Brakes vibrating

[mrbreeze]

My 2012 has started vibrating when I gently apply only the rear brake at low speed. It feels like running over rumble strips. It only happens intermittently, and it goes away if I apply the front brake.

I talked to my mechanic and he said it’s a known problem and there is no fix. He said even Honda can’t figure it out. He thinks it is somehow pulling air into the reservoir on the left fork leg and the bubbles cause the vibration.

Has anyone else experienced this? Is there a cure? I had my pads replaced last year with OEM pads.

[Viking]

Perhaps your mechanic did not properly bleed them, if he is blaming air. I would think that the problem sounded more like a warped rotor, which you can check yourself by lifting the bike's rear wheel and then rotating the wheel by hand to see if there is any rubbing. If not, then perhaps your mechanic is correct that the secondary master cylinder is sucking wind, but it would be a first for me to hear about if it is. Was your bike involved in the recall and replacement of the brake parts, including that secondary master cylinder? If so, once again, I would suspect poor bleeding practices.

[mrbreeze]

This mechanic has never done any work on the brakes on my bike. I bought it used in September of 2017. I had a different shop replace the pads with OEM pads I bought from the Honda dealer last summer, at about 17,000 miles. The brakes have been fine up until now. I am sure if the rotor was warped this guy would know it. He is changing my tires today. I talked to him on the phone a few minutes ago. He said he bled the brakes and got some air out. He said he rode the bike and was unable to reproduce the problem. I didn't think he would be able to because it only happens occasionally. I will be picking the bike up in a couple of hours.

I didn't know there was a recall. How can I check to see if that was done?

Thanks

[mrbreeze]

Isn't Google wonderful?

I went to the nhtsa site and punched in my VIN - 0 recalls associated with this VIN.

So I guess it was done.

[Asphaltmaniac]

Do you have stock mufflers??

[WingAdmin]

I've had vibration in my GL1500 pads like that when the calipers needed rebuilding, and the pistons were retracting improperly. As a result there would be too much free play between the pads and the rotor, and the pads would vibrate as a result. Rebuilding the calipers fixed it.

[baumedagn]

I had the same issue on my 2012 after the recall was done. It only happens when the brakes are hot. Like mountain or parade riding. I had to bleed the system about 4 times to get the air out. It's been fine since then with no more brake chatter.

[cihilb]

It's not a common problem but it does happen to a good many 1800's. There are two other places that air can be trapped in the braking system.
One way to eliminate the shake is to use the front brake along with the rear.
The other is to do the "Rocky" bleed. Some say it does not help but in most cases, it will purge the air bubble that exists in the HIGH spot on the system.
I have the file, but cannot upload a .doc file here.

[mrbreeze]

I picked up the bike from the mechanic last night. I have ridden about 60 miles since without any issues. He said he bled the brakes and got a few bubbles out.

[mrbreeze]

Do you have stock mufflers??

Yes, exhaust is stock

[Asphaltmaniac]

Do you have stock mufflers??

Yes, exhaust is stock

Mine shuddered more (especially in bumper to bumper in summer) when I had an aftermarket exhaust installed that had no heat shield.
Less now after going back to stock exhaust system

[GoldWingrGreg]

I talked to my mechanic and he said it’s a known problem and there is no fix. He said even Honda can’t figure it out. He thinks it is somehow pulling air into the reservoir on the left fork leg and the bubbles cause the vibration.

Your mechanic friend is correct about it being a known complaint. As for his theory, about bubbles causing the vibration he is probably wrong. I'm sure you will find that your issue will only occur on hot days. There are lots of theories into why it is cause, and I've know 3 people to have replace everything on the brake system to only find out that it returns ... sometimes not till next summer.

[Asphaltmaniac]

I figured out a fix for my rear brake shudder...
I'm pushing 23300K on my 06 and maintenance is a fact of life.
I realized I had never replaced the spring pad or retainer on any of my calipers.
So while I was replacing the rear disc with a good used one. I found the retainer
was so loose it would just fall out. So tweaked it to be snug. Then looking at the spring
pad I figured those arms have been applying pressure for many years and countless heat
cycles. Just how long should spring steel last anyway? So tweaked them down 3/8 inch and
Wa-La greatly reduced shudder all around and believe me I'm on the bike every day and its been hot here.
So got new ones and installed almost two weeks ago and no shudder.