don't think that it is cracked. It is more like a bump on both sides. This is the worst of five spots like it. I have never seen something like this in a car clutch or a car/bike rotor. It was not burnt and was warm when I stopped and could easily keep my hond on the rotor. This happen in 7 miles from nothing wrong to it felt like a rumble strip on the side of the road when appling the rear brakes. I just don't know what happen?

[Michvalk]

I'll bet you don't have as much pad as you think you do

[Rio Wil]

I think that rotor had to get very very hot to slather that metal into a bulge, either from the pads or from the rotor it's self. It wouldn't take too much time to air cool the rotor back to a normal temp once the pressure was off the pads. Probably a good idea to pull the pads and take a look.....the bump will serve to open the pads wider and not cause heating.

[pancho]

I'll bet you don't have as much pad as you think you do

That is what I am thinking,,, maybe you are looking at the backing plate??

[old2soon]

I'll bet you don't have as much pad as you think you do

That is what I am thinking,,, maybe you are looking at the backing plate??

    Might be a good idea to remove the caliper and have a GOOD look see at the pads. I was leaning towards a cracked rotor myself. RIDE SAFE.

[cokebottle10]

I have a "new" used rotor and new pads. I will not be able to get to it until I get back from a business trip to New York for about two weeks. The bike is parked for now. I will post photos of the bad rotor and pads when I get them off.

I want to clean up the calipers and change the brake fluid in all of them plus the clutch. Where is a good place to get the seals? Or do I just need to go to Honda.

Thanks,
David in Fletcher NC 

[pancho]

It will be interesting to see what you find,, maybe the backing plate digging into the rotor???  All parts can be found at either HDL or Partzilla at a much better price than the dealer.      What seals???