Brake fade?

[Itchy]

Any way to prevent it or minimise it? ,its not a case of harsh over braking since I plan well in traffic and try to
keep moving at all times. my NTV seems to be suffering from it slightly recently , its not like Toby R brake fade
ie right up to the bar and its not doing anything, my discs are not warped and my pads in good condition , and
my brake fluid isn't cooking off either. I didn't notice it last year at all.

Or is it just a case of in summer its always been like that and you've only really realised it because you have a
shiney newer floating dual disc CBR sitting at home to compare it against which has very very sharp brakes. which
is possible since my GT550 felt a bit like that when I first got the NTV.

Any thoughts?

Ta
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Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[Rookie]

As far as I know, the only way to reduce it is by buying wavey discs. The Thundercat suffers a bit from it as well, and I just had the calipers overhauled and new pads fitted. Every now and then when I've been braking heavily it's just not quite as responsive. But it's never bad enough that it becomes dangerous, so I live with it. Oh and I'm getting some braided lines fitted, but whether they'll help with fade I don't know.

[mr jamez]

Try a different pad compund. Also if the lines are the original rubber items and are past their best they will expand even more due to the heat caused by heavy braking.
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[Walloper]

Brake fade on discs brake systems is not as severe as drums.
This means the drum expands due to heat and moves away from the shoe so the lever moves to compensate for the loss.

Disc brake 'fade' is a different thing.

This is down to fric

Changing/Upgrading the pad material used is the quickest route as suggested.

Also consider braided hoses.
Liquids (brake fluid) transmit force equally in all directions This pushes the pads onto the disc but also expands the rubber in the hoses. Which absorbs some of the brake lever effect.

Braided hoses are rubber re-inforced with steel wire braid and will remove some of the sponge feel. But they can reduce the fine control during light braking. You get used to it though.

I hope you didn't know all that?

Tip:
Don't go so bloody fast and you wont need to stop as hard
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[curryfishball]

sometimes if the brake fluid is too old it could have an impact. try changing that as well.
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[timjim]

id agree with all the above replys so far..start of with the cheap repairs first, fit braided hoses,change the brake fluid as due to its moisture absorbing properties(its called hygroscopic..but not sure 100% on spelling) and if the fluid is too contaminated,the fluid can actually boil inthe lines,try a different pad compound..i tried EBC HH compounds but found them too unforgiving on the discs so changed them to DP sintered metals..available from,what used to be called Motorcycle City and is now called Infinity,Carcone Lorraine have also had good reviews..i cant comment on what effect wave discs would have as i only have a rear wave disc fitted at present

[Syx]

Hygroscopic is right

[Kickstart]

Hi

Fade is due to heat. Sometimes from boiling the fluid, possible with basic DOT 3, but most likely only if you the fluid is old and has absorbed some water (which will boil at a far lower temperature).

Most likely from the pads getting way too hot.

Wavey disks might help, but not by much. You need to be using a pad with a suitable heat range for the use.

Surprised about the comment on the Thundercat brakes. They certainly shouldn't suffer from fade.

Braided hoses are unlikely to help much with fade, except for you changing the fluid at the same time. Sure there might be a tiny bit less expansion, but for that to have any real impact the brakes would need to be so bad that the lever was almost back to the bars.

All the best

Keith
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[gmanxiii]

sorry slightly off topic but how are you supposed to dispose of brake fluid? i mean responsibly
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[Kickstart]

[Rookie]

[timjim]

ask politely at your local garage or take it to your local tip in a clearly labelled container.

[Kickstart]

Hi

What pads have you used?

Think the Thundercat uses smaller disks, but then it should weigh less and be going a lot slower.

I would be more inclined to try better pads / bleeding them again before bothering swapping the disks or anything like that.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Walloper]

[Walloper]