No more rear brake squeal

[ArthurKnowles]

Ah, the sound of nothing. :) That's what my rear brake sounds like now since SD BMW replaced the rear rotor under a warrenty service bulletin. The 5 button rotor definitely makes a difference. At least it does now. I've only put 50 miles on it and am bedding in the rear brake slowly.

I'm heading out this Saturday for a 4 hour ride with the SO, so we'll get a chance to see how she feels about it. She's the one that had to listen to it more than I did.

[cfell]

Hope it stays "fixed"!!!

[Hollywood]

Ah, the sound of nothing. :) That's what my rear brake sounds like now since SD BMW replaced the rear rotor under a warrenty service bulletin. The 5 button rotor definitely makes a difference. At least it does now. I've only put 50 miles on it and am bedding in the rear brake slowly.

I'm heading out this Saturday for a 4 hour ride with the SO, so we'll get a chance to see how she feels about it. She's the one that had to listen to it more than I did.
Ok, here is the thing. We have all known about this rear rotor noise for some time now. BMW knows that, they issue a bulletin March of this year to address this issue. But, if your bike is out of factory warranty they say, too bad!

What can we do? The rear rotor problem has always been a problem, they should fix it regardless of the year of the bike.

[lnowell]

How long has the 'five button' rotor been available? My rotor was supposedly replaced under warranty to fix the cow bell - but alas - it was not really replaced - the retaining clip was bent by the dealer to keep the pads against the rotor to keep it from clanging. When the clip was straighted back out to allow the rear wheel to turn (bike could not be pushed backward because of the friction of the pads against the rotor), the cow bell was back.

[beemer100]

Ok, here is the thing. We have all known about this rear rotor noise for some time now. BMW knows that, they issue a bulletin March of this year to address this issue. But, if your bike is out of factory warranty they say, too bad!

What can we do? The rear rotor problem has always been a problem, they should fix it regardless of the year of the bike.

If the dealers are saying they won't replace the rotor if a bike is out of warranty, that's BS. As you say, this is a recent bulletin and the year of bike should have no bearing on the recognized fault and I agree, this should apply to all the LT's covered under the bulletin, regardless of year model.

[joevano]

Ah, the sound of nothing. :) That's what my rear brake sounds like now since SD BMW replaced the rear rotor under a warrenty service bulletin. The 5 button rotor definitely makes a difference. At least it does now. I've only put 50 miles on it and am bedding in the rear brake slowly.

I'm heading out this Saturday for a 4 hour ride with the SO, so we'll get a chance to see how she feels about it. She's the one that had to listen to it more than I did.

I've read that you don't want to bed the brakes in slowly, that will cause squeeling. Check this out http://www.stoptech.com/tech_info/wp_bedintheory.shtml

[KIC]

Here's another article on it that has a lot of interesting information. :bike:

[ArthurKnowles]

Thanks for the articles. I've seen them before, or their like, but am not about to do something like that on just the rear brakes alone. I'll bed them in slowly. That method has always worked well for me and given good longevity and zero risk of burining a rotor, glazing a pad, etc.

Besides, I expect BMW would consider that method abuse if anythign turned up wrong while the motorcycle is still under warrenty.

As for BMW stepping up to the plate, well consider that my North County service manager thinks Service Bulletins are "repair ideas not recalls" (why I went to my dealer I ourchased the LT form instead even though they are furhter away) and you get the idea that something is going on in the warrenty arena. Or some dealers just don't want to do warrenty work (maybe because it doesn't pay as wellas regular service work). I'd suggest using the SB as a means to see if you can get yours replaced by BMW NA. It is at least an acknowledgement of a problem and a potential solution. Maybe you can get it done for free or at half price if you are willing to negotiate and/or be resonable.

[michman]

Where would do you find the "bulletin"? I need ammo...

[cws]

That interesting news.

Had my 40k (km) service done the other day by the dealer i bought bike from, and mentioned I wanted the rear rotor checked. It had been replaced under warranty once before for "too much play" by another dealer, and seemed to be pretty loose again.
They found it had too much play again, and also a bolt missing (?).
So, new rotor on order from Germany.

Has me wondering now whether they were just responding to the service bulletin, even though I'm carrying an extended warranty?

Hope I get the benefit of "quietness" from this new rotor too! :cool:

[roadking04]

Does any body have the new service bulletin number?

[ArthurKnowles]

The SB number should be 34 003 08 (013). It was also posted on a previous thread about brakes just a week or two ago along with more relavant information (including pictures of the rotor styles).

[cws]

Arthur, just did a quick search but couldn't find that thread/post.
Any chance you (or anyone else) could find a link to it, would love to see the pics before mine gets swapped out again...
cheers

[ArthurKnowles]

Here ya go ...

http://www.bmwlt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35541

[cws]

Great, thanks Arthur. I've just emailed my dealer to make sure I get the new goodies. :D
cheers

[Hackercraft792]

I don't know if this applies to the LT but I found it on a K75S site and thought I would throw it out for discussion.

Brake Quieting Shims:
BMW brake pad shims (BMW car part No. 34 21 116 006) installed between the pads and caliper pistons silence the last little squeaks of the already quiet Ferodo brake pads. The shims are available at any BMW car dealer.

This writer was quite happy with the Ferodo brake pads, does anyone have experience with these

[Hallen12]

Riding a 2006 K1200LT, new 8/31/06, 12,400 mi as of 5/19/08. Don't mind the squeal, but I do mind the excessive rear rotor wear. At 12K & biennial maint 4/08 had rear pads replaced (50% gone).

Now using just front caliper which with integrated braking system gives mostly FB, and some RB. Use RB when I need extra braking, and at end of braking cycle coming to a stop, just to maintain RB habit.

Questions:

What is a "button"? Is this synonymous with "pad"?
How many does the original RB have? Four?
Does 5-button RB decrease rotor wear, or just stop squeal?
Does 5-button RB increase stopping performance?