I've never seen a more knowledgeable mechanic share such valued information without a hefty price tag attached to it. And I am thankful for your passion!.
The fact that the outer portion of the disc brake is not directly connected to the inner portion of the disc brake also serves another purpose. It diminishes the chance of warped disc brake rotors. The heat of the outer floating portion has less heat transfer to the inner portion thus keeping the rotor straight and true after many heat cycles.
i have the same brake issue on my touring bike, was thinking of replacing discs as last solution, but was obvious this was not the cause, cleaned them now works like new, thank you sir!
I bought a second hand 1290 KTM Super Duke which vibrates when braking hard or accelerating while maintaining slight pressure on the front brakes. I have done this twice and did not manage to solve it. Still I thank you for the video as if this was going to happen again, I would give it another try. For now, it seems like there is not much I can do except purchasing new discs. Great video though!
Taj video od prije 11god sam gledao prije par godina!!!!i onda sam na svom zx12r uradio to!!! Iznenadio sam se prijatno!!!super djeluje!!!hvala!veliki pozdrav
I had a advisory on my front brakes. I bet this is the issue as I didn't even know about this, so never cleaned them. Thanks Del, I know what im going to be doing tomorrow.
Bloody good tip, thanks! All these years and I have to admit, it never occurred to me. Just goes to show, you’re never too old to learn something! 😁. That’ll be a part of my maintenance from now on.
I saw the video last week along with how to clean your drive chain,I’ve done the chain & I couldn’t believe how much grit came off the chain,it’s now very quiet,I’m going to get the disc bobbins done later this week, top job del👍
Jase from MD USA here.. Long time watcher..love every vid! this one was especially good knowledge to have as I have Galfers on my Sportster cafe/bob...in fact im gonna see how mine are doing when i get to my shop tomorrow!! Much thanks DEL!! cheers!!
Was looking at my B-kings front discs yesterday never noticed before those bobbins move, well some do so looks like I have a job to do. Thanks Delboy this is new to me always learning 😊
Have a similar issue on the new GSX for the channel too, but it's also making a weird rattle noise (unless brake applied) so will try this later, I don't think my discs are the issue, and no pulsing on the lever, just the noise and the lurch, if it doesn't fix it..... them it's a Winter caliper refurb job 😉
I'm not a DIY mechanic in anyway, always use a dealer or independent garage. But this and the old brake cleaning video really tempt me to try. It's just a little scary messing about with probably the most important safety feature! Bobbin cleaning looks totally doable though and I will endeavor to do some caliper cleaning this season!! Thank you for sharing your skills in digestible chunks. All the best to you.
Thanks mate 👍, really appreciate your kind words, and just feel comfortable with the maintenance you do, but learning a bit more about your bike really enhances the ownership. Take care and ride safe!
@@Moonfleet41 will it's in the shop right now getting a 24k service and the brakes are being given some TLC so this is my moment to start from fresh! Bobbins first, brakes proper I might give until the weather gets wetter! Your current project bike looks awesome by the way. Cheers!
@@Moonfleet41 I did it. Bike was dropped off today after service/mot. I got my modest tools and a crappy nut and bolt, and set to work! Took about an hour, some were solid with salt (based on the white residue) and grime. They won't turn by hand like yours but they all turn. The discs move, definitely more than they did but only a tiny bit! Will do it again over the summer. Cheers
Wow! Thank you! didn't know the actual disc were floating like that. Have that exact symptom on my MT-09. No jjudder, no shaking, just a smooth pulse just before stopping. No change in the brake lever. I will go home and clean it properly :D
Ive helped 4 guys up to now with this same issue. So many overlook this little job, always worked a treat for me. Simple and effective. (Then there are those whiteboard idiots who dont believe this actually works and would rather leave all the brake dust and road grime in the areas between the bobbins and the surfaces).
Thanks mate! Exactly my issue. I've been riding motorcycles all my life and this is the first time I've heard of this. You just saved me a bunch of money!
Thanks Delboy , my Gsx 14 does this & I thought I need new rotors. I’ll be cleaning my bobbins now . Your knowledge is excellent, keep up the great work 👌
I raced one of these beasts about ten years ago, what a hoot. They do not like stopping in a hurry on a good day! But that is half the fun. Had a ball trying to pedal one around and out-brake the 600's during the "all-in" end of day race. Getting it stopped by sliding it in, turning and using the torque advantage off the apex was a trick. The floating disc's would commonly flog out on the gsxr's as well and have 4-5mm of slop in them. Still did their job and they couldn't escape anywhere, but made a hell of a racket!
Perfect. I've known about the bobbins and the importance of having them free but not the extent that you've shown here (outer disc movement against carrier). Also, at beginning you mentioned the difference between a pulsing/lurching braking force rather than the actual lever pulsing, the latter of which I dont think I have so was good to identify that difference. Was looking at potentially getting new discs but I'll definitely be going to get some more brake cleaner now and some more m4 bolts (small I know) to fit through the bobbins! Cheers
Thank you so much my Pan European ST1300 doesn’t get much use so had gathered brake dust crud. All sorted with the original discs all good with not much mileage on them 👍👍
Hello @Delboy's garage, I would like to tell you that you are very detailed on this particular subject and thank you very much. I am facing the same problem on a YAMAHA XP500 with the difference that my disks are new and it has not even been a week since I changed them and it is exactly the same problem you mentioned in your video ?? Do you have any advice on what I can do? Are they crooked and how can I found out ? Thank you
Mate... I think you just saved my wallet. I was already looking for new brake discs for my 2004 GSF600 because I thought they were buckled. I had no idea that these bobbins are supposed to rotate freely...
Yes sure, they should have some sliding resistance so not completely spin freely, there should certainly be no freeplay, but if they're jammed solid, then that certainly can hold the outer disc out of alignment.
That is quite interesting. I was having that problem, the thing is that i thought it was the abs kicking, thinking it was an overly intrusive system. In but it was, in fact, covering it up the real problem, junk in the bobbins. Thanks for showing this mate, you learn every day something new, but today i learnt that it needs cleaning, how to clean it and a cheat to rotate the bobbins. Certainly ill be checking every month on this bad boys. Truly a live saver. Thanks again.
Most welcome buddy, once a month is nowhere near necessary, I do mine after the winter and again at the end of the summer and that's plenty, just when they get stuck!
Hi del, saw your orig video all them yrsss ago! Glad you re-did this to make new bikers more aware of general maintenence! Top tip: buy your brake cleaner in 5ltr tins and pump sprayer 👍 save a fortune on silly rattle cans that last 5mins Keep the vids coming
Thanks for the reminder of cleaning my disc bobbins. No bad effects yet, neither on the Aprilia nor the Honda. But the front discs on my CBR 600 RR are getting old - too much movement. Have a great weekend, I'm off to ride Saxonian and Bohemian twisties. Günter/Nürnberg
Oh am I glad you’ve purchased one of these machines 😂makes me confident in doing the work myself as I love tinkering, your videos helped me dearly for my mk1 bandit , hoping for more videos of work on the the big 1400 . Cheers
Fascinating! I am quite guilty at being less than vigilant in brake bobbin cleaning. I don't think I've never experienced that particular malady that I'm aware of, but upon seeing this now, I'm thinking preventative cleaning and checking is right up there on my to do list from now on, for sure. Thanks, man!
It's a pretty rare problem to be fare, i maybe do it once a year on a bike i ride in bad weather.. so just a last resort if you get the lurching feel..!
Thank you for that info/tip del, I admit I never knew about this tip with the bobbins as I would have put it down to a warped disk!!!. A friend of mine has a Hayabusa and the brakes are like that, will give him a call for he was talking about buying new disks, when he knows about this he will be a happy man😊. Brilliant tip del keep them coming M8. And great video as always. All the best to yourself and Penny. Don..
You're most welcome Don, it'll be wonderful if it can help him... it's not a guaranteed fix, and it's not a given that you don't have a warped disc, but washing them out is certainly the first thing to do before you go reaching for your credit card! Thanks for your kind words, we both appreciate it!
@@Moonfleet41 just passing on a big thankyou from my m8, I phoned and he brought the bike down, bobbins were all bunged up with disk and carrier solid with no movement at all, did what you did on video and front braking is now perfectly smooth with no shutters, he left here a happy man😁. Cheer's del 👍
You bloody ripper!! Love your video's mate. I've learned a lot. I watched this one this morning and had a eureka moment. My 750 sometimes grabs and I had no idea what was up... when I checked one of the rotors was stiff as "no movement at all" I'm cleaning them right now. I stumbled on a neat trick as I was scratching the bottom of the toolbox for a nut, if you use a wing nut you can use your fingers to rotate the bobbins. Thanks again mate 👍
Brilliant advice. I never knew about this. will be out to check the Very Angry Airbed tommorrow. Brakes have always been a bit weak on my bike in my opinion so anything to keep them tip top is most welcome. Always spot on. Thanks Del!
Wow, look st that for timing! Remember the accident Del where the gs500 went into a skid. Well, a guy on Facebook marketplace was looking to swap his bike for a smaller one. So we did a straight swap. I got a near mint FJ1200 model with the ABS He's well chuffed with the gs500 and likewise with me to. So, no more mishaps. Happy days
@Moonfleet41 forget to say in my original comment was that with the timing of your video on brakes, I got a bike with the anti-lock variety. So, no more mishaps 😅
tried this on my ZRX 1200 bobbins which look pretty clean to start with , spritzed them down good with brake clean while turning back and forth with socket but there is no way they are going to turn with just my fingers
Great , simple and free fix Del. I need to pay more attention to this. I once took a set of wheels to have new tires mounted (so I wouldn't risk damaging the rotors). When I put them back on the bike they were so far out of whack they pushed the caliper pistons in after one squeeze of the lever. To the shops credit they did make it right but it meant pulling and installing the wheels twice on the old Road King. Involved some grunting on the back wheel. 😁 Great work as always Del and Penny. Thanks and best wishes to you both. ❤👍👍
Don't you love Harley's lol! why make a job simple when you can make it a work out lol! At least they sorted it out safely, that's all that matters aye !
I remember that Vid😊👍. I used this technique often, and am having this phenomenon on my Yamaha Super Tenere. At low speed stops only. Most annoying, 😖. I've done the cleaning and even sanding the pads to de-glaze. It was fine for a while but has resumed 😡. Sooo, back to the drawing board for some good time fun cleaning. Rrrrr.☹️ I'm using Ferodo Platinum pads. I may upgrade to a Sintered compound pads in the future. Cheers 🍻, G. Have a great weekend folks.
Not entirely convinced it’s a good idea on semi floating discs. To my understanding the bobbin’s primary function is to allow for radial thermal expansion of the outer rotor. Lateral movement isn’t critical on road bike disks. I just wonder if rotating the bobbins to free them off will wear bobbin against its disc mounting surfaces due to the grinding action caused by trapped road grit/brake dust?
Not at all mate, just go gently as i showed, two or three rotations to clear and wash out the clogged dust and allow for that "thermal expansion of the outer rotor" you talked about...as when there's no room for something to expand.. that's when it can distort !!
Having the same issue on my '02 GSXR 750. Any idea if the same 8mm bolt/nut is the same size? On that note, what length is best for the bolt and how tight should it be?
hi mate , old video i know but ive came across it and decided to check mine on my 2001 gsx 1400 .. after turning several i noticed a shim/ washer drop out of the back side of the disc .. so having a bit of a further inspection i noticed several also are missing or only have half or so of the washer left so maybe broken and fell out etc , will this effect the braking in any way .. i didnt have the pulsing problem but thought i would check them anyway .. also are the bobbins replaceable ?? .. cheers
Yes mate I believe the bobbins and shims are replaceable, check with Suzuki... and if it was my bike, I would very much replca them before I rode the bike again, just in case!
@@Moonfleet41 yeh i will do that, did take it for a short ride as i had just also done the front forks seal and oil replacement and just wanted to check that out ( another good video of yours ) , seems ok but have to sort out the preload and rebound ..another job i dont have a clue about 😂 but dont mind giving them a go as its the reason i bought this bike .. come quite a way already since buying it a few weeks back.. tough to get decent parts here in perth australia tho .
Do you discs have the SD system patented by EBC? SD Means Square Drive, meaning the bobbins have flat edges. I'm going to say that yours don't (many bobbins add weight to that) if you can rotate them. My discs do have the SD patent. I've given a bobbin a good try and it won't rotate. People might want to be aware of their disc construction before they get too heavy handed! Mine certainly did need a good clean out though! Thanks for highlighting the need to clean them!
Does the brake parts cleaner ever tarnish the finish on the wheels? I got some on mine and it made them all cloudy. Wouldn't clean up or polish out so I have to refinish them completely. Very careful with my brake cleaner now...
I've personally never had that problem, factory coatings are always ok, perhaps yours was painted with somthing else? Either way, pop a rag over them in future maybe?!
Great video. My tiger 800 2018 front disc are warped due to the disc lock being and I moved the bike a bit. Would cleaning up the bobbins fix warp disc ?
If you believe that you've buckled a disc, then cleaning out the bobbins first to double check costs you nothing and you have nothing to lose, so why not try that first... let us know how you get on!
Delboy, i have a 2020 street glide special with the HD shift linkage. I have an impossible time getting into neutral. it will only go into neutral if the bike is actively moving forward. Can you show us what you would do to resolve this? I have ridden for 15 years, and have multiple bikes. And this is the only bike ive had any problem with.
Hi Richard.. if it's hard to disengage gears, and heavy going into gear first thing... then that's usually related to the clutch plates sticking together.. When was the Primary oil last changed? is it overdue?.. what oil was last put in it?, if it's thick gear oil thats often a mistake!! maybe just change the Primary oil and check the clutch adjustment while the cover is off ! most of the time that sorts it out mate !
@Delboy's Garage thanks for the reply. It shifts extremely nicely. Except into neutral. It has all regular and scheduled maintenance at the harley dealer. It has the screaming eagle synthetic for engine oil. Has only 7k miles on the bike. Done this since day 1. Wasn't sure if there was some kind of adjustment or if HD are just difficult to find neutral. My Indian, victory and yamaha haven't ever had this issue.
@@fader2701 Ok, in that case you can eliminate any servicing mistakes or neglect... It could be that the bike just needs to loosen up.. Harley Davidson engines are and always have been agricultural and harsh.. and it's well understood that they take at least 10k miles to fully run in and loosen up! Maybe bring it up with your dealer, you/re mid way to the 10k service, and just ask them if it's correct !
I’ve been chasing a front brake issue to the the point of fully rebuilding the master cylinder, brake calipers, new hoses, new pads and new fluid and still had a ‘feeling’ at the front end. Well now ‘you’ may have shown me the fix. Job for today.
Excellent video Del & Penny. Great job mate, this one will help a lot of people that have not seen your other video, job well done. Penny and you enjoy the last part of your week, take care.Cheers
Thanks mate, the old one still gets a few hits every week, but it's so effective I just thought it was worth updating the video! Warm sunny days here, so summer's here at long last! Have a great week, D&Px
Hi.. My motorcycle disc brakes donot have these bobbins. These are regular allen screwS directly tighten to the alloy. But i am still getting those pulsating brakes exactly as you described. What is the issue?
Amazing video, when I tried to do this none of them ended up turning smoothly and all squeak when turned with a nut and bolt, do I need new rotors or is this somehow fixable
@@Moonfleet41 they don’t move with my fingers trying to turn them even after the break clean, they only turn with the nut and bolt with a decent amount of force, is there a way to fix this or do I new new rotors and they don’t freely move the 0.8mm of play yours had in the video
What if you do this, step by step, and they still won’t move? Is it possible for them to become so filled with dust that it’s impossible? I used alot of brakecleaner and twisted and twisted, but they still won’t wobble. Looking for ideas, given up for now 😅
Well I have this problem too but I had clean the boobins like u did but not better, I did change brake disc and pads and still this problem, can it be ABS-giver/pump problem???
Wow, that is nice and simple solution but brake disc on my bike has no bobbins. And I can't find what causes slightly different problem, that is constant, rubbing like, fairly high pitch noise which increases with speed, sound of a ballistic missile. It is definitely pad touching the disc but it doesn't get hot. Pads and disc were replaced. Calliper cleaned, pistons polished, new seals, fresh DOT4 and even bearings were replaced. Nothing made the sound go. Locating spring or retainer? I ran out of options. Any ideas?
Broadly explained there mate, juddering can mean many things, I'd have to experience it to be accurate. Why not give the discs a good thorough clean with brake cleaner, drop the calipers off, wash them out clean the pad faces you could have some contaminant in there, put it all back together and flush the brake fluid through, then try it again! If that doesn't get rid of it, you could check your disc for 'run out' with a dial guage, could be possible warped, but very unlikely, unless you've bashed it!
Thanks for this tip! Does this also help the wheel to spin more freely on the axel once its done? The front wheel on my GSXR doesn't turn easily at the moment
Hello Dell and Penny. Great video and a great tip . I did it on my Varadero but they still make noise and i can't turn them by hand. Think i have to repeat it 🤫🤔
I have an issue where my brakes have good pressure when the bike doesnt move, but once the wheel rolls, my front brakes loose all pressure. Do you have any idea if this could be the fix? Its not air in the system as I can leave my bike for weeks without touching the brakes and theyll be firm, but once i move it, lever goes all the way to the grip.
@@Moonfleet41 it does not but it ended being a bent rotor. i checked it with a dial clamped to my fork and spun the wheel, and sure enough i had a pretty decent amount of warping so i will have to replace my front rotros
Oh yay. Another video that doesn't help... It's not your fault. I just have a dinosaur with solid brake rotors is all. Good video for people it's relevant for though, so thumbs up for that.
@Delboy - been watching most of your GSX 1400 videos as I’ve just brought a 07 model. I’m concerned about the headlight, and I just noticed your have an upgraded LED one - is it any good, and what make is it? Cheers Dean
Wasn't brilliant Dean, light was a little better but very flimsy plastic... also it had no brand or logo so i didn't even know what model it was.. probably an Amazon special.. sorry can't be more help there mate... Maybe look into an HID kit..??!
First time I see this, or something similar to this. I will be trying this soon as I can feel some pulsating when braking. Hopefully it's not too late. I'm guessing this is more of a preventative measure than a fix.
Hi Del love the videos especially your Suzuki 1400cc ones, I’ve recently gone and bought this bike and the ride is comfortable and very enjoyable. Wondering if you can advice me on a problem I believe I’ve inherited from the previous owner, it’s when I start the bike up - side stand is tucked up - clutch is pulled in but when I go to start nothing happens? I then put the bike into 1st gear rock back & forth then it starts on the button, could this be the starter motor? If so can this be removed and worked on? Any help would be appreciated. All the best Paul.
Could be the switch rod that tells the bike the kickstand is up is dirty . See where the kickstand activates the rod then clean and push in repeatedly.
I think my bike needs this, thanks Del. One question: Is the brake cleaner going to damage the finish on my painted wheels? They are painted black like yours. Should I be putting a rag over the wheel and tire while doing this?
It shouldn't damage factory paint mate, but if they've been painted with something else, maybe a random product, then why not be careful and just take that precaution!
25 years of riding, you're the first source informing me of this. Subbed!
Thank You!
This just saved me a whole lot of money by not having to buy new discs (that i thought were warped). Thank you!!!
Most welcome mate.. glad it helped .
I've never seen a more knowledgeable mechanic share such valued information without a hefty price tag attached to it. And I am thankful for your passion!.
Thank you so much for your kind words of support, we're glad you like the videos! It's a pleasure to know that it's appreciated.
Another bit I never knew....that brake rotors are designed to "float" to optimize brake pad grab. Thanks as always!
Glad you found it interesting John.. simple and effective !
The fact that the outer portion of the disc brake is not directly connected to the inner portion of the disc brake also serves another purpose. It diminishes the chance of warped disc brake rotors. The heat of the outer floating portion has less heat transfer to the inner portion thus keeping the rotor straight and true after many heat cycles.
OMG. My brakes have been doing that for a year now. Thought they were warped. Thanks for the tip Del. Brilliant.
i have the same brake issue on my touring bike, was thinking of replacing discs as last solution, but was obvious this was not the cause, cleaned them now works like new, thank you sir!
No problem 👍, im glad it worked for you.
literally had NO idea this was a "thing". Much appreciated.
Most welcome Sir, am glad it could help you... keep safe and thank you for your support!
I was about to throw the brake discs out on the SRAD; this was remarkably helpful!
I tired this and no more Brake Shudder on my 2022 Harley Fat Bob! Only took about 20min and made a world of difference. Thank you for this video.
You're welcome, glad to hear it helped!
I bought a second hand 1290 KTM Super Duke which vibrates when braking hard or accelerating while maintaining slight pressure on the front brakes. I have done this twice and did not manage to solve it. Still I thank you for the video as if this was going to happen again, I would give it another try. For now, it seems like there is not much I can do except purchasing new discs. Great video though!
Thank you, you've just saved me spaffing £500 on new discs for my bike. I was convinced the discs were warped!
Excellent advice as always 👍
wow, that's awesome mate, sounds like you should become a Patron!
@@Moonfleet41 Fair point, you usually pay for good advice and tuition, I'm in 👍
@@davebethell1 Thanks so much Dave and welcome aboard mate!
Taj video od prije 11god sam gledao prije par godina!!!!i onda sam na svom zx12r uradio to!!! Iznenadio sam se prijatno!!!super djeluje!!!hvala!veliki pozdrav
To je fantastično, drago mi je da vam video može pomoći. Pozdrav iz Engleske i vozi sigurno
I have been to two mechanics and neither of them could solve my brake problem, now I can solve it myself. Thanks for the video!
Glad to help
I had a advisory on my front brakes. I bet this is the issue as I didn't even know about this, so never cleaned them. Thanks Del, I know what im going to be doing tomorrow.
No problem mate👍, good luck with it !
@@Moonfleet41 Just done this. they turn now but not as much as yours. But I did have 3 that didnt move that easy. Thanks
Bloody good tip, thanks! All these years and I have to admit, it never occurred to me. Just goes to show, you’re never too old to learn something! 😁. That’ll be a part of my maintenance from now on.
Nice one mate. Glad to help !
I saw the video last week along with how to clean your drive chain,I’ve done the chain & I couldn’t believe how much grit came off the chain,it’s now very quiet,I’m going to get the disc bobbins done later this week, top job del👍
Most welcome mate, am glad it could help you, just housekeeping aye!
Jase from MD USA here..
Long time watcher..love every vid!
this one was especially good knowledge to have as I have Galfers on my Sportster cafe/bob...in fact im gonna see how mine are doing when i get to my shop tomorrow!!
Much thanks DEL!!
cheers!!
Thanks Jase, am glad you could use it, have fun and hope it's ok!
Was looking at my B-kings front discs yesterday never noticed before those bobbins move, well some do so looks like I have a job to do. Thanks Delboy this is new to me always learning 😊
Most welcome mate.. if you get them all turning freely... you will notice an improvement in initial feel !
Have a similar issue on the new GSX for the channel too, but it's also making a weird rattle noise (unless brake applied) so will try this later, I don't think my discs are the issue, and no pulsing on the lever, just the noise and the lurch, if it doesn't fix it..... them it's a Winter caliper refurb job 😉
Was it your disc bobbins 😂
@@bobcat7227 Turns out it was the anti rattle plate being too loose
I'm not a DIY mechanic in anyway, always use a dealer or independent garage. But this and the old brake cleaning video really tempt me to try. It's just a little scary messing about with probably the most important safety feature! Bobbin cleaning looks totally doable though and I will endeavor to do some caliper cleaning this season!! Thank you for sharing your skills in digestible chunks. All the best to you.
Thanks mate 👍, really appreciate your kind words, and just feel comfortable with the maintenance you do, but learning a bit more about your bike really enhances the ownership. Take care and ride safe!
@@Moonfleet41 will it's in the shop right now getting a 24k service and the brakes are being given some TLC so this is my moment to start from fresh! Bobbins first, brakes proper I might give until the weather gets wetter! Your current project bike looks awesome by the way. Cheers!
@@Moonfleet41 I did it. Bike was dropped off today after service/mot. I got my modest tools and a crappy nut and bolt, and set to work! Took about an hour, some were solid with salt (based on the white residue) and grime. They won't turn by hand like yours but they all turn. The discs move, definitely more than they did but only a tiny bit! Will do it again over the summer. Cheers
brilliant, I just checked my disc, bobbins were jammed causing brake drag........cleaned the bobbins now perfect.
Glad it helped!
Wow! Thank you! didn't know the actual disc were floating like that. Have that exact symptom on my MT-09. No jjudder, no shaking, just a smooth pulse just before stopping. No change in the brake lever. I will go home and clean it properly :D
Hi. I have the same problem on my Tracer 900. Did you try this? Did it end up fixing the problem on your MT09?
Ive helped 4 guys up to now with this same issue. So many overlook this little job, always worked a treat for me. Simple and effective. (Then there are those whiteboard idiots who dont believe this actually works and would rather leave all the brake dust and road grime in the areas between the bobbins and the surfaces).
Couldn't have put it better myself! Thanks mate
Great. I didn't know about this free play on rotors. 30 years of riding and 30 years of discovers. Thanks
Thanks mate! Exactly my issue. I've been riding motorcycles all my life and this is the first time I've heard of this. You just saved me a bunch of money!
Great instructional video. Well done. Just tried this and free’d up the discs Braking feels much better too.
Glad it helped mate!
And again i didn't know about the break bobbins could block up with the dust of the pads good one Del
Thanks Delboy , my Gsx 14 does this & I thought I need new rotors. I’ll be cleaning my bobbins now . Your knowledge is excellent, keep up the great work 👌
You're most welcome mate, it should cure it, so at least it's the first thing you should do before you consider replacing discs!
I raced one of these beasts about ten years ago, what a hoot. They do not like stopping in a hurry on a good day! But that is half the fun.
Had a ball trying to pedal one around and out-brake the 600's during the "all-in" end of day race. Getting it stopped by sliding it in, turning and using the torque advantage off the apex was a trick.
The floating disc's would commonly flog out on the gsxr's as well and have 4-5mm of slop in them. Still did their job and they couldn't escape anywhere, but made a hell of a racket!
I have the exact problem and thought that my disc are warped. Thank you very much for this video! Great help!
You're welcome, glad it helped.
I remember seeing the old vid when I found you 8 years ago. Simple & effective that most of of don’t do. Hand up guilty 🙈
Thanks buddy... can't believe it's been 11 years ago i posted that up.. how time flies aye !
Exactly what I'm experiencing right now with my 1290GT. I'm gonna try this. Thanks for the video, subbed.
Welcome aboard, and good luck with bit, and hope it works for you.
Perfect. I've known about the bobbins and the importance of having them free but not the extent that you've shown here (outer disc movement against carrier).
Also, at beginning you mentioned the difference between a pulsing/lurching braking force rather than the actual lever pulsing, the latter of which I dont think I have so was good to identify that difference. Was looking at potentially getting new discs but I'll definitely be going to get some more brake cleaner now and some more m4 bolts (small I know) to fit through the bobbins! Cheers
Thank you so much my Pan European ST1300 doesn’t get much use so had gathered brake dust crud. All sorted with the original discs all good with not much mileage on them 👍👍
Thank you for your feedback. Glad it helped!
I wonder if all bobbins on all rotors are meant to move freely? On my Concours (GTR1400) they’re all rock solid..
Ive owned a Hayabusa for 15 years. Never knew this. Thanks
Hello @Delboy's garage, I would like to tell you that you are very detailed on this particular subject and thank you very much. I am facing the same problem on a YAMAHA XP500 with the difference that my disks are new and it has not even been a week since I changed them and it is exactly the same problem you mentioned in your video ??
Do you have any advice on what I can do? Are they crooked and how can I found out ? Thank you
Mate... I think you just saved my wallet. I was already looking for new brake discs for my 2004 GSF600 because I thought they were buckled. I had no idea that these bobbins are supposed to rotate freely...
Yes sure, they should have some sliding resistance so not completely spin freely, there should certainly be no freeplay, but if they're jammed solid, then that certainly can hold the outer disc out of alignment.
That is quite interesting. I was having that problem, the thing is that i thought it was the abs kicking, thinking it was an overly intrusive system. In but it was, in fact, covering it up the real problem, junk in the bobbins.
Thanks for showing this mate, you learn every day something new, but today i learnt that it needs cleaning, how to clean it and a cheat to rotate the bobbins.
Certainly ill be checking every month on this bad boys. Truly a live saver.
Thanks again.
Most welcome buddy, once a month is nowhere near necessary, I do mine after the winter and again at the end of the summer and that's plenty, just when they get stuck!
Never knew that. Just cleaned the bike over the weekend, need to go back and have a look.
Hi del, saw your orig video all them yrsss ago! Glad you re-did this to make new bikers more aware of general maintenence!
Top tip: buy your brake cleaner in 5ltr tins and pump sprayer 👍 save a fortune on silly rattle cans that last 5mins
Keep the vids coming
You're right mate, I should buy in bulk more, so thanks for the nudge! Appreciate your long term support.
worked awesome, justed needed drill and few hours of cleaning.
o man.I came here to lok how to change disc because i have same problem...
I cant belive but works.Thanks man...
You are welcome
Thanks for the reminder of cleaning my disc bobbins. No bad effects yet, neither on the Aprilia nor the Honda. But the front discs on my CBR 600 RR are getting old - too much movement. Have a great weekend, I'm off to ride Saxonian and Bohemian twisties. Günter/Nürnberg
Have a great trip Günter, enjoy and ride safe!
Thank you for sharing I have just purchased a ninja 1000sx with the exact same problem, will give this a try. cheers mate.
No problem 👍, hope it helps!
i dont have those holes but do i just clean the whole brake and hope it works?? its front disc brake on a 2014 Yamaha Wr125x
Thank you for this mate, just had this as an advisory on my MOT, gonna get cleaning them now!
No problem 👍
Perfect timing. I was scratching my head, all out of ideas.
Thank you, sir.
Shall do that tomorrow after work
Perfect, good luck with it mate !
Oh am I glad you’ve purchased one of these machines 😂makes me confident in doing the work myself as I love tinkering, your videos helped me dearly for my mk1 bandit , hoping for more videos of work on the the big 1400 .
Cheers
Fascinating! I am quite guilty at being less than vigilant in brake bobbin cleaning. I don't think I've never experienced that particular malady that I'm aware of, but upon seeing this now, I'm thinking preventative cleaning and checking is right up there on my to do list from now on, for sure. Thanks, man!
It's a pretty rare problem to be fare, i maybe do it once a year on a bike i ride in bad weather.. so just a last resort if you get the lurching feel..!
Thank you for that info/tip del, I admit I never knew about this tip with the bobbins as I would have put it down to a warped disk!!!. A friend of mine has a Hayabusa and the brakes are like that, will give him a call for he was talking about buying new disks, when he knows about this he will be a happy man😊. Brilliant tip del keep them coming M8. And great video as always. All the best to yourself and Penny. Don..
You're most welcome Don, it'll be wonderful if it can help him... it's not a guaranteed fix, and it's not a given that you don't have a warped disc, but washing them out is certainly the first thing to do before you go reaching for your credit card! Thanks for your kind words, we both appreciate it!
@@Moonfleet41 just passing on a big thankyou from my m8, I phoned and he brought the bike down, bobbins were all bunged up with disk and carrier solid with no movement at all, did what you did on video and front braking is now perfectly smooth with no shutters, he left here a happy man😁. Cheer's del 👍
Most welcome buddy, Im glad it worked. Excellent result !
Well I don't mind admitting I didn't know about brake Bobbins - another lesson well taught Del - thanks 👍
Most welcome Richard.. Glad you enjoyed it!
You bloody ripper!! Love your video's mate. I've learned a lot. I watched this one this morning and had a eureka moment. My 750 sometimes grabs and I had no idea what was up... when I checked one of the rotors was stiff as "no movement at all" I'm cleaning them right now. I stumbled on a neat trick as I was scratching the bottom of the toolbox for a nut, if you use a wing nut you can use your fingers to rotate the bobbins. Thanks again mate 👍
Brilliant advice. I never knew about this. will be out to check the Very Angry Airbed tommorrow. Brakes have always been a bit weak on my bike in my opinion so anything to keep them tip top is most welcome. Always spot on. Thanks Del!
Glad it was helpful David.. good luck with it.
Wow, look st that for timing!
Remember the accident Del where the gs500 went into a skid.
Well, a guy on Facebook marketplace was looking to swap his bike for a smaller one.
So we did a straight swap. I got a near mint FJ1200 model with the ABS
He's well chuffed with the gs500 and likewise with me to. So, no more mishaps.
Happy days
Good result Marc, glad you've got what you wanted... enjoy mate and ride safe!
@Moonfleet41 forget to say in my original comment was that with the timing of your video on brakes, I got a bike with the anti-lock variety.
So, no more mishaps 😅
tried this on my ZRX 1200 bobbins which look pretty clean to start with , spritzed them down good with brake clean while turning back and forth with socket but there is no way they are going to turn with just my fingers
Great , simple and free fix Del. I need to pay more attention to this. I once took a set of wheels to have new tires mounted (so I wouldn't risk damaging the rotors). When I put them back on the bike they were so far out of whack they pushed the caliper pistons in after one squeeze of the lever. To the shops credit they did make it right but it meant pulling and installing the wheels twice on the old Road King. Involved some grunting on the back wheel. 😁 Great work as always Del and Penny. Thanks and best wishes to you both. ❤👍👍
Don't you love Harley's lol! why make a job simple when you can make it a work out lol! At least they sorted it out safely, that's all that matters aye !
I saw your first video with Suzuki Bandit. Good job, Del! Still my favourite channel. That's all 😊
Thanks mate, really appreciate your long term support!
I remember that Vid😊👍.
I used this technique often,
and am having this phenomenon on my Yamaha Super Tenere. At low speed stops only.
Most annoying, 😖.
I've done the cleaning and even sanding the pads to de-glaze. It was fine for a while but has resumed 😡.
Sooo, back to the drawing board for some good time fun cleaning. Rrrrr.☹️
I'm using Ferodo Platinum pads.
I may upgrade to a Sintered compound pads in the future.
Cheers 🍻, G.
Have a great weekend folks.
Glad to hear the video worked, good luck with it, hope you can get is sussed! Have a great weekend.
have the same issue, ill give it a try! thnx
Have not seen one of your videos for a while nice to see you still giving good advice 👍
Welcome back mate, thanks for your support!
Once again thanks for this Del. I had no blimmin clue about this lol. Cheers.
No worries mate, glad it could help !
Not entirely convinced it’s a good idea on semi floating discs. To my understanding the bobbin’s primary function is to allow for radial thermal expansion of the outer rotor. Lateral movement isn’t critical on road bike disks. I just wonder if rotating the bobbins to free them off will wear bobbin against its disc mounting surfaces due to the grinding action caused by trapped road grit/brake dust?
Not at all mate, just go gently as i showed, two or three rotations to clear and wash out the clogged dust and allow for that "thermal expansion of the outer rotor" you talked about...as when there's no room for something to expand.. that's when it can distort !!
Having the same issue on my '02 GSXR 750. Any idea if the same 8mm bolt/nut is the same size?
On that note, what length is best for the bolt and how tight should it be?
hi mate , old video i know but ive came across it and decided to check mine on my 2001 gsx 1400 .. after turning several i noticed a shim/ washer drop out of the back side of the disc .. so having a bit of a further inspection i noticed several also are missing or only have half or so of the washer left so maybe broken and fell out etc , will this effect the braking in any way .. i didnt have the pulsing problem but thought i would check them anyway .. also are the bobbins replaceable ?? .. cheers
Yes mate I believe the bobbins and shims are replaceable, check with Suzuki... and if it was my bike, I would very much replca them before I rode the bike again, just in case!
@@Moonfleet41 yeh i will do that, did take it for a short ride as i had just also done the front forks seal and oil replacement and just wanted to check that out ( another good video of yours ) , seems ok but have to sort out the preload and rebound ..another job i dont have a clue about 😂 but dont mind giving them a go as its the reason i bought this bike .. come quite a way already since buying it a few weeks back.. tough to get decent parts here in perth australia tho .
Do you discs have the SD system patented by EBC? SD Means Square Drive, meaning the bobbins have flat edges. I'm going to say that yours don't (many bobbins add weight to that) if you can rotate them. My discs do have the SD patent. I've given a bobbin a good try and it won't rotate. People might want to be aware of their disc construction before they get too heavy handed! Mine certainly did need a good clean out though! Thanks for highlighting the need to clean them!
I missed this before posting my comment. Spot on, I ruined my EBC discs forcing them round 😂
Bobbins, who knew. I for one didn’t, I do now. Thank you ❤️
Cheers Nick.. simple house keeping aye !
Does the brake parts cleaner ever tarnish the finish on the wheels? I got some on mine and it made them all cloudy. Wouldn't clean up or polish out so I have to refinish them completely. Very careful with my brake cleaner now...
I've personally never had that problem, factory coatings are always ok, perhaps yours was painted with somthing else? Either way, pop a rag over them in future maybe?!
Great video. My tiger 800 2018 front disc are warped due to the disc lock being and I moved the bike a bit. Would cleaning up the bobbins fix warp disc ?
If you believe that you've buckled a disc, then cleaning out the bobbins first to double check costs you nothing and you have nothing to lose, so why not try that first... let us know how you get on!
Delboy, i have a 2020 street glide special with the HD shift linkage. I have an impossible time getting into neutral. it will only go into neutral if the bike is actively moving forward. Can you show us what you would do to resolve this? I have ridden for 15 years, and have multiple bikes. And this is the only bike ive had any problem with.
Hi Richard.. if it's hard to disengage gears, and heavy going into gear first thing... then that's usually related to the clutch plates sticking together.. When was the Primary oil last changed? is it overdue?.. what oil was last put in it?, if it's thick gear oil thats often a mistake!! maybe just change the Primary oil and check the clutch adjustment while the cover is off ! most of the time that sorts it out mate !
@Delboy's Garage thanks for the reply. It shifts extremely nicely. Except into neutral. It has all regular and scheduled maintenance at the harley dealer. It has the screaming eagle synthetic for engine oil. Has only 7k miles on the bike. Done this since day 1. Wasn't sure if there was some kind of adjustment or if HD are just difficult to find neutral. My Indian, victory and yamaha haven't ever had this issue.
@@fader2701 Ok, in that case you can eliminate any servicing mistakes or neglect... It could be that the bike just needs to loosen up.. Harley Davidson engines are and always have been agricultural and harsh.. and it's well understood that they take at least 10k miles to fully run in and loosen up! Maybe bring it up with your dealer, you/re mid way to the 10k service, and just ask them if it's correct !
I’ve been chasing a front brake issue to the the point of fully rebuilding the master cylinder, brake calipers, new hoses, new pads and new fluid and still had a ‘feeling’ at the front end.
Well now ‘you’ may have shown me the fix.
Job for today.
No problem Rik... always start with the easy stuff first aye... Good luck with it, i hope it sorts it out !
Excellent video Del & Penny. Great job mate, this one will help a lot of people that have not seen your other video, job well done. Penny and you enjoy the last part of your week, take care.Cheers
Thanks mate, the old one still gets a few hits every week, but it's so effective I just thought it was worth updating the video! Warm sunny days here, so summer's here at long last! Have a great week, D&Px
What a great video Del, clearly I need to get a can of that cleaner on my shelf. What do you recommend
Yeah, but go careful mate.. it might sting a bit in the 'regions' !
I`m glad i watched this, i`ve learned something today, Cheers Del.
Most welcome Neil, im glad you enjoyed it, happy to [pass it forward !
Interesting video, and usually true for OEM, but what about square drive bobbins like EBC use that are designed not to rotate?
Hi.. My motorcycle disc brakes donot have these bobbins. These are regular allen screwS directly tighten to the alloy. But i am still getting those pulsating brakes exactly as you described. What is the issue?
Thanks I did mine today, on my 2020 tiger 900gt
Great 👍
Amazing video, when I tried to do this none of them ended up turning smoothly and all squeak when turned with a nut and bolt, do I need new rotors or is this somehow fixable
Are the rotos oscillating? If not, then they're fine.
@@Moonfleet41 they don’t move with my fingers trying to turn them even after the break clean, they only turn with the nut and bolt with a decent amount of force, is there a way to fix this or do I new new rotors and they don’t freely move the 0.8mm of play yours had in the video
What if you do this, step by step, and they still won’t move? Is it possible for them to become so filled with dust that it’s impossible? I used alot of brakecleaner and twisted and twisted, but they still won’t wobble.
Looking for ideas, given up for now 😅
Well I have this problem too but I had clean the boobins like u did but not better, I did change brake disc and pads and still this problem, can it be ABS-giver/pump problem???
Wow, that is nice and simple solution but brake disc on my bike has no bobbins. And I can't find what causes slightly different problem, that is constant, rubbing like, fairly high pitch noise which increases with speed, sound of a ballistic missile. It is definitely pad touching the disc but it doesn't get hot. Pads and disc were replaced. Calliper cleaned, pistons polished, new seals, fresh DOT4 and even bearings were replaced. Nothing made the sound go. Locating spring or retainer? I ran out of options. Any ideas?
Loved this video mate!! Unreal!! I’m so grateful you posted this!!
welll I had no idea... Thanks Del one more job to add to the maintenance list!
hi delboy got a harley davidson xl1200 sporster 2005 my brakes are judering there is no bobbins on the discs, what might it be .
kind regards michael
Broadly explained there mate, juddering can mean many things, I'd have to experience it to be accurate. Why not give the discs a good thorough clean with brake cleaner, drop the calipers off, wash them out clean the pad faces you could have some contaminant in there, put it all back together and flush the brake fluid through, then try it again! If that doesn't get rid of it, you could check your disc for 'run out' with a dial guage, could be possible warped, but very unlikely, unless you've bashed it!
Thanks for this tip! Does this also help the wheel to spin more freely on the axel once its done? The front wheel on my GSXR doesn't turn easily at the moment
No, this will have no effect on free movement of the wheel, check your calipers are not binding which is more likely!
Just went to check mine on my 2007 GSX1400. Yep they’re tight. Mine have a 5.5mm hole though in the centre.
Hello Dell and Penny.
Great video and a great tip .
I did it on my Varadero but they still make noise and i can't turn them by hand.
Think i have to repeat it 🤫🤔
Hey Dell! Maybe this tip will help my problem with the front brakes. I seem to have a bit of pad knock back.
I have an issue where my brakes have good pressure when the bike doesnt move, but once the wheel rolls, my front brakes loose all pressure. Do you have any idea if this could be the fix? Its not air in the system as I can leave my bike for weeks without touching the brakes and theyll be firm, but once i move it, lever goes all the way to the grip.
Does your bike have ABS ?
@@Moonfleet41 it does not but it ended being a bent rotor. i checked it with a dial clamped to my fork and spun the wheel, and sure enough i had a pretty decent amount of warping so i will have to replace my front rotros
nice tip i never knew about it. ill give mine a check. thanks del
Great tip on the brake rotor wobble. Never tried that.
Most welcome Steve. Try it if you get a problem !
Great tip! I will check my bike very soon. Also pass this tip through to my motorcycle friend! 👍👍
Oh yay. Another video that doesn't help... It's not your fault. I just have a dinosaur with solid brake rotors is all.
Good video for people it's relevant for though, so thumbs up for that.
Excellent tip, I've learnt something today 👍
Glad to help, thank you for the kind feedback.
@Delboy - been watching most of your GSX 1400 videos as I’ve just brought a 07 model.
I’m concerned about the headlight, and I just noticed your have an upgraded LED one - is it any good, and what make is it? Cheers Dean
Wasn't brilliant Dean, light was a little better but very flimsy plastic... also it had no brand or logo so i didn't even know what model it was.. probably an Amazon special.. sorry can't be more help there mate... Maybe look into an HID kit..??!
@@Moonfleet41 - thanks - I think I’ll stick with the standard one then.
@@deanbenson610 Do look into a HID kit.. it's a great way to massively improve your headlight power..!
First time I see this, or something similar to this. I will be trying this soon as I can feel some pulsating when braking. Hopefully it's not too late. I'm guessing this is more of a preventative measure than a fix.
Hi Del love the videos especially your Suzuki 1400cc ones, I’ve recently gone and bought this bike and the ride is comfortable and very enjoyable. Wondering if you can advice me on a problem I believe I’ve inherited from the previous owner, it’s when I start the bike up - side stand is tucked up - clutch is pulled in but when I go to start nothing happens?
I then put the bike into 1st gear rock back & forth then it starts on the button, could this be the starter motor? If so can this be removed and worked on? Any help would be appreciated. All the best Paul.
Could be the switch rod that tells the bike the kickstand is up is dirty . See where the kickstand activates the rod then clean and push in repeatedly.
Have this problem on my Indian ftr but it’s not a floating disc it’s fixed directly to the wheel?
If they're solid mounted, then clean the discs thoroughly inside and outside...and if it still persists, then its a pad or caliper problem..!
Thanks for that. Always wondered about those rings.
No problem 👍
I think my bike needs this, thanks Del. One question: Is the brake cleaner going to damage the finish on my painted wheels? They are painted black like yours. Should I be putting a rag over the wheel and tire while doing this?
It shouldn't damage factory paint mate, but if they've been painted with something else, maybe a random product, then why not be careful and just take that precaution!
@@Moonfleet41 Thank you sir! Your videos have been more useful to me than any others on TH-cam!