Chinese brake discs

[garynortheast]

I have just bought these - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181215449043?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

I didn't just buy them on a whim, I spent several days researching and reading opinions and reviews first.

The usual crap surfaced in the various opinions. Almost all the negative stuff came from people who had never bought, fitted or tried them, while almost all the people who had personal experience of these discs had pretty positive views. I'm sure that those people who have bought the Chinese levers know just what I mean!

The metals used in the manufacture of the rotors and carriers appears to be of the same grades as products like Galfer. I think the only questions for me would be the fit, and the quality of the bobbins and washers.

I shall keep the org posted!

[Bibio]

it's not the discs it's how they are fitted and how well your callipers are serviced.

to fit discs properly you need a run-out gauge as the slightest 'wobble' will what people call 'warped' discs will happen. most discs don't in fact warp they get peaks and troughs developing as the pad rises and falls on a bad run-out which soon cases the run-out to get worse and takes a very short time to do so.

make sure your hubs are meticulously clean and you torque the bolts up properly then use a gauge to check. you are looking for 0.25mm or less of run-out.

this may come as a bit of a surprise but the early Lotus Elise had cast aluminium discs. Lotus soon changed the discs for cast steel ones as the alloy ones lasted much much longer.

so yes to a point it's not the material that the disc is made from.

[jambo]

The material matters but the main issue with buying from China is after sales service, which is practically non existent. Case in point I bought a radiator for a zx6 from China. Cost 1/2 of what pattern part in the UK would so a bit of a win. A few months later a friend bought the same component off the same seller and it turned up with a bend in it. They contacted the seller, who said it looked fine and if they posted it back they could exchange it. Coat of postage recorded delivery to China of course was half the cost of the product with no guarantee the replacement would be any better. For brake levers and other items you can shrug if it goes wrong. If you're out of pocket by over £100 it's a little harder to feel OK about it.

In short I don't think components from China have to be bad quality, but ask yourself if they turn up damaged or wrong whether you'll still be ahead.

Jambo

Sent without a real keyboard

[jambo]

Duplicate post

[garynortheast]

Thanks for the sensible and considered replies gents. Food for thought.....

[DJFridge]

+1 to what Jambo said. Quality control and aftersales are your biggest problem when buying Chinese. There are very good examples of both (Apple, Onkyo, Lenovo to name just three) but if it isn't a company you've heard of or can easily research, how do you know?

We buy 12v transformers from a Chinese manufacturer and they're, by and large, faultless. The only time we ever had a problem was when their factory was a bit stretched and, unknown to us, they subcontracted the work to another factory. That batch was grade A cr@p. There wasn't even a common fault, the quality control at that particular factory was obviously somewhat lacking. Our supplier was very straight with us and replaced the lot, but buying from ebay, you haven't got that backup.

Basically, buy Chinese if it's either a reputable company or cheap and unimportant enough not to bother about too much. If you can say "meh" if it breaks. I'm not sure if brake discs come into that category.

[yorkie_chris]

to fit discs properly you need a run-out gauge as the slightest 'wobble' will what people call 'warped' discs will happen. most discs don't in fact warp they get peaks and troughs developing as the pad rises and falls on a bad run-out which soon cases the run-out to get worse and takes a very short time to do so.

make sure your hubs are meticulously clean and you torque the bolts up properly then use a gauge to check. you are looking for 0.25mm or less of run-out.

so yes to a point it's not the material that the disc is made from.

I disagree with you on most of that.


To fit discs properly, you just bolt them on, what are you going to do if they're not flat? You've got a metal on metal joint, and are rather unlikely to start skimming the wheel or surface grinding bits of disc away if it isn't flat!

0.25mm... fair enough, but you'll be able to see that by eye.

Warping, I reckon you're a mile out there, every single warped disc I've ever seen has been warped. They expand inwards and when they have nowhere to go, buckle. The disc thickness is still consistent however the whole shape is no longer in the same plane, turns into a poppadum.
This was depressingly common on SRAD/busa/TL.

Car discs are a different story and do seem to wear unevenly.

[garynortheast]

Useful post there YC, thanks for that.

[yorkie_chris]

BTW the making sure the hubs are clean bit is worth doing.

As for chinese discs, dunno. I've seen silly expensive galfer wavy discs shatter, what confidence does that give you that somebody with no brand name to worry about will not make crap? I like OE discs.

[garynortheast]

I have to say that I would probably have gone for the OE discs if I had the money. Partly because the old ones have last 13 years, and partly because I prefer the plain round discs to the wave shape. But as I just do not have the money to do any more than keep transport on the road, the Chinese ones are going to have to do.


We'll see how they go. View it as a product test eh? We may all be usefully surprised, or it may enable people to say, "Told ya so!"

[garynortheast]

Good God!! I only ordered these discs last Saturday 8th. They arrived today all the way from China!


First impressions count and in this case they are excellent. The company kept me informed of dispatch progress from the word go, gave me a FedEx tracking number within 12 hours of placing the order. The discs were really well and neatly packaged.


The discs themselves look, on examination, to be very well made and finished.


Pictures to follow...

[garynortheast]

Right then, time to change these discs!


These are coming off as they are knackered and won't pass another MoT.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a202/garynortheast/Bike%20pics/Disc%20change/rszd_sv_discchange13.jpg (http://s12.photobucket.com/user/garynortheast/media/Bike%20pics/Disc%20change/rszd_sv_discchange13.jpg.html)


And these are going on in their place.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a202/garynortheast/Bike%20pics/Disc%20change/rszd_sv_discchange7.jpg (http://s12.photobucket.com/user/garynortheast/media/Bike%20pics/Disc%20change/rszd_sv_discchange7.jpg.html)


http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a202/garynortheast/Bike%20pics/Disc%20change/rszd_sv_discchange6.jpg (http://s12.photobucket.com/user/garynortheast/media/Bike%20pics/Disc%20change/rszd_sv_discchange6.jpg.html)


Laid the new discs on top of the old ones to make sure they would line up.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a202/garynortheast/Bike%20pics/Disc%20change/rszd_sv_discchange16.jpg (http://s12.photobucket.com/user/garynortheast/media/Bike%20pics/Disc%20change/rszd_sv_discchange16.jpg.html)


The bolts on this side came out easily enough....
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a202/garynortheast/Bike%20pics/Disc%20change/rszd_sv_discchange15.jpg (http://s12.photobucket.com/user/garynortheast/media/Bike%20pics/Disc%20change/rszd_sv_discchange15.jpg.html)


But this side was a bit harder for some reason.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a202/garynortheast/Bike%20pics/Disc%20change/rszd_sv_discchange20.jpg (http://s12.photobucket.com/user/garynortheast/media/Bike%20pics/Disc%20change/rszd_sv_discchange20.jpg.html)


Both sides were fairly mucky,
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a202/garynortheast/Bike%20pics/Disc%20change/rszd_sv_discchange18.jpg (http://s12.photobucket.com/user/garynortheast/media/Bike%20pics/Disc%20change/rszd_sv_discchange18.jpg.html)


But they cleaned up nicely.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a202/garynortheast/Bike%20pics/Disc%20change/rszd_sv_discchange23.jpg (http://s12.photobucket.com/user/garynortheast/media/Bike%20pics/Disc%20change/rszd_sv_discchange23.jpg.html)


http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a202/garynortheast/Bike%20pics/Disc%20change/rszd_sv_discchange22.jpg (http://s12.photobucket.com/user/garynortheast/media/Bike%20pics/Disc%20change/rszd_sv_discchange22.jpg.html)




First disc on and ready for the bolts. I cleaned both the bolt and the hub threads out first.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a202/garynortheast/Bike%20pics/Disc%20change/rszd_sv_discchange24.jpg (http://s12.photobucket.com/user/garynortheast/media/Bike%20pics/Disc%20change/rszd_sv_discchange24.jpg.html)


Bolts torqued down.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a202/garynortheast/Bike%20pics/Disc%20change/rszd_sv_discchange25.jpg (http://s12.photobucket.com/user/garynortheast/media/Bike%20pics/Disc%20change/rszd_sv_discchange25.jpg.html)


Two new discs in place.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a202/garynortheast/Bike%20pics/Disc%20change/rszd_sv_discchange28.jpg (http://s12.photobucket.com/user/garynortheast/media/Bike%20pics/Disc%20change/rszd_sv_discchange28.jpg.html)


I was going to fit new pads at the same time but there is still plenty of life left in the old ones, so after a good clean and regrease, the callipers were refitted. Brakes feel pretty good on the 100yd ride up and down my lane but they'll get a proper try out tomorrow.

[Runako]

I would still go new pads as they can bed in with the discs and keep the 2nd's for spares. I also bought chinese and the only problem I've had is when not using the bike (and brakes) enough! Maybe its luck, but I would take the chance again*.

*i.e. Take the chance in buying I mean. I always inspect the discs thoroughly before fitting to satisfy myself that they're alright.

[SIII]

New discs = New pads.

Everytime.

[garynortheast]

New discs = New pads.

Everytime.


Can you tell me why? The old pads have lots of meat left on them and the friction area is flat and unridged.

[maviczap]

They look pretty good for Chinese discs.

The real test will be how good they are braking wise & how long they last?

[aesmith]

What did you get stung for VAT + Duty etc, or did they get through unscathed?

[garynortheast]

They look pretty good for Chinese discs.

The real test will be how good they are braking wise & how long they last?



They do look well made, the materials and machining look excellent, as is the fit. I will be interested to see how the bobbins and spring washers hold up. I don't tend to use the brakes that hard to be honest, no track days, although some "spirited" road use does take place!

[maviczap]

Yes, TBH on the road, most of mine is engine braking. :)

Track days are a diiferent matter :D

[CharleyFarley]

They do look V Cool/nice!!! ^ even more so on 1000, very rare fa me to use brakes at all!!


"Gas it w###a".........

[SIII]

I personally would put new pads in as well as it beds in to that disc, the old pads might of have grooves from the old disc and effectively not getting full contact to the disc itself for a bit, less efficient braking.

I have always fitted new pads with new discs, looking at your old discs they look fairly well 'ridged' on the surface, so image yer old pads will have worn into the same pattern.

After spending your hard earned on new discs, do you not want the best braking possible from your new discs?:smt045 Found the EBC one's much better than the OEM's.

[Bibio]

Can you tell me why? The old pads have lots of meat left on them and the friction area is flat and unridged.

due to them being contaminated by the old discs and as SIII said they are bedded into the old discs so will not be flat and cause scoring on the new discs. you may think its flat but it's not unless you put them on a surface grinder.

[garynortheast]

Just been out on the bike and after a 12 mile round trip, I've noticed polished bands on the discs so I shall take the advice of those of you recommending fitting new pads. I have the new ones here ready and the calipers are all freshly cleaned and regreased so it'll be a quick job to swap old for new.

[Bibio]

i will be ok if the bands are big but smaller ones might not be as it could suggest contamination.

[garynortheast]

There are a couple of quite wide bands that correspond with the ridging on the old discs. I shall give the discs a good clean with brake cleaner when I change the pads.

[garynortheast]

Another update to this story.

My hope that replacing the old pads with the new ones was going to be a quick job was shattered yesterday morning when I discovered that the caliper wasn't sliding on the pins properly.

One of the pins slides in the metal body of the caliper but the other one is housed in a rubber boot which pushes through a mounting on the caliper. The pin sliding in the metal housing was fine but the hole in which the rubber boot is held had become oxidised to the extent that it was compressing the boot and gripping the pin, thus preventing any free movement.

It took me a while to realise what was going on initially, but once I had identified the problem it was a simple matter to gently extract the boot, clean all the white oxidisation out of the mounting hole and then put the boot back in with a liberal smear of red rubber grease both inside and outside the boot. Both pins on each caliper were similarly treated and then the whole lot re-assembled with the new pads.

The job also gave me the opportunity to flush all the old brake fluid through and replace it with new fluid. My brakes are now working possibly better than at an time since buying the bike four years ago. :thumbsup:

[zippie01]

This is excellent experience for you, and you will know exactly what do do when I bring my bike around with my new discs and pads..... :)

[wideguy]

I've used old pads on new rotors with no problems. I sand old pads flat before installing them on new rotors, and also on used, but different rotors. Just makes it quicker to bed them in. I don't think anybody uses asbestos in brake pads anymore. If you're in doubt, check with the tech dept. of the manufacturer.

[garynortheast]

What did you get stung for VAT + Duty etc, or did they get through unscathed?

Total price, £115, free shipping, and no duty charges on them!

[garynortheast]

Quick update on these discs.


In a word, superb! No warping, no blueing, the bobbins are as firm as the day the discs were fitted. No wear marks or ridging and the gold anodising on the carriers is still immaculate.


I'd have absolutely no hesitation in recommending these both on the basis of product quality, price, and the company's customer service/communication.

[yorkie_chris]

How many miles, what sort of use etc

[Runako]

I've just ridden to France/Spain and back in 10 days. 2000 miles including the Pyrenees and Andorra. The Discs have done about 4000 on the same pads and they break better than the Daytona. I don't think I have the same type as Gary but I have no complaints about the ones I have.

Good on you dude, sometimes taking a calculated risk pays off.

[garynortheast]

How many miles, what sort of use etc

Around about 5000 miles now, and the sort of braking you would expect with a certain amount of spirited riding on these lovely Welsh roads.


I've just ridden to France/Spain and back in 10 days. 2000 miles including the Pyrenees and Andorra. The Discs have done about 4000 on the same pads and they break better than the Daytona. I don't think I have the same type as Gary but I have no complaints about the ones I have.

Good on you dude, sometimes taking a calculated risk pays off.


Good to see someone else giving them a try Runako. Which ones did you get?

[Runako]

Around about 5000 miles now, and the sort of braking you would expect with a certain amount of spirited riding on these lovely Welsh roads.

Where about in Wales are you?

[garynortheast]

The other end to you! About 12 miles west of Welshpool.

[Runako]

Ah I see. You must enjoy those roads up by the National Park then? Me and some of the guys from the South are planning our Annual ride up to Barmouth next month. (Sorry for the derail. Good luck with the discs).

[garynortheast]

Give me a shout when you go and if I can I'll zip over and say hallo.

[Luckypants]

Any chance of some photos of how they look now Gary?

[garynortheast]

Here we go Mike.






http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a202/garynortheast/Bike%20pics/Disc%20change/rszd_discs_1407141.jpg (http://s12.photobucket.com/user/garynortheast/media/Bike%20pics/Disc%20change/rszd_discs_1407141.jpg.html)





http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a202/garynortheast/Bike%20pics/Disc%20change/rszd_discs_1407142.jpg (http://s12.photobucket.com/user/garynortheast/media/Bike%20pics/Disc%20change/rszd_discs_1407142.jpg.html)

[Luckypants]

Those look pretty good. Cheers Gary.

[Niall_farley]

Got them on mine after the crash :) and I agree fantastic especially considering the price! Done maybe 700 miles since and all is well

[ste12100]

Just fitted a set on my 05 , they look good :) and most importantly stop better than my old discs( which were rather thin :/)