Looking for your personal opinions, Ive just bought a set of replica brembo disks to replace the ones on my 888, The ones on my bike are cast iron, The firm that make these no longer make them in iron so ive went for them with the stainless rotors, Just been thinking and what would your thoughts be on removing the new stainless rotors and fitting my old cast iron rotors to my new carriers? These new disks are meant to be exact copies, My old iron rotors measure 4.92mm thick( probably 5.5mm new?) Reading up loads on this and looks like its only the aluminium carriers that wear and not the iron rotors, Would you guys stick with the new rotors or swap ( if all sizes stack up ) so I'm still with the iron, Braking performance I'm sure will be great with the stainless so the decision is for looks, I just cant make up my mind and would appreciate what you lot think
So maybe stick with the new stainless rotors and get myself some new sintered pads?? Probably the best idea, Cheers for your impute Sev
Its was always my understanding, back when cast Iron disks were common & current that they offered superior braking power and feel to stainless. The issue was that people find the almost instant rusting as an asthetic problem. Personally i would stick with Iron if at all possible. Your more informed replies have brought up an issue that i would not even have imagined , that of potential supply shortage of suitable pads. There are a lot of bikes still about with iron disks though so it might not be a problem after all. Good luck whichever way you go.
The surface rust that appears fairly quick isn't a problem, The main reason ide like to stick with iron is that I like the way they look, As far as I know its organic pads you use with the iron rotors???, Like you say theres still decent organic pads on the market,
Yes iron discs offer superior stopping power compared with stainless discs due to exceptional heat dispersal qualities. The only downside is residual retention of water that iron retains compared to steels containing modern chromium structures. Yes they rust at alarming rates in areas that are not humidity controlled and so most who keep their machines in garages subside to corrosion of said discs. Most pads are suitable for iron discs and it is not a problem using them although carbon pads do not adhere to them given the high content of carbon which promotes Glazing of the surface, which eventually causes a heat barrier to which the discs can no longer create a path to dissipate the heat transfer.
a bit rusty myself but wasn't aware that pad availability suitable for cast iron discs was a problem yet? If you are happy that dimensionally everything is ok as regards a new rotor/'old' disc swap, then I would have no hesitation myself.
