Author Topic: Cali 1400 touring front brake disc issue  (Read 4680 times)

Offline gwb_mg

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Cali 1400 touring front brake disc issue
« on: November 01, 2015, 11:15:13 AM »
Has anyone had a problem with the front discs warping?
2014 Cali Touring (current)
1984 Cali II "Auto" (current)
1980 Convert (current)
1976 Convert
1981 Convert
2002 Cali EV Touring (back in Boston)
2004 Aprilia RSV 1000 R Factory (back in Boston)

Offline Wissing

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Offline AH Fan

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Re: Cali 1400 touring front brake disc issue
« Reply #2 on: November 01, 2015, 01:26:27 PM »
Yes................ ...

Ciao

Offline gwb_mg

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Re: Cali 1400 touring front brake disc issue
« Reply #3 on: November 01, 2015, 10:29:34 PM »
Yes...................

Ciao
What was the outcome?
2014 Cali Touring (current)
1984 Cali II "Auto" (current)
1980 Convert (current)
1976 Convert
1981 Convert
2002 Cali EV Touring (back in Boston)
2004 Aprilia RSV 1000 R Factory (back in Boston)

Wildguzzi.com

Re: Cali 1400 touring front brake disc issue
« Reply #3 on: November 01, 2015, 10:29:34 PM »

Offline gwb_mg

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2014 Cali Touring (current)
1984 Cali II "Auto" (current)
1980 Convert (current)
1976 Convert
1981 Convert
2002 Cali EV Touring (back in Boston)
2004 Aprilia RSV 1000 R Factory (back in Boston)

Offline Jerryd

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Re: Cali 1400 touring front brake disc issue
« Reply #5 on: November 03, 2015, 04:50:50 AM »
It's surprising, or maybe not, that such a simplistic problem exists on such a new design! C'mon!
Jerry
Florida

Offline jones525

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Re: Cali 1400 touring front brake disc issue
« Reply #6 on: November 04, 2015, 09:03:50 PM »
7000+ mi here... Noticed a pulsating when coming to a complete stop recently... Followed the link above, purchased suggested washers, installed, re-torqued to 33lb, problem eliminated.

Offline AH Fan

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Re: Cali 1400 touring front brake disc issue
« Reply #7 on: November 04, 2015, 10:34:08 PM »
Interesting ............. 22000 on mine, second set soon to be third set... both measured.. both sides warped again??  :angry: I ride solo but quickly ....

Have been thinking of trying different pads on the next round?

Ciao

Offline jones525

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Re: Cali 1400 touring front brake disc issue
« Reply #8 on: November 05, 2015, 03:07:31 PM »
Rode 200mi today, problem seems to be gone... it shakes a bunch, clutch in, rolling to a stop. So as much as I can feel the brake pulsing is gone....

Offline gwb_mg

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Re: Cali 1400 touring front brake disc issue
« Reply #9 on: November 07, 2015, 04:50:44 PM »
Interesting ............. 22000 on mine, second set soon to be third set... both measured.. both sides warped again??  :angry: I ride solo but quickly ....

Have been thinking of trying different pads on the next round?

Ciao
Is warranty taking care of it?
2014 Cali Touring (current)
1984 Cali II "Auto" (current)
1980 Convert (current)
1976 Convert
1981 Convert
2002 Cali EV Touring (back in Boston)
2004 Aprilia RSV 1000 R Factory (back in Boston)

Offline lucky

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Re: Cali 1400 touring front brake disc issue
« Reply #10 on: December 06, 2021, 08:07:28 AM »
This last summer I bought a gorgeous 2014 California Touring, my seventh Guzzi (Ambo, 850T, Mille GT, V11S, Stelvio, Griso 1100) and I love it.  However, it has the pulsing front brakes, not fatal but certainly annoying in the context of its otherwise impeccable good manners.

I notice that this thread from way back has a link that purports to have the cure . . . but the link seems to be dead:

http://guzzicalifornia.forumcircle.com/viewtopic.php?t=30

Does anyone know where the link went, what the cure was, etc. etc.

Any help greatly appreciated!

Offline lucian

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Re: Cali 1400 touring front brake disc issue
« Reply #11 on: December 06, 2021, 08:47:21 AM »
I had the pulsing front rotor issue on my 1400 custom. The first thing I tried is adding some washers beneath the calipers on the bolts to essentially shim or elevate the calipers slightly. This is to prevent the very bottom of the pads from wiping ever so slightly the spokes on the rotor discs which some thought was causing the pulse. Good theory but it did not eliminate it entirely for me. What did cure it was chucking an easy out in a battery drill and sticking it in the bobbins that the rotor discs float on and giving them a spin while squirting with some brake clean solvent.  They get gunked up with dust dirt ect. and cease to float as they should.   No more pulse and when it returns it's time to clean them up again.  Of course some have had truly warped rotors and that should be ruled out first. If you can get the front wheel off the ground a give it a spin watch the rotor  clearance as it travels through the pads and if they are warped you'll see it. They can warp in either direction radially or axially though the latter is the most common .


 

Offline lucky

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Re: Cali 1400 touring front brake disc issue
« Reply #12 on: December 06, 2021, 09:42:43 AM »
Thank you, Lucian - I currently have the rear wheel up in the air for a new tyre, but when I get the chance to elevate the front I will give that a try.  I'm encouraged that this fixed it for you.

Offline vintagehoarder

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Re: Cali 1400 touring front brake disc issue
« Reply #13 on: December 06, 2021, 12:22:32 PM »
Replaced mine with Epta's EP117L, problem solved.  The stock one are thin for such a big bike, and I am heavy front braker.  Solved the problem for me.
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Offline Tom

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Re: Cali 1400 touring front brake disc issue
« Reply #15 on: December 07, 2021, 01:43:14 PM »
Lucian has the answer on the floating rotors having to float.   :thumb:
From the Deep Deep South out in left field.  There are no stupid questions.  There are however stupid people asking questions.  🤣, this includes me.  😉

Offline throbenotoid

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Re: Cali 1400 touring front brake disc issue
« Reply #16 on: August 14, 2022, 12:26:00 PM »
I'm a new owner of a 2014 Cali 1400 Tourer, just a lovely bike.  I too have experienced the front end shudder of braking ONLY as I approach a full stop - begins at walking speed, up until a full stop.  The bike has 13k miles on the clock.  I started by replacing the front brake pads with Brembo pads.  Didn't help.  Then I came upon the suggestion of shimming up the calipers just a hair with a washer, to reposition the contact patch between pad and rotor.  Didn't help.  Then I used brake cleaner and an easy-out/screw extractor to spin the floating bobbins while spraying brake cleaner into the joint.  Seemed to help a little, but only for a short time.  I'm guessing the last resort is new rotors, but I hate the idea of spending $700 on the uprated rotors without the certainty of knowing this is the only fix left, and that new rotors will solve the problem.  Any new ideas on this subject?

Offline kballowe

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Re: Cali 1400 touring front brake disc issue
« Reply #17 on: August 14, 2022, 02:36:38 PM »
Has anyone had a problem with the front discs warping?

Yes, and my solution is to spin/clean the spindles on those floating rotors and then work them rotors over with some 220 grit sandpaper - just where the brake pads contact them.  Both sides, inside and out.  THAT seems to help, but never completely eliminates the issue.

We've owned 5 Guzzis in a row that had this issue.   


Offline lucky

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Re: Cali 1400 touring front brake disc issue
« Reply #18 on: August 14, 2022, 03:28:32 PM »
I had the same issue (see thread) and following Vintagehoarder's lead, ordered the Epta's EP117L and Epta EP117R and same thing . . . problem completely solved.

Complete transformation from annoying to fantastic brakes.

Offline throbenotoid

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Re: Cali 1400 touring front brake disc issue
« Reply #19 on: August 28, 2022, 12:55:55 PM »
Researching choices for front disc rotor replacements, I came upon rotors from EBC which were considerably less expensive the the EPT item that members seem to like.  I've used EBC brake pads with no issues in the past, and it's a widely-available brand.  Has anyone here had bad experience with EBC rotors?

Offline throbenotoid

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Re: Cali 1400 touring front brake disc issue
« Reply #20 on: September 11, 2022, 08:03:37 AM »
Well, I bit the bullet and bought a set of ETP front brake rotors.  Installed them yesterday, and all the accolades are true.  The slow-speed shudder is not only gone, but the extra meat on these rotors has improved braking tremendously.  No unnecessary play in brake lever action, no squishiness (I did not bleed the brake line), just a smoother, more linear response to braking.  Btw, the best price I found was at Starcycle.com - $684 for the pair, out the door, including shipping, received in three days.

Offline DougG

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Re: Cali 1400 touring front brake disc issue
« Reply #21 on: September 11, 2022, 01:40:14 PM »
YUP...I have a 2015 and a 2017 Cali 1400.  Both have pulsing front brakes.  Up to now I've just lived with it.  I can't seem to access/download/watch the video, but I'll keep trying.  Thanks for the info.

Be well, stay well,
DougG 
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