Warrenty Claim Front Brakes

[Ringmaster999]

I have had to take my 08 GSA 7800 miles into Bristol Motorrad today to investigate what I can only describe as what feels like the brakes are applied on and off repeatedly which only happens at low speed just before coming to a stop.
They informed me that they have just recieved a bulliten from BMW advising them that some of the washers which locate between the disc's and hub might fail e.g. brake up which after inspection they have identified is the case with mine. They also tested tolerances and found one of my disc's to be slightly out.
So they are going to speak to their tecnical person Monday for guidance as to changing the ONE disc or just the washers.
Any way I allways thought that disc's were to be replaced as a pair along with new brake pads. But the impression I get from talking with them is that they might well just change the one disc? Now if they do I am presuming that they need to change the pads on that side which then will mean a new disc and set of pads one side with the other some 7800 miles used!!!!
What are the thoughts amoungst the mecanicaly minded on this

 

[Pukmeister]

After such relatively short mileage, your disks are probably so little worn that I wouldn't personally be overly concerned.

Why not get them to measure the disk thickness for you?

 

[John Armstrong]

Replace disc and pads at the same time is what I remember being told.

Could ask the dealer what they'd do if they found one set of discs & pads worn to limits and the others won't. Bet if it was during a service, they'd recommend both discs being changed

 

[NYUK]

I have had to take my 08 GSA 7800 miles into Bristol Motorrad today to investigate what I can only describe as what feels like the brakes are applied on and off repeatedly which only happens at low speed just before coming to a stop.

I had the same thing recently after only doing just over 3000. They replaced everything on the front. Turns out though it was the rear brake that was causing the problem (I have ABS). They changed all of that as well. So I would question it.

 

[Ringmaster999]

I had the same thing recently after only doing just over 3000. They replaced everything on the front. Turns out though it was the rear brake that was causing the problem (I have ABS). They changed all of that as well. So I would question it.

Yes mine is the ABS model and I am a bit confused by the fact they seem to be looking at only changing one disc! Will see what they come back with after they have spoken to someone at tecnical

 

[GSTourer]

Ringmaster,

I had EXACTLY the same problem last July. I have a pre-owned 07 GSA which had 16000 miles on the clock.

I took mine back to the dealership I bought it from (Oxford) and they measured the discs which they found to be within BMW tolerances. I asked them to take it out for a test ride and after returning they agreed there was a problem. They replaced discs and pads ALL round........front and rear.

However, I was told that it is a known problem and that I was to expect the same problem in the future.

I would stick out for a complete replacement and feel free to cite my experience, after all yours is newer and done considerably less miles.

Good luck.

Ian

 

[Richard M]

I have a 08 GSA with 5200 mile on it with exactly the same symptoms. I had also mentioned this to Bristol Motorrad and was told there was nothing wrong. Very interested to hear the outcome.

 

[Fudmucker]

I would stick out for a complete replacement and feel free to cite my experience, after all yours is newer and done considerably less miles.

I'd support GST's view.
I bought my '05 GS used and just out of warranty
The discs REALLY became problematic within a year to the extent that the warping made them shudder viciously on braking.
I got them both replaced with ones off a very recent wreck that was rear-ended.
What a difference...!

If you're unhappy with ANYTHING during the warranty period, I'd press for full replacement....

I've also been advised that, having braked hard to a stop, to release the front brake completely and only use the rear brake to hold stationary.
Hot discs and pressure on one segment could cause warping?

 

[John Armstrong]

I've also been advised that, having braked hard to a stop, to release the front brake completely and only use the rear brake to hold stationary.
Hot discs and pressure on one segment could cause warping?

I'd heard that as well, but more to do with cars, but the principle's the same.

AFAIK it's the cooling down rates that are the problem, disc in the area of the pads doesn't rest of brake does, and any side loads on the disc wont help.

Or could just be sh1te discs, my 650 twin ones are corroding on the area between the braking area and the hub already

 

[Ringmaster999]

Richard M
I will let you know the outcome. Bristol have not got back to me yet as they did say the guy they needed to talk to might be on leave.
Did you actually take the bike to Bristol and ask them to ride it or did you talk on the phone?

 

[NYUK]

I've also been advised that, having braked hard to a stop, to release the front brake completely and only use the rear brake to hold stationary.
Hot discs and pressure on one segment could cause warping?

I used to do that but in my case it was my rear disc that was warped and was the main cause of the judder.

 

[Richard M]

Richard M
I will let you know the outcome. Bristol have not got back to me yet as they did say the guy they needed to talk to might be on leave.
Did you actually take the bike to Bristol and ask them to ride it or did you talk on the phone?

They have ridden the bike a couple of times to try to identify the problem. On both occasions I was told there was nothing wrong. Frustrating when I notice it nearly every time I stop.
It will be due for a service in January, so I will try again.

 

[Ringmaster999]

Warrenty Result

Just following up from my origional post about the front brake disc warrenty claim for those interested.
Took the bike in today (Bristol) and the R/H disc which was slightly out of tollarance was changed along with all bobbings and washers that side and that was it.
No new brake pads as I was told firstly you don't need to change pads as long as their servicable just because you have changed the disc and any way BMW have told them that brake pads are not changed under warrenty work.

So their you go all those years dealers have charged me for replacement pads with new disc's it may well have been a con. Along with the times when they have told me one disc is out for what ever reason and as a result you need disc's and pads all round!!!!

But the end result was painless and DOES seem to have solved the problem. So I will wait and see if it reacures in the future. At the moment the bike, 08 GSA, has 8500 miles on her

 

[Fluffy Bridges]

I had the same thing recently after only doing just over 3000. They replaced everything on the front. Turns out though it was the rear brake that was causing the problem (I have ABS). They changed all of that as well. So I would question it.

+1 '07 ADV.

CW did mine, same sort of mileage. Slight warping on the fronts, worse on the back. Bike ridden well but not abused. Newer spec discs alround ('08/'09?) job done during service. No probs.

Happy chappie

 

[Richard M]

Just following up from my origional post about the front brake disc warrenty claim for those interested.
Took the bike in today (Bristol) and the R/H disc which was slightly out of tollarance was changed along with all bobbings and washers that side and that was it.
No new brake pads as I was told firstly you don't need to change pads as long as their servicable just because you have changed the disc and any way BMW have told them that brake pads are not changed under warrenty work.

So their you go all those years dealers have charged me for replacement pads with new disc's it may well have been a con. Along with the times when they have told me one disc is out for what ever reason and as a result you need disc's and pads all round!!!!

But the end result was painless and DOES seem to have solved the problem. So I will wait and see if it reacures in the future. At the moment the bike, 08 GSA, has 8500 miles on her

My bike was in at Bristol Motorrad on Wednesday for a recall and 6ooo mile service.
Although they acknowledged that there was a problem with the front brakes, I was told that the discs were within tolerance
Anyway, it's still a fantastic bike!

 

[Gippo]

Dodgey Discs

I have had to take my 08 GSA 7800 miles into Bristol Motorrad today to investigate what I can only describe as what feels like the brakes are applied on and off repeatedly which only happens at low speed just before coming to a stop.
What are the thoughts amoungst the mecanicaly minded on this

I had exactly the same problem with my 07 GS from when it had done less than 3k miles (now 12k). I had taken it back to the dealers (NOG) on several occasions and mentioned the problem. I always got the same reply that the discs were still within tolerance.(Although they did replace the rear on one occasion, which made no difference whatsoever).

To be fair,I think they probably were within tolerance.I personally measured both front discs for runout and thickness variation and it was minimal (Less than 0.03mm).What I didn't check for though was ovality. However the problem remained and I was getting nowhere.

I then had a bit of a brainwave and expained the problem to my local Bike repairer/dealer (Not BMW). As a result we put the bike on his MOT test rolling road and at approx 4 mph the braking force varied by upto 10kgf...enough to fail an MOT.

Armed with this info I then went back to NOG and politely insisted that they do something about it as I was riding around on a potential MOT failure.

Needless to say the discs and pads were replaced and the bike is now fine.

However going back to the retaining washers, I note that on later bikes (08 onwards) they have changed the design... Does the "surging" problem still exist with this new washer design??

This post is not intended as criticism of NOG as their service was, as usual, without fault.

G

 

[Ringmaster999]

However going back to the retaining washers, I note that on later bikes (08 onwards) they have changed the design... Does the "surging" problem still exist with this new washer design??

Well my 08 GSA retaining washers, or at least one of them, actually failed which caused it to brake up and fall out which is why the problem occured. So if they have changed the design it may not be for the better.
In fact Bristol actually told me that they had just recieved notification from BMW that these washers may well fail and that it was NOT a safety issue so as in my case replace and IF and only IF the disc's need replacing then they would be replaced also.

 

[Gippo]

In fact Bristol actually told me that they had just recieved notification from BMW that these washers may well fail and that it was NOT a safety issue so as in my case replace and IF and only IF the disc's need replacing then they would be replaced also.

How can anything that fails relating to brakes NOT be a safety issue???

 

[NYUK]

How can anything that fails relating to brakes NOT be a safety issue???

Agree that's crazy!
There has always been an issue with the washers. Surprised that they had to look into it.