QuestionHi Mike,
I've been having a problem with the front brake on my 02 Kawasaki ZZ-R1200 (6000 miles), ever since I removed the front wheel and had the tire replaced. As you lighten up on the front brake while trying to gently roll to a smooth stop, the brake starts to howl (not squeal) for the last twenty feet or so leading up to the stop. It seems like there might be an alignment issue that's triggering a vibration which results in the howling noise, but I can't feel it through the bars, and the brake is otherwise quiet with no sense of problems even under hard braking from high speed.
The tire was changed by an auto tire store that sells about 100 MC tires per year. I took them the wheel and repeatedly expressed, "don't lay it down on the rotors". I believe they they did a good job.
Me on the other hand, I had to search to find an Allen wrench big enough to remove the front axle. As I recall, the nut end is 17mm, and the axle (bolt) end is 23mm. The biggest wrench I could find was a 17mm at Sears, so I had to remove and re-install the axle from the nut end, with the pinch bolts still tight on the axle end. This is the opposite of the way the manual describes. I also couldn't torque it to spec, although I was able to torque the calipers to spec.
My question is, will taking the bike into the shop to have the wheel properly torqued correct this problem, or could there be something ese going on?
Thanks,
Gary
AnswerHi Gary,
Gary: My question is, will taking the bike into the shop to have the wheel properly torqued correct this problem, or could there be something ese going on?
Mark: My advice is have the wheel removed and reinstalled with axle torqued and investigate further. I believe the fix is simple, just have to work it via process of elimination. You're on the scientific answer: -Howling as if rubbing your finger aound the rim of a glass of water causing sound. Low frequency vibes, or pads not seating squarely against the rotors.
Respectfully,
Mark Shively
