Disc Brakes: new legislation/WOF checks

[pete376403]

What would be the deal on alternative calipers? I saw a early GSX with late model 4 spot calipers on fabricated brackets, would these be legal? hafta be engineer certified?

[F5 Dave]

Not anymore so I have been told by VINZ. Even changing the master cylinder will require certification. This doesn’t bode well for my old 1100 (sold some while back) with late model callipers & brackets + old style braided lines. Stopped so much better & hence was much safer, but now may be dubious from a legal point of view. Sorry to whoever bought it, -I didn’t change the law.

This whole scene is a knee jerk reaction to the boy racer car phenomenon. By the kids bodging their suspension etc & driving like dorkheads they have got the safetycrats up in arms & it affects Bikes now as well.

Poos I say.

[Kwaka-Kid]

looks like im going to mount these 4 pot tokico GSXR250 calpers to the gs1000, and its already got vt250 mastercylander and GT750 brakes, the only thing thats given probs b4 is the unmarked braided lines, ah well.

[Motu]

So long as you don't fabricate mounts you should be ok,but not likely eh - bigger calipers to fit bigger rotors are not going to bolt onto original mountings.

It's not so much new rules as implementing ones already in place - what it really comes down to is who's responsable if something goes wrong...never the owner,he's going to blame someone else for the fuck up....we need to take it all the way back to the manufacturer,he's got the biggest pockets after all,and to blame him and not have them weasel their way out...it has to be exactly as they built it....and if somebody modified it....yeah,let's screw him too.Isn't it luverly to be following the American way....I'm never wrong,but someone is,an I'm gunna sue them for everything they got.

The LTSA is just reacting to outside pressure....I just wonder who it is?

[Lou Girardin]

I don't know if it is outside pressure Motu. They have a lot of staff trying to justify their positions by coming up with new 'safety' initiatives.
Lou

[Motu]

Yeah - the ''inventors''

[riffer]

Joe - would these do?

http://www.trademe.co.nz/mcat-0001%2...n-10189646.htm

[F5 Dave]

Well found! Any idea who makes these & what of?

[LB]

Thanks Celtic, I'll pass this info on to Joe (he's a workmate, and not sure how often he logs onto KB).

He's ordered a set of discs from Victorian Motorcycle Wreckers in Oz, so probably it's too late to cancel the order.

[riffer]

Well found! Any idea who makes these & what of?

Actually, I do. Guy's name is Graham, he has a business called Power Motorcycles and he's been manufacturing brake rotors in NZ for about 2 years.

Claims he makes replacement rotors for ANY bike. If you look at his profile on trademe it even gives you his email address so you can make enquiries...

I've bought brake pads but not rotors from him and had no worries.

[JoeinWellie]

As Lynda said, I ordered a pair from Victoria.

On the bright side, this discovery seems to have sparked a lively debate. On the downside, it cost me (AUS) $500 for the pair.

Another interesting point here, and I am not sure that the bike shop were trying to pull the wool over my eyes here but I was 'advised' that I should change the pads too. He sugested that I would be failed on them too if I had been failed on the disks. As if by default.

This struck me as odd as a. I replaced the pads myself recently and there's only about 5k on them and b. He is the guy checking them for VINZ as the bike was sent to him for the brake inspection. Surely he can see that there is only minimum wear.

[Motu]

Yeah but they have bedded into the old rotors,following their contours,it would take a few weeks to wear to the new rotors and possibly damage them (trust me,some nameless idiot has been there before you) you could resurface the old pads or stop playing around with your life and put a new set in - you wanna die for 30 bucks?

[F5 Dave]

Yeah DIE.

DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE.

Best you replace that brake lever too.

Ok sorry enough sarcasm, obviously a visual check will suffice. If the disc has worn with deep grooves (semi recent Hondas like to do this esp.) then the pads will have too -so time to replace. If the guy was competent then this is what he noticed & fair call to him.

But some discs just wear evenly so the pads will be ok, check them for parallel & give them a clean up with some sand paper. Clean the new discs with brake clean as they will have grease on them from handling & bed in as normal.

While you are at it clean the calliper pistons, pad pins & lube slides if so equipped.

[Motu]

My post was sarcasim too,I can't beleive how anal some people can get - just reface the pads with emery on a flat surface until they are smooth - high spots on the pads can cause localised overheating and possibly damaging your new rotors.

[JoeinWellie]

Thanks for that.. I think.

Does this mean I'll have to familiarise myself with that funny pedal under my right foot to slow down while I bed in my new disks...

(I'm sure the instructor showed me how to use it for my test, but I haven't wanted to wear out the rubber on it since then).