TG Hot Rotors After New Pads

ctdair

150+ Posts
May 29, 2016
260
176
Oberlin, OH
Name
AL
New EBC pads front and rear on 2016 TriGlide. Flushed and bled. Front rotors are hot. Even riding and not using brakes, coast to stop front rotors too hot to keep hands on. Ideas?
 
New EBC pads front and rear on 2016 TriGlide. Flushed and bled. Front rotors are hot. Even riding and not using brakes, coast to stop front rotors too hot to keep hands on. Ideas?

Disk brakes generate a lot of heat. The pads are constantly, but slightly rubbing the rotors at all times. Nature of the beast so they will get hot… even while not doing a lot of breaking..
 
To rule out natural friction of pads against rotor as suggested above I rode my 2wheel Flh.

No braking coast to stop, rotors cool to the touch.
 
I would raise the front of the TG and spin the front tire to see if any drag on the rotation. This way you will know for sure if you have much “natural drag” just to see.

May need to re-bleed brakes.

I assume ABS? You can get the ABS to kick in “manually” (vs taking it to a dealer) to help bleed the ABS system.

But see how much you can turn that front tire off the ground to see first.
 
I have found that the large hole on the EBS pads is a tight fit on the bolt that goes through them.

It will cause the pads to bind and drag.

I ream or drill them out so the bolt has plenty of play to allow the pad to move as it should.

Hope this helps.

Bob
 
The pads run with very little clearance, all hardware MUST be clean ( new is preferred)

and lubed ( I use )

12027858_ptx_24110_pri_larg.jpg
 
Not ABS. Disassemble this morning doesn’t appear to be sticking pistons , they all pushed in fine. Pads are free on pin. Rotors seem ok. Pads look trashed already. Called EBC , luckily they are going to send replacements. They also suggested the V pads. They indicated they will send V and HH replacements. When the pads arrive I will triple check everything and report back.
 
Not ABS. Disassemble this morning doesn’t appear to be sticking pistons , they all pushed in fine. Pads are free on pin. Rotors seem ok. Pads look trashed already. Called EBC , luckily they are going to send replacements. They also suggested the V pads. They indicated they will send V and HH replacements. When the pads arrive I will triple check everything and report back.

You will be good to go;)
 
Replacement EBC pads scheduled for delivery tomorrow. Won’t be home😖. Had time today, removed calipers. Individually pushed out each piston enough to clean with brake fluid. All push in easy. They weren’t hard to push in before the overheated rotors episode. Lubed contact areas lightly. Reassemble with EBC pads that had overheated. Raise front wheel. LOTS of drag hard to turn wheel. Remove right rotor. Still drags , little less though. Remove left caliper. Wheel spins nice , no bearing drag. Lower trike , raise FLH 2 wheeler. Front wheel has some drag but not any where near what trike had. Dual rotor as well, less drag than just 1 caliper on trike. EBC pads too thick? Have read random other forums and that issue has been alleged by others. Will see how the drag is when I get replacement pads. Going to try the V pad option EBC is sending.
 
Replacement EBC pads scheduled for delivery tomorrow. Won’t be home😖. Hade time today, removed calipers. Individually pushed out each piston enough to clean with brake fluid. All push in easy. They weren’t hard to push in before the overheated rotors episode. Lubed contact areas lightly. Reassemble with EBC pads that had overheated. Raise front wheel. LOTS of drag hard to turn wheel. Remove right rotor. Still drags , little less though. Remove left caliper. Wheel spins nice , no bearing drag. Lower trike , raise FLH 2 wheeler. Front wheel has some drag but not any where near what trike had. Dual rotor as well, less drag than just 1 caliper on trike. EBC pads too thick? Have read random other forums and that issue has been alleged by others. Will see how the drag is when I get replacement pads. Going to try the V pad option EBC is sending.
Check rotor runout.
 
As Road Dog posted, Rotor Run out is critical to know

Too much can cause bad JUJU for sure

If you do not have a gauge to check it you can rent one or check Amazon for one

Look here,

Z_uzLzqcpIx_.JPG
 
Yes I should check runout. Need to do the same on 2 wheeler as well. Its brake pads are on the way too. Using DP brakes on it. I do have a dial indicator to check.
 
As Road Dog posted, Rotor Run out is critical to know

Too much can cause bad JUJU for sure

If you do not have a gauge to check it you can rent one or check Amazon for one

Look
Z_uzLzqcpIx_.JPG

JACK IM ROAD DOG - DONT CONFUSE ME WITH THAT TROUBLEMAKER OLD ROAD DOG ! :laugh:
 
New EBC V semi sintered that were supplied as a courtesy warranty installed today. Rechecked everything. Rotors good , cleaned and scuff sanded. Pistons free. Lightly lubed appropriate areas with copper never-seize. Fasteners torqued to spec. Less drag than the EBC HH pads , still more drag than FlH with DP pads. Rainy day, no test ride. So still waiting to see if rotors will get hot.
 
Test ride andV pads run somewhat cooler rotors. Still seems hot but I’ve never really monitored the temp up till now. New pads just put on Flh rotors stay cool as a cucumber. Calipers are much more open. Perhaps helpful in rotor cooling? Trike 6 piston caliper much more enclosed. Gonna run Trike and monitor.

good on you, and keep us updated
 
Test ride and V pads run somewhat cooler rotors. Still seems hot but I’ve never really monitored the temp up till now. New pads just put on Flh rotors stay cool as a cucumber. Calipers are much more open. Perhaps helpful in rotor cooling? Trike 6 piston caliper much more enclosed. Gonna run Trike and monitor.
 
Test ride and V pads run somewhat cooler rotors. Still seems hot but I’ve never really monitored the temp up till now. New pads just put on Flh rotors stay cool as a cucumber. Calipers are much more open. Perhaps helpful in rotor cooling? Trike 6 piston caliper much more enclosed. Gonna run Trike and monitor.

My trike has the linked brakes with 6 piston calipers, I have had several issues were the brakes drag enough to smell brakes and you can feel it pull the bike down. I have cleaned the pistons numerous times, and it will still do it from time to time, but one time it will be the right side then next time it may be the left side. So, I have a set of 4 piston calipers off of a Street Glide that I will be installing at some point and doing away with the linked system to see if this corrects the problem.
 
Test ride and V pads run somewhat cooler rotors. Still seems hot but I’ve never really monitored the temp up till now. New pads just put on Flh rotors stay cool as a cucumber. Calipers are much more open. Perhaps helpful in rotor cooling? Trike 6 piston caliper much more enclosed. Gonna run Trike and monitor.

I've found the V pads don't stop as well as the HD metallic pads. But they do run cooler and have less brake dust. Everything is a trade off.
 
140 ish mile ride today. Checked rotors at several stops. Still hotter than I like. I’ll admit I’ve never felt the rotors on my Bike or Trike. Only started monitoring after HH pads smelt burnt for a short period on 2nd ride after install. Flh police bike rotors stay cool. Trike is a different beast I guess.
 
New EBC V semi sintered that were supplied as a courtesy warranty installed today. Rechecked everything. Rotors good , cleaned and scuff sanded. Pistons free. Lightly lubed appropriate areas with copper never-seize. Fasteners torqued to spec. Less drag than the EBC HH pads , still more drag than FlH with DP pads. Rainy day, no test ride. So still waiting to see if rotors will get hot.
Didn't catch if you adjusted the parking brake. That should be the first thing loosened before brake work and the last thing adjusted after the brake work is completed.
 
Didn't catch if you adjusted the parking brake. That should be the first thing loosened before brake work and the last thing adjusted after the brake work is completed.

Loosened parking brake. Adjusted. Rear rotors are fine. Front rotors are the issue. Parking brake has always sucked. I use Velcro strap around front brake lever.
 
Loosened parking brake. Adjusted. Rear rotors are fine. Front rotors are the issue. Parking brake has always sucked. I use Velcro strap around front brake lever.
Ah. I would check: rotor runout/ warping. Wheel bearings. Fork bearings. Wouldn't rule out the caliper either. In normal riding the brakes shouldn't feel hot.I come down a mountain to access 4 lane and even with aggressive braking the calipers are warm but not hot. The easiest thing to do is to quit using the front brake as a parking brake until you locate the problem. It might be causing a "sticky"caliper. A term I just made up.
 
Haven’t had the Velcro strap on as a parking brake since last fall. In the garage on level floor just leave it in gear. Flat parking lots same thing. Only use strap on slopes. Rotor run out is ok. Wheel bearings good. Fork bearings? How would that cause hot Rotors?
 

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