northbay
Big Wheel
Hello COG! I just signed up to COG. Sorry about this long post, but I need some seasoned Concours owners to comment on my situation and want to give all the info I can.
I have a 2009 C14 non ABS, owned for a year. Bought new in May 2010, it was a left over model. I have about 11K miles on it. Started hearing metal to metal noise like worn brake pads, but thought no way can this bike have worn pads so soon. Took the pads off and sure enough the outboard pads on the right front caliper were worn to the metal. All of the other pads had lots of mileage left in them. Thought there must be something wrong with the caliper. I was able to push all of the pistons in with my thumb, so they weren't stuck. Went to the dealer to discuss. I never felt dragging brakes or any other brake issues. I've owned lots of bikes and never have seen pads wear out this fast. Service writer asked if I had flushed the brake fluid. I told him no, didn't think that was required on a bike only a year in use. He suggested I flush the brake fluid and put on another set of pads (btw OEM front pads are $140!). I want the problem fixed and don't want to buy $140 pad set only to have them do the same thing. I asked if this was a known issue on the Concours and he said no. I looked in the factory service manual and sure enough it says:
Caliper Fluid Seal Damage
The fluid seal (piston seal) [A] is placed around the piston
to maintain clearance between the pad and the disc. If
the seal is in a poor condition, it could lead the pad to wear
excessively or the brake to drag, which may cause the temperature
of the discs or the brake fluid to increase.
•Replace the fluid seal if it exhibits any of the conditions
listed below.
○Brake fluid leakage around the pad.
○Brakes overheat.
○Considerable difference in inner and outer pad wear.
○Seal and piston are stuck together.
So I'm going to replace all of the piston fluid seals and dust seals and flush the brake fluid and, of course, replace the pads.
My questions are this:
If this is not a known issue, why is it mentioned in the factory service manual?
Have any of you experienced the same issue?
Do you think any of this should be covered under warranty? (from what I've read on forums before, motorcycle warranties are worthless as the dealers just make excuses why your problems are not a warrantied item)
Thanks for your advice / opinions,
northbay
I have a 2009 C14 non ABS, owned for a year. Bought new in May 2010, it was a left over model. I have about 11K miles on it. Started hearing metal to metal noise like worn brake pads, but thought no way can this bike have worn pads so soon. Took the pads off and sure enough the outboard pads on the right front caliper were worn to the metal. All of the other pads had lots of mileage left in them. Thought there must be something wrong with the caliper. I was able to push all of the pistons in with my thumb, so they weren't stuck. Went to the dealer to discuss. I never felt dragging brakes or any other brake issues. I've owned lots of bikes and never have seen pads wear out this fast. Service writer asked if I had flushed the brake fluid. I told him no, didn't think that was required on a bike only a year in use. He suggested I flush the brake fluid and put on another set of pads (btw OEM front pads are $140!). I want the problem fixed and don't want to buy $140 pad set only to have them do the same thing. I asked if this was a known issue on the Concours and he said no. I looked in the factory service manual and sure enough it says:
Caliper Fluid Seal Damage
The fluid seal (piston seal) [A] is placed around the piston
to maintain clearance between the pad and the disc. If
the seal is in a poor condition, it could lead the pad to wear
excessively or the brake to drag, which may cause the temperature
of the discs or the brake fluid to increase.
•Replace the fluid seal if it exhibits any of the conditions
listed below.
○Brake fluid leakage around the pad.
○Brakes overheat.
○Considerable difference in inner and outer pad wear.
○Seal and piston are stuck together.
So I'm going to replace all of the piston fluid seals and dust seals and flush the brake fluid and, of course, replace the pads.
My questions are this:
If this is not a known issue, why is it mentioned in the factory service manual?
Have any of you experienced the same issue?
Do you think any of this should be covered under warranty? (from what I've read on forums before, motorcycle warranties are worthless as the dealers just make excuses why your problems are not a warrantied item)
Thanks for your advice / opinions,
northbay