Floating discs/non-floating disc brakes?

**rocketman1** · 25th May 2009, 20:08

Anyone no the difference between floating and non floating disc brakes and can you replace floating with non floating.
And reasons why / why not
Thanks

**bogan** · 25th May 2009, 20:12

you mean floating disc vs floating caliper? as i understand it part of it has to float (usually the caliper) to account for pad wear. And i doubt one sort could be replaced with the other.

**rocketman1** · 25th May 2009, 20:20

Just looking at buying some disc for my gsxr 750 but they mention they are non floating.
Standard are floating why would have non-floating??

**YellowDog** · 25th May 2009, 20:30

I think that the seller should know the difference and what is OK for your bike.

**Two Smoker** · 25th May 2009, 20:34

It has nothing to do with the caliper. Floating discs are held by buttons that have a small amount of movement. Solid discs are mounted solidly to the wheel.

Replace floating discs with floating discs

**JayRacer37** · 25th May 2009, 20:37

Originally Posted by Two Smoker

It has nothing to do with the caliper. Floating discs are held by buttons that have a small amount of movement. Solid discs are mounted solidly to the wheel.

Replace floating discs with floating discs

If you have the right nous and ability you can even 'float' non-floating disks. Good for getting rid of a very minor disk warp. Not recommended for inexperienced though...

**pete376403** · 25th May 2009, 20:48

Non-floating disks are more prone to pad knock-off, where the pad(s) and piston(s) get pushed back into the caliper by disk warp or heat distortion.
When you come to a corner and have to take a couple of pumps of the lever before you've got any brakes -thats pad knock-off (there may be other terms for it, such as "fuckenel")
Floating disks tend to reduce this effect. So you'd really have to have a very good reason to replace floaters with solids.

**Taz** · 25th May 2009, 20:53

then main advantage of floating discs is that they are less prone to warping as the floating rotor can expand independantly from the carrier therefore also allowing them to be made thinner and lighter. .

**bogan** · 25th May 2009, 21:18

Originally Posted by pete376403

Non-floating disks are more prone to pad knock-off, where the pad(s) and piston(s) get pushed back into the caliper by disk warp or heat distortion.
When you come to a corner and have to take a couple of pumps of the lever before you've got any brakes -thats pad knock-off (there may be other terms for it, such as "fuckenel")
Floating disks tend to reduce this effect. So you'd really have to have a very good reason to replace floaters with solids.

ah, learn something new everyday eh

**BMWST?** · 25th May 2009, 21:33

for reasons i dont understand a alot of US vehicles have non floating discs where their euro cuzzies do....Ie E39 M5.Maybe this is true of bikes as well.Dont floatings discs also have the abilty to knock the pads back?