Front brake shudder !!

[GerryB]

In July I took my red N9 JOB for the Spanish ITV , to get it transferred to Spanish plates .

I drew a clown that day , had no idea about a bike.

Failed for excessive wear on brake pads !!!!!

I went home , took front pads out !!! 3,5 mm ??

Check the new Brembo pads I ordered from Motor Works 4 mm ...

Oh well , fitted them went back for retest , and got a biker doing the test, showed him old pads, rolled his eyes, didn't bother checking the bike and signed it off .

I've ridden about a 1000 miles since then and the front brakes have developed a horrible shudder.

I did everything except suspect the new pads , dial gauge the discs, checked wheel bearings, wheel balance weights , forks , could find nothing wrong.

Re-fitted the old pads, shudder gone !!!

I can't see anything on the pads to indicate why they are shuddering , I'm a little pissed off to be honest .

Buy what the lady at motorworks advised as the best quality pads .... and this ..

[SP250]

Gerry

I have had my 11S since new and I tried a couple of aftermarket sets of pads when I was doing trackdays with the bike.
I got awful shudder with one set and serious fade with another set - sorry can't remember what make they were as they went straight in the bin.
Once I refitted genuine BMW pads all the issues went away and I will not use anything else now.

[Blackal]

Try prepping the pads with a rough sander? Who knows?

[GerryB]

I'm ordering the more expensive pads, I've always liked Goldfren , ever since I was sponsored by them when I raced .

Will look up compatible Goldfren , and try a set .


Thanks for the replies .

[Humbug]

I always use Goldfren in mine, wear reasonably quickly but work well and are reliable. Only brake judder I've had has been wheel bearings, 4 sets in the front now!! Maybe time to look at the spacer and see if its a bit short causing too much lateral pressure on them when the axle is tightened up.

[dark_knight87]

Gerry, you didn't say whether you bled the brake lines or not - air behind a piston can also give you judder?

Regards,
Russ

[GerryB]

Gerry, you didn't say whether you bled the brake lines or not - air behind a piston can also give you judder?

Regards,
Russ

Nope, just put new pads in , didn't need any bleeding , were 100 % with the "excessive" worn pads with half a mm wear.

The shudder has come along gradually , not just suddenly .

This was why i checked every thing before the pads .

With the old pads , back to 100% good brakes again .