wavy brakes plus standard pads=cracked disk beware

I bought an sv1000 with a Galfer wavy rear disk fitted. 5K later I noticed a large crack in the disc. Galfer warantee only covers discs if fitted with galfer pads but I discovered mine had been fitted with the OE Nissin pads.

A Galfer dealer who I have been addressing the issue with tells me that this sort of damage is "relatively common" on discs run on standard pads. Sounds dangerous to me and whilst it is clearly stated on Galfer promo material that warantee will be invalidated by running other pads I have not found the dire warnings of potential life threatening consequences that I would have thought would be appropriate.

Is it a well known fact that wavy discs + standard pads can ovetheat and crack? am I the only one who didn't know? is it common or was I unlucly? I feel lucky to have spotted the crack before it went all the way and locked the back at speed.

[21QUEST]

Originally Posted by robin

A Galfer dealer who I have been addressing the issue with tells me that this sort of damage is "relatively common" on discs run on standard pads.

.

Good thing you noticed but IMHO the dealer is talking crap. My impression on Galfers pad recommendation is that it is so they can sell more pads. If that were they case that the discs can crack then maybe they should be putting that on the box.

Did he explain how OE pads contribute to cracked discs as I would have thought most OE pads would be less agreessive compound wise. Also never heard about it being a well fact that Wavy+ OE pads =craked discs
(but then I don't go out much) so you are not the only one..
One reason why I shyed away from Galfers and bought 'Braking' ones(on my 650) is because of the need to use their pads or loose the warranty.

Infact the dealer where I bought mine from uses EBH 'hh' on his. I think you were just unlucky and the dealer is just using the Galfers pad clause as an excuse.

Cheers
Ben

I don't know. I've been hearing for years that wavy's should always be run with sintered pads... that's from dealers, websites, forums, meets... all over. So that's what I've always used and never had any issues.

Probably more a case of a faulty disc than incorrect pads IMHO

Thanks for the responses. My first impresions were that it must be a faulty disc though I was beginning to believe what I was hearing, I shall try to post pics but the crack runs all the way through the disc and is 1cm long (at a part where the disc is only 15mm wide) Here is what the dealer said;

"Used with the correct pads these discs will outperform and outlast all standard OE equipment. However, used with the wrong pads they will quickly exhibit the signs of overheating and scoring that your disc clearly shows. This has been caused by the fact that the compound of the Nissin pads which are fitted is too hard for the disc which has caused the disc to overheat and crack. Whilst this is obviously not something that we ever see when the correct pads are used it is relatively common when non-approved pads are used I'm afraid "

I have asked for the issue to be passed on to the importer and am hoping for a more hlpful response. In the meantime must buy a second hand OE disc to keep me on the road.

Seen quite a few of these, mainly braking and galfer, never fronts always rears, broken right through or just starting to split and generally got pretty hot, not noticed a particular pad being a problem though.

Not really a fault, more a part initially designed for racing being asked to cope with road riding.
Like the people spending £1000+ on a brake setup (6mm discs, monoblock calipers etc) and then expecting them to cope with thousands of miles in all weathers, only to complain about the rusty discs and binding brakes (no dust seals on race stuff)

[21QUEST]

Originally Posted by Robw#70

Seen quite a few of these, mainly braking and galfer, never fronts always rears, broken right through or just starting to split and generally got pretty hot, not noticed a particular pad being a problem though.

Not really a fault, more a part initially designed for racing being asked to cope with road riding.
Like the people spending £1000+ on a brake setup (6mm discs, monoblock calipers etc) and then expecting them to cope with thousands of miles in all weathers, only to complain about the rusty discs and binding brakes (no dust seals on race stuff)

I have to say IMO it is a fault. Correct me if I'm wrong but the early wavys had 'not for road use' written on them. I've just had a look on the packaging and discs of my 'braking' just to confirm even though I knew they were road legal lol and there is nothing to that effect on them.

About the rusty discs you don't even need to get racing discs , just get EBC Prolite .

Cheers
Ben

They're not so much 'not road legal', but more a cheaper way of selling a product without the liability implications with road-bike products

[21QUEST]

Originally Posted by Robw#70

They're not so much 'not road legal', but more a cheaper way of selling a product without the liability implications with road-bike products

..but since they are being sold as perfectly okay for use on the road(implied by the removal of the early disclaimer?) then surely they should be expected to perform as a 'road bike' product should.

Cheers
Ben

[northwind]

As for rust, cast iron discs are always going to rust, it's just a side effect of the material. That definately isn't a fault.

Don't agree that the waveys for sale are meant for street use only- they're certainly not marketed that way. And frankly, race discs will be subjected to massively higher forces than street discs.

IIRC, the reason for "Not for road use" is that fully floating discs were illegal at the time?