Cast iron brake rotor problem
 

Got a pair of Brembo cast iron front brake discs on the 996 couple with Brembo monoblock calipers (996R 4 pad). At the start of the season I fitted a set of Bendix pads as recommended and supplied by JHP. Since then my discs have scored badly on all four sides and are deeply grooved now.

Before changing the rotors, and perhaps having the problem re-occur, can anybody shed any light on why this has happened?

Bearing in mind I want to keep the monoblock calipers, would anybody recommend fitting a PFM rotor replacment kit, or sticking with Brembo?

Finally, where's the best place to buy these things bearing in mind I'll do the work myself?

:frog:

Yeti

i have just bought a pair of PFM iron floaters and was also recommended Bendix pads, hope i dont see the same results as you. Told to steer clear of sinterd pads for obvious reasons.

Sorry, what are the "obvious" reasons vis a vis sintered pads? :sing:

the sinterd pads will grind into the iron rotors and put fantastic grooves in them.
pads with no metal in them , thats what i was told.

:)

Not 100% sure if yours are the same but my Bendix pads are MF Sintered, probably have metal in them??
Dont know for sure but I have no scoring on standard discs from a 996?

Bendix pads are sintered. Sintered aren`t good for Cast Iron(as you are finding out), apart from wearing them down faster, they also are prone to rust/bind onto the disc when they get wet. So unless you don`t plan on cleaning the bike after each ride...
I`ve heard the best ones to use are Ferrodo Platinum pads:)

[Edited on 15-5-2003 by Desmoboy]

Me thinks now Bendix do a non-sintered version but best contact Mike Davies as he is a supplier of Bendix so should know?

Would be good to know how you get on with them?:alien:

Don't think there is ANY doubt. I have sintered pads, hence the scoring/grooving! F**K. Looks like I best be getting myself a new pair of discs and some non-sintered pads.

Can't blame John Hackett though cos the bike is a 2001 bike and he probably thought it had stainless rotors. Didn't expect a knob head like me to have already changed them for cast!!!!

PFM or AP? Whats the concensus?

:devil:

Brembo! Unless you like to gamble with warped rotors! Yes, Bendix do a non-sintered pad as do many others.

Have been told it's almost impossible to pick up Brembo cast iron discs now as Brembo have gone over to all stainless.

Think PFM is looking most likely.

The race disks are cast stainless steel, which is what's on my bike. I use the Bendix carbon matrix pads with great results. Highly recommended, better than cast iron rotors. Cast iron used to be the top choice for discs and was used extensively in racing. Now, the cast stainless Brembos have replaced them. Still, if you need a set of new cast iron Brembos, I know Tim at MotoDesigns got a set on the shelf, 01904 623 421.

when i bought my PFM rotors, they told me to bed them in for about 100 miles, then i should'nt have problems with them warping.

Some Brembo cast iron brake rotors may still be available. The Ducati Performance catalog lists rotors for the 1995 900SSSP that came with cast iron rotors. People that ordered them got Brembo cast iron rotors. The packaging says it’s for the 900SSSP and 916 Senna.

This may be a good time to look at reducing the rotor weight to improve handling.

Stock 916 (Round holes) ... 4 lb 3.5 oz
996 (Snowflake) ........……... 3 lb 11.0 oz
998R Narrow Track ....……... 3 lb 1.0 oz
BrakeTech Ductile ...……...... 2 lb 15.0 oz
AXIS Rotors .........………….... 3 lb ± 2 oz
Galfer Wave .......………........ 2 lb 7.0 oz


The lightweight AXIS Full Floating Ductile Iron Rotors from MotoWheels look tasty…



[Edited on 5-16-2003 by Shazaam!]

Hey, or how about this?



They do list it for the 748/9xx bikes! Only 850 Euros for the complete kit including OZ wheel, if I understand it correctly. I wonder how good this really is. Wouldn't they use it in racing if it were any good? I come standard on the new Buells. Wouldn't mind test riding one.

I've been looking over the rim brake kit to.
There's about a 1.5kg weight saving to boot as well, and it's unsprung?
Where have you seen them for 850 euros? Best I've seen is about £1100

Never mind, Nelly. I must have been dreaming.

http://www.ghezzi-brian.com/

Been tqalking to a few people about replacments, anyone got an opinion on Brembo "cast" stainless rotors?:devil:

Yeah, they're ace! I use them on my RS, although they are the narrow band, which are used with the monoblock calipers. Don't know if they fit a street bike. I run them with Bendix carbon matrix pads and radial pump. Can't improve on that, as far as I know.

I have Brembo SS Disks and Radial Calipers . . .
 

check out the avatar thingy - the stopping power is AWESOME!

Anyway - have standard sintered pads (rec by Brembo UK) - done at least 12,000 (reasonably fast) road miles on these disks - no scoring/marking at all - amazing.

Not even any wear - did the measurements at the weekend - no wear at all in fact!

At this rate - will last me a lifetime - unless of course they make Carbon disks for road use (to go with the rest of the bike of course)!

KJ

By the way - PFM are crap - stick with Brembo if you can - not sure about other makes - but have tried the rest - now back with the acknowledged BEST!

[Edited on 19-5-2003 by KJ]

[Edited on 19-5-2003 by KJ]

What makes you such an authority K.J.

KJ, you don't say which discs these are other than Brembo. Are the the racing narrow band, stainless cast, cast iron or what? Where did you get them, and how much?

Ditto with the radial caliper mount and calipers.


:ninja:

KJ - The discs may last a long time, I agree, but it's the carriers that wear out. The half circle where the "buttons" fit wear into an oval which produces a fair bit of play. Anyone know of a source for just the carriers? Aside from having them made? I about due for a set.

The Disks are narrow band SS . . . .
 

Fair enough - the carriers might wear - but with all the weight I (and the bike) has lost!!!! doubtful whether it will be in my lifetime - :)

Bought from James Wlters @ GP Racewear along with the calipers - I think they were the best part of £300 + VAT each! (disks) x 3 for the calipers - EACH!

As for being an authority on anything - did I say I was??

KJ

[Edited on 21-5-2003 by KJ]

Give them some serious grief, like racing or fast track days, and you'll be changing them once a year.

Sure did when you refered to PFM as crap:frog: I've got PFM and they are miles better than std. More feel, instant bite.
If the rotors wear then its a simple 5 min job to swop rotors over.

Jon

Buts thats my opinion only.

no need to be so touchy - for goodness sake . . .
 

Sorry if I offended you mate - NOT!

I have had Brembo Standard, PFM, Brembo GP setup and now the ULTIMATE Brembo combination on my bike - PFM ARE absolutely shite IMHO - do a few fast track days and you will find that you yourself!

Anyway - its all subjective at the end of the day - my opinion means nothing - its just my opinion - and am definately not an expert - opinionated maybe - just a WELL traveled Ducati rider who does ALL his own maintenance!

So take a pill and enjoy your bike - stop getting your knickers in a twist over nothing!

;)

KJ


[Edited on 21-5-2003 by KJ]

I'm not being touchy at all !

Seriously. Its Just that If you think they are so crap then make a point of saying why?.
If it is purely that they wear out at track days, then that would not be a problem for me, Yeti or a lot of other guys who only do one or two a year.:(

I asked what made "you" an authority on PFM, thinking that you would come back with your opinions, not the usual sarcastic remarks. If you can't take constructive criticism why bother to post.

[Edited on 22-5-2003 by Jon]

Got SPS cast disks on mine with EBC HH pads and have noticed some slight wear after 12k miles. I expect they will need changing at 30k+ miles.......
Still ace in the dry and awful in the wet.

Managed to warp a set of PFM disks after 2 laps at Snetterton!
 

Thats why they are shite (IMHO) to add to this PFM were not at all interested in honouring their warranty either and theye did not know what bolts to use on the Ducati to mount the calipers!

Brembo stuff is guaranteed for life - so I was reliably informed!!!

Cant beat that - so there you go.

KJ

I managed to warp one of my Brembo disc's as well KJ . I did'nt think that any manufacturer guaranteed against warping.

P.S. Where they fully floating KJ. If so how did you know you had warped them ?

[Edited on 23-5-2003 by Jon]

they were the fully floating type with 6 pots . . . .
 

coming up to the end of the s/f straight for the second time at about 130mph - squeez the brakes - front end starts to wobble - sh*te myself make it round the bend - back to the pits - give up fo rthe day!

Go home - bin the setup and replace with Brembo!

Talk to Brembo UK!

KJ

KJ, what pads were you useing.

Jon

Just out of interest why would warped disks make the front end wobble.
I had a slightly warped disk and it was felt by a vibration and pulsating of the lever. I was thinking about replacing them with a set a certain KJ had for sale on Ducati trader. Glad I did'nt...

Stimpy it felt the same when I warped one of mine. More like riding a kango than a bike. I did'nt know what it was at the time, only became clear after posting on the site. I measured it at about 3-4 mm out of true.

Jon

[Edited on 26-5-2003 by Jon]

Have now managed to aquire a set of Brembo discs of a 748RS, not sure quite what the material is, but probably some kind of cast stainless.

Apart from modifying the brake caliper mountings to take the 5mm wider offset, was wondering if anyone could advise as to the best type of pads for use with them? I have monoblock calipers. will probably run bendix again, but all advice gratefully accepted.

Finally, many thanx to the member who e-mailed me privately offering these discs. Grateful or what! You know who you are - THANX.

:sing: