|
 Flexible honing provides the ideal cross-hatch surface finish for new
and re-turned motorcycle brake rotors. Without this uniform pattern of peaks
and valleys, burrs on front disc rotors can cause brake noise, rotor warping,
and excessive wear. By removing fragments of ripped, torn, or folded metal, flexible honing eliminates surface irregularities and produces a high-quality plateau
finish for a better ride.
Brake
Rotors, Brake Pads, and Brake Noise
Motorcycle brakes are known to make
noise during bed-in,
when new disc pads begin to match the geometry of brake rotors. Some squeaking
and squealing is normal at first, but worn rotors will cause even high-quality
brake pads to continue to "chatter". By smoothing the brake-rotor surface
profile and reducing surface finish roughness (Ra), flexible honing for rotors
lowers the harmonic vibrations that cause these annoying,
high-pitched squeaks and squeals.
Front
Disc Rotor Warp or Pad Buildup?
When a user named madmortimer sought
advice at Ducati
Forums, the Australian owner of a 2002 748 was
convinced he needed to replace his motorbike's dual disc front brakes. After
learning that new brake rotors could cost close to $1000, the motorcyclist
listened to slower-than-you, a fellow Ducati owner who recommended the "rotor
hone routine". Although madmortimer
suspected "front disc rotor warp", slower-than-you suggested "pad buildup" as
the cause of "pulsing at lower speeds".
Honing
Ducati Motorcycle Brake Rotors
Instead of sending motorcycle brake
rotors to a machine shop or replacing them outright, slower-than-you advised flexible honing and brake
rotor cleaning. "If you have a drill press, it's relatively easy," he said. "You can manually rotate the table, but I motorized
it to rotate at 30 rpm". The photo above (top left) shows the flex-hone for rotors tool with its abrasive nylon globules.
After honing the rotors to produce a non-directional plateau finish, slower-than-you
cleaned them - in a dishwasher! Although madmortimer opted for
brake-and-clutch cleaner instead, the Ducati biker reported that all is well
with his honed brake rotors. "I'm still bedding them in," he noted,
"but the pulsing has ceased".
This article originally appeared in the Flex-Hone Blog.
| 
