So, I just got this 89 FJ about a month ago, and the front rotors are warped! I don't remember them being on the test ride, so it's most likely something I've done. Anyway, I took it for a ride yesterday for a few hours, and I must say, having warped front rotors is a bit annoying and most likely can be dangerous if I have to stop quickly.
Where would I be able to get new rotors? Currently they're the stock (looking anyway) drilled rotors. Also, just looking at the front wheel, it looks like it would be pretty straight forward to change, is there anything that's not obvious? I only ask because I've done maintenance on cars thinking it would be easy...next thing you know...9 hours later... :dash2:
I got my replacement rotor off of Ebay for about $50. Pretty easy to change out. Just pull of the left caliper and then removed the wheel. Make sure you have the front end weight of the bike supported, so it doesn't fall forward on you. Other than that, just bolting and unbolting. I used Blue LocTite on mine, but that's personal preference.
You may be able to get someone to give you a good deal on used rotors if you post in the "Parts Wanted" section. Lots of people love to help out on this forum, so you never know.
Good luck.
It's a pretty straight forward job. As far as where to get them you could go with oem or aftermarket. If you have trouble finding part numbers for an FJ, don't forget to check other models that used the same disc, such as the TDM or the FZR 600.
HTH
On a previous bike with the similar problem--I was able to remove my front rotors and surface grind them flat again/ remove the warp. I worked in a machine shop at the time and had access to a surface grinder. I forget how much I had to take off to get them flat--of course this will matter in your case. It did work well and is an easy job for anyone with access to a surface grinder.
Yeah my uncle owns a machine shop...in Indiana haha so unfortunately it's probably just easier for me to get new ones and either trade these for them or get them fixed for a spare
You'll find that there's not a lot of extra meat on the disk for you to grind and still have enough to be legal/safe.
The OEM disks are NOT cheap, but they are soft and wear quickly. There are a number of sellers on Ebay who have disks for about 1/2 the price of new, but I don't know what their real quality is like.
Here's a list of the bikes that all used the same rotor:
EBC Front Disks & bikes used: MD2001LS MD2001RS 298mm dia
TZR 250 (3MAI) 89
FZR 400 RR (4DX) 92
FZ 400 96
FZR 400 (3TJI/2/6/7)
FZR 400 (3ENZ) 89
MD2001C XJR 400 95-
FZR 600 89-93
FZR 600 R 94-95
FZS 600 Fazer 98-03
FZ 750 89-91
TDM 850 91-01
TRX 850 96-99
FJ 1200 (3CV/3XW Type) 88-95
APRILIA
RST Futura 1000 01-04
DUCATI
900 Supersport 89-90
907 IE 90-91
Cheers,
Arnie
That's a fantastic list, thank you! :yahoo:
Anyone have the Galfer rotors? I can't decide of they look durable or not, but they keep popping up. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Yamaha-FJ1200-Front-Rear-Brake-Disc-Rotor-88-95_W0QQitemZ250561701137QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotorcycles_Parts_Accessories?hash=item3a56a42511 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Yamaha-FJ1200-Front-Rear-Brake-Disc-Rotor-88-95_W0QQitemZ250561701137QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotorcycles_Parts_Accessories?hash=item3a56a42511)
These are from china (haha) but there's others
If you buy the china rotors you will be the first one.
no body wants to be the first. many believe that they are made of cheese. :unknown:
Yeah I couldn't logically buy the china ones and feel confident about them! Although if they're made of cheese, maybe I could eat them
it seems like china buys all our steel, you could buy your old car back in the form of rotors :rofl2:
Quote from: Navymech on April 12, 2010, 09:19:07 AM
Anyone have the Galfer rotors? I can't decide of they look durable or not, but they keep popping up. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Yamaha-FJ1200-Front-Rear-Brake-Disc-Rotor-88-95_W0QQitemZ250561701137QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotorcycles_Parts_Accessories?hash=item3a56a42511 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Yamaha-FJ1200-Front-Rear-Brake-Disc-Rotor-88-95_W0QQitemZ250561701137QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotorcycles_Parts_Accessories?hash=item3a56a42511)
Yes, some of us have the Galfer wave rotors and they are good stuff. They wear well.
Ya gotta use HH pads, the wave rotors absolutely EAT organic pads.
Those linked above are not Galfers, obviously, but, but shithowdy, $220 for a full set? All 3 rotors?
That's 2/3rd's the cost of one (1) Galfer rotor....
The early eBay ads for these Chinese FJ rotors showed a wrong picture and no details so the buyer could not confirm that they were getting the right rotors. Now I see they have cleaned up their act, the eBay ads have much more information for the buyer. They are learning, and learning fast.
If I had to do it all over again would I still pay $$$ and get the Galfers? Hmmm.
I dunno, that $220 FleaBay price looks hard to beat. For all 3 rotors? Ya gotta be kidding me.
Oh wait. Then again, we *are* talking about motorcycle brakes huh?
Motorcycle: A mechanical device where you go smokin fast and it hurts when (not if) you fall down?
Mark, I thought you were going to pull the trigger on these Chinese rotors and report back? Coward.
Cheers!
Thanks Arnie, This is a more complete list than what we currently have, if you don't mind, I'm gonna copy and paste this over in the Files section (Miscellaneous Files; Interchangable parts for FJ)
Cheers
Quote from: Arnie on April 12, 2010, 08:44:49 AM
You'll find that there's not a lot of extra meat on the disk for you to grind and still have enough to be legal/safe.
The OEM disks are NOT cheap, but they are soft and wear quickly. There are a number of sellers on Ebay who have disks for about 1/2 the price of new, but I don't know what their real quality is like.
Here's a list of the bikes that all used the same rotor:
EBC Front Disks & bikes used: MD2001LS MD2001RS 298mm dia
TZR 250 (3MAI) 89
FZR 400 RR (4DX) 92
FZ 400 96
FZR 400 (3TJI/2/6/7)
FZR 400 (3ENZ) 89
MD2001C XJR 400 95-
FZR 600 89-93
FZR 600 R 94-95
FZS 600 Fazer 98-03
FZ 750 89-91
TDM 850 91-01
TRX 850 96-99
FJ 1200 (3CV/3XW Type) 88-95
APRILIA
RST Futura 1000 01-04
DUCATI
900 Supersport 89-90
907 IE 90-91
Cheers,
Arnie
i have a good set of 1200 rotors if you're interested. they have low miles and id let them go for 50 bucks plus shipping. let me know thanks andrew
THAT'S what I'm talking about! That's of the reasons I love this forum!
Tell ya what Pat, I will order a set of the chinese rotors for my YZF (same as pictured) if they can get here in time for my next track day. If they can hold up to race pads and coaching pace they should be more than good enough for the street bikes.
Let me do some searching.
Quote from: Pat Conlon on April 12, 2010, 05:29:05 PM
Quote from: Navymech on April 12, 2010, 09:19:07 AM
Anyone have the Galfer rotors? I can't decide of they look durable or not, but they keep popping up. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Yamaha-FJ1200-Front-Rear-Brake-Disc-Rotor-88-95_W0QQitemZ250561701137QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotorcycles_Parts_Accessories?hash=item3a56a42511 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Yamaha-FJ1200-Front-Rear-Brake-Disc-Rotor-88-95_W0QQitemZ250561701137QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotorcycles_Parts_Accessories?hash=item3a56a42511)
Yes, some of us have the Galfer wave rotors and they are good stuff. They wear well.
Ya gotta use HH pads, the wave rotors absolutely EAT organic pads.
Those linked above are not Galfers, obviously, but, but shithowdy, $220 for a full set? All 3 rotors?
That's 2/3rd's the cost of one (1) Galfer rotor....
The early eBay ads for these Chinese FJ rotors showed a wrong picture and no details so the buyer could not confirm that they were getting the right rotors. Now I see they have cleaned up their act, the eBay ads have much more information for the buyer. They are learning, and learning fast.
If I had to do it all over again would I still pay $$$ and get the Galfers? Hmmm.
I dunno, that $220 FleaBay price looks hard to beat. For all 3 rotors? Ya gotta be kidding me.
Oh wait. Then again, we *are* talking about motorcycle brakes huh?
Motorcycle: A mechanical device where you go smokin fast and it hurts when (not if) you fall down?
Mark, I thought you were going to pull the trigger on these Chinese rotors and report back? Coward.
Cheers!
Quote from: candieandy on April 12, 2010, 08:48:54 PM
i have a good set of 1200 rotors if you're interested. they have low miles and id let them go for 50 bucks plus shipping. let me know thanks andrew
That would be bloody amazing! Ill pm you! :good2:
Quote from: Pat Conlon on April 12, 2010, 05:29:05 PM
Mark, I thought you were going to pull the trigger on these Chinese rotors and report back? Coward.
Cheers!
Hey pat, I was gonna buy them , but I bought the rotors from perry (the friendly Canadian) and didn't have too.
he sold me 2 stock fj rotors and 2 ebc pro-lites so I am set for a while until I burn them up.
which due to my riding proclivities may not be too long. :wacko3:
I also have a set of 320mm off of my new fzr wheel that are cherry and if I find a set of 87-88 lowers I may go there.
how many days till the wcr?
Pat I bit the bullet and ordered the Rotors. I went with front only as I run a Suzuki rear on my bike, and the total cost with shipping was just under $205.00. Seller claims I will see the parts in 7-8 days so I guess we will see what the deal is soon enough.
I will be using them the first time coaching at a track day. Over two days I will ride in 15-20 20 minute sessions a day, which works out to 450-550 miles a day at average speeds over 80 mph. Turn 1 is entered at about 135mph in 6th gear and exited in 2nd gear. Turn 7 is entered in 3rd and exited in 1st.... That should put them to a great acid test.
Over the course of a weekend it is not unusual to burn up a set of tires and put some serious time on a second...
Great! Let us know how they perform. That $220 price, I can't get over it.....Too good.
Quote from: Mark Olson on April 13, 2010, 03:03:15 PM
I also have a set of 320mm off of my new fzr wheel that are cherry and if I find a set of 87-88 lowers I may go there.
ooops late reply, I just noticed Mark's comment.
The 320mm rotors will not fit on any FJ lower sliders.
The mounting points for the brake calipers on all the late model FJ tubes will allow a 298-300mm rotor max.
You need a different front end like a FZR, YZF600, etc, etc, to use the large rotors.
Later amigo.
The YZF600, non radial R6, and Non Radial R1 also have 298mm rotors.
Pat ,
I know the 320mm don't fit fj forks.
I meant if I find a set of 87-88 fzr lower forks I will put them on.
unless of course I go crazy and do the usd cartridge upgrade.
that line in the sand is starting to blur. :wacko3:
Cool Mark, you can not go wrong with whatever cartridge fork mod you choose.
I think Jeff Hoffman coined the phrase:
"The worst cartridge fork setup is still better than the best damper rod fork set up"
....or something like that.
I pressed you hard to get that Penske, now I'm gonna work on you for the cartridge forks...
Just so you know...
Later
oh no, here comes father pat preaching about the sins of damper forks and 298mm rotors.
can I get a witness! :rofl2:
Quote from: Pat Conlon on April 14, 2010, 11:38:17 AM
Great! Let us know how they perform. That $220 price, I can't get over it.....Too good.
Update:
Fed Ex guy dropped the rotors at my door a few minutes ago. A quick check of all the critical dimensions shows the rotors to match the stockers on my YZF perfectly.The anodizing on the carriers looks nice and the buttons are very similar to older EBC street/track rotors using a Belleville Disc Spring to allow for some 'float'. I should get my wheels tonight from the painters and will let you know how they mount up.
I do have to say that the seller,racingboy8261 was easy to deal with, had great communication and shipped very quickly.
Did these rotors ever get tested at the track to see if they would hold up for street use?
Inquiring minds would like to know. :)
Yes they did. I forgot all about this thread.Sorry.
I was very happy with the rotors and the seller. To date I have put 2 full trackdays, 5-600 miles of street riding and a race weekend at Beaverun in Pennsylvania. The bike stops at least as well as it did on a known good set of stock rotors. Feel is similar if not slightly better. They are significantly lighter than the OEM rotors, but not quite as light as (claimed by) other rotors from EBC and Galfer. You may get a bit better performance out of more expensive aftermarket rotors, but at $205 a set shipped...
I have had no issues with heat induced fade, which was an issue with the stock rotors.
The rotors show no wear despite the use of race pads (SBS dual carbon) and very aggressive riding. They also seem very durable as I crashed at the track day, damaging the front fender and tweaking the forks in the clamps and the rotors are still as good as new.
My bike was stored in a carport, and more often than not ridden in the rain. (both trackdays and day 1 of my race weekend.) There is no sign of surface rust suggesting a high nickle content which I consider a good thing for street machines. On the street I was not overly fond of the rotors, until I realized that I was not riding hard enough to get the pads hot. A quick swap to OEM yamaha pads and the brakes felt great. I will definately be ordering a second set for my spare wheel. In fact I will be ordering rotors for my rears as well. I wish I had put on more miles, but I have been very busy with other things.
Thanks for the review!
I'd say the rotors are an excellent buy with just you doing two track days with race compound pads and not having any issues with warping, etc.
I'll be ordering up a set for myself since my stock rotors are feeling a little warped.
Quote from: the fan on June 29, 2010, 02:27:33 PM
Yes they did. I forgot all about this thread.Sorry.
I was very happy with the rotors and the seller.
Bill,
Which seller did you get your from? After the WCR and trying to keep up w/ Marsh I think my stock ones are done.
Mike
racingboy8261
Quote from: the fan on June 30, 2010, 06:16:32 PM
racingboy8261
Could not find anything under that seller name.
here is his email.
sailing8261@yahoo.com.cn
I think all the rotors that look like this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250532065565&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250532065565&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT)
are pretty much the same.
Fan,
Thanks for being the (no) crash tester on these disks. :-)
Someone had to do it and you've been brave enough to try.
Cheers,
Arnie
time to upgrade... I used Ducati rotors
(http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e299/ccsct203/034.jpg)
Quote from: Arnie on June 30, 2010, 08:25:15 PM
Fan,
Thanks for being the (no) crash tester on these disks. :-)
Someone had to do it and you've been brave enough to try.
Cheers,
Arnie
No bravery involved. I worked in the auto part import business for a bit in college and later for a very well known tier 1 automotive component manufacturer. You would be shocked at how many high end parts come out of china. Most of which are little different from the cheap auto part store bits.
Know what the difference in limited lifetime warranted rotors and 1 year mfg defect warranted rotor? About 14 bucks and a sticker.
I posted this in the wrong thread... oops..
OK, taking the chance. Bought the rotors from racerboy in China for my '87 FJ with the stock front end. The went on just fine, will take a ride on them tonight. They aren't ventilated like the stockers. I'll give my report once the pads have had a chance to bed in.
And back from the ride with the vintage boys. Did several gentle stops, several brake spikes, several hard stops, and a short run dragging the front brake. And then just an everyday ride. So far, so good, I can see pad material starting to build up on the rotors (my bad, used the old pads), but in a very smooth fashion. No pulsing like with the stockers, I'm not sure if I had a warped rotor, or just a shiny spot. In the braking I did, feesl very smooth, and power seem to be building all the time as rotors and pads mesh a bit more. Seem to be quite a bit lighter than stock.
update on the chinese rotors. Still doing well, braking strength has continued to rise as the pads re-bed. Not grabby, good progressive braking. They are a little noisier than stock, going to try and grease the backs of the pads and see if that stops it. So far, so good.
Cheers
Hans
Good deal, thanks Hans.
Keep a eye out for your pad wear. The Galfer folks were very adament about not using oem organic pads on their Wave rotors.....You may (sooner than you think) need to replace your set with HH pads.
Quote from: hpras on July 28, 2010, 06:16:42 PM
update on the chinese rotors. Still doing well, braking strength has continued to rise as the pads re-bed. Not grabby, good progressive braking. They are a little noisier than stock, going to try and grease the backs of the pads and see if that stops it. So far, so good.
Cheers
Hans
I just replaced my warped OEM front rotors on my 89 FJ with some slightly used OEM rotors. The rotors I just put on are extremely loose at the rivets between the rotor steels and the mounting ring. I know that they are free floating, but the slack is excessive. They rattle at slow speed and have slack in them when I apply the brakes. My old rotors were not like this. Any ideas? Is it normal for free floating disc to be this loose?
Something is wrong, these sound dangerous. did you put them on backwards, are you sure they are the correct rotors?
I'd sort this out before riding again.
Dan
I agree. Something is definitely not right. They sound worn beyond normal. They should not be more unstable than the ones you took off.
I had warped rotors on my 89 when I got it. After doing the YZF600R front end swap, I used the stock 600 300mm rotors that came with the wheel. Not much better. I scored a set of nearly new EBC rotors from eBay.
I HIGHLY recommend spending the extra cash on quality brake components. I believe these with blue calipers and an FZ1 master cylinder and steel braided lines are the best brakes in my garage.
Why/how did the stock rotors warp? Are your calipers in need of maintenance?
DavidR.
Does "The Fan" or anyone else have any more updates on their rotors ? I'll be needing a set of front and rear for my 91.
3 race weekends, 2 trackdays and 1500 street miles so for. Rotors are working out fine. The true test will come later in the week as I usually average 1200 miles or so at the fall rally, but plan for an extra day or two this year.