Rear break chatter

I have an '06 non abs VFR with 6300 mostly highway miles. I first noticed some brake chatter at around 2000 miles. It's always on smooth surface from 10 to 0 mph. Early on it would only do this so often but recently I can make the bike do it at will. I know it's not the road surface because it happens when I pull into my garage also. It feels like I'm going over those rumble strips along and interstate when I use just the rear brake. The pads are good and as usual the Honda dealer in my area has no suggestions except replace the pads and replace brake fluid. My concern is spending $300 in the service dept. when I don't think the pads or fluid are the problem. I have not taken the rotor off yet but I wouldn't think it to be warpped. Has anyone else had trouble with this? Any suggestions? Could it be the LBS? Any help would be much appreciated.

 

The rumble strip description would tend to indicate a warped rotor. This often would feel like the same as you pulsing the brake, but at a much higher speed. You might want to check it for runout with a dial gauge and make sure it is in spec.

Bleeding the brakes isn't going to do anything to help the situation.

 

If the rotor is the problem what brands and web sites should I consider?

 

Galfer is probably the most available, unless you want to put the OEM back on.

 

I noticed the exact same thing today on my ride to work (06 as well). I thought that I had hit some rumble strips but when I looked in the mirrors there was nothing there. I tried later to replicate it but it didn't happen again. Let me know what you find out. I'm going to check a few things tonight when I get home.

 

Sometimes it's not the rotor actually 'warping', but the pads leaving an uneven deposit on the rotor. This happens sometimes on cars especially if a long hard stop is made and then left the brake engaged while stopped.

 

Porcupine
What do you suggest to do if you are right about pad deposits? Would spraying brake cleaner on the disc help? This is the only bike I've owned with LBS, but I've never felt this before on any of the last 10 disc brake bikes I have owned. And my riding style has not changed. The longer I have this bike the less I care for the LBS. Too bad it's not and option. The bike is still under warranty but I just know my dealer with only replace "wearable items" which are not covered and I will have the same issue again. Modern bikes are becoming as frustrating to wrench on as modern cars!

 

I'm not sure, pretty much I was thinking of this cage article in that post: StopTech : Balanced Brake Upgrades