I recently picked up an '05 600rr that was used for track days. I, soon after purchase, found symptoms of a warped front rotor. This is no big deal because I knew it was a track bike, but the owner installed new brake pads. My question is (and might be a silly one) will the bent rotors cause improper break-in of the pads and should they be replaced while replacing the rotors?


Thanks ahead of time!

 

How do you know they are warped? Rule out wheel bearings, forks, head bearings?

But to your question - if the rotors are warped, replace both and the pads.

 

Agree with Corruptfile, but you'll usually feel it in the lever if it s a rotor. If its bad enough you'll have to pump the brakes every single time you try to use them, because the bent part of the rotor will push the piston back into the caliper creating a huge gap. And if its really bad you'll hear it when your just riding with out even touching the brakes. I know because I've gone down twice where my rotors got bent in the crash.

 

But you may already know this

 

There's a pulsing vibration that varies by spead, but that isn't quite rotor specific. The reason I think it's the rotors is because when I apply the brakes, I can feel the bike jerk as if I applied more brakes (which also varies by speed)

 

I can't imagine that there is anything wrong with the pads. Just look at them when you take them off. If they look fine and have plenty of material on them, I'd say keep them. Maybe take some sandpaper to the surface for a light scuffing, but that's all. Throwing away $60 worth of brake pads is crazy.

 

you can always tape a very sharp pencil to the forks and push the bike to see if the rotor is warped. but if it pulses by braking harder then soft, that does sound like its bent.
i would keep the pads as well, unless they werent the right temp and grip that you want.

 

I have this exact problem with my bike so I need to get a new disc for my bike as well. The previous owner dropped her and must have bent the disc in the process. Need to pump the brake a couple of time before it grabs