Warped front rotors

[Navymech]

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...

[Scooterbob]

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.

[Fred]

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

[markmartin]

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.

[Navymech]

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

[Arnie]

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

[Navymech]

That's a fantastic list, thank you! 

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

These are from china (haha) but there's others

[Mark Olson]

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.

[Navymech]

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

[Travis398]

it seems like china buys all our steel, you could buy your old car back in the form of rotors 

[Pat Conlon]

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

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!

[Pat Conlon]

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

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

[candieandy]

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

[Scooterbob]

THAT'S what I'm talking about!  That's of the reasons I love this forum!

[the fan]

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.

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

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!