Hot Brake discs or rotors?

 Hello everyone.

I'm new to the group and to Harleys and I'll be the first to admit that I
don't know shit about them (Harley's, that is).  I have recently replaced
the rear brake pads in my 2003 Heritage Springer and I took it out for a
test ride this evening.  The brakes work real well, but I noticed that the
brake disc (rotor?) gets extremely hot; just as hot as the exhaust, for
example.  My question is, is this normal?  The front brake disc was already
cool by the time I touched it, but the rear was still piping hot.  Are brake
discs supposed to get that hot?  It looks as if the pads are in continuous
contact with the disc.  Is this normal?

I appreciate any feedback you can provide.

- Sweeney

 Eckles wrote...

I thought of a couple smart as responses, but hell, I just opened a beer.
Yes, constant contact is necessary in order to prevent crud from getting
between the pads and the rotor, and yes, that constant contact will generate
a great deal of heat.  I'd be more concerned about a cool rotor than a hot
one.  But while I'm thinking about it, are you using the rear brake more
than the front?  Typically a bulk of the braking should be done with the
front brake.

--
Tud
SENS BS#111 LFS#32 FLF MISFIT Vermort AH#115
http://ah115.com
Sisyphus rides a Triumph

 
I wouldn't expect anything less than a smartass response from a Harley
Newsgroup.  It wouldn't have bothered me anyway because I just slammed down
a shot of Jose and chased it with a can of piss water.

Thanks for your response; it makes sense.  I was using the rear brake a bit
more than usual only because I wanted to test them after putting the new
pads on.

Thanks again,

- Sweeney

 

Oh, you drink PBR huh?

 Eckles wrote:

Let me respectfully disagree with my brother Tud.

The amount of contact between the pads and the disc under normal
circumstances shouldn't generate any significant heat.  An overheated
disc is usually the sign of dragging pads.

When you replaced the pads, did you press the pistons back fully into
the calipers?  If not, there's your problem.  Pop the caliper off, take
the lid off the master cylinder reservoir (cuz it's likely that you'll
be dripping some brake fluid when you do this), pull the pads, clean the
caliper (and the disc, while you're there) well with some spritz on
brake cleaner to get rid of all the dirt and crud around the pistons and
push the pistons all the way back into the caliper body. Put the lid on
the m/c, replace the pads, replace the calipers and work your brake.
The first time you press the brake you'll probably notice it's pretty
slack.  Work it until it's not.  This  will set the pads into the right
position relative to the disk.

You ought to check your disk for sufficient remaining thickness (it's in
teh manual) and to see if it's scored up. If it's too thin, if it's
scored up replace it.

Where's my drink?
--
Spunky Hussein Tuna
radical cryptofundamental ChristoIslamist Pescosupremacist...