Is anyone using the Girling floating/slotted brake rotor? Having issues.

gpzkat

gpzkat

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Sep 15, 2020
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I have a disc brake front end from an early Commando on my N15CS. The forks are the long N15 Roadholders and the lowers are Commando, I checked dimensionally identical prior to assembling and all seems just fine except....

I purchased one of these Girlings and the rivets foul the bottom of the caliper as shown. Very odd and disappointing, since it is dimensionally the same, bolt pattern is right, etc. except for this one area. There's no way that rotor or caliper can be mounted wrong, and the part number it says it replaces is the exact same disc as what I have, 06-1885, from lookup on Andover etc. See pics, bottom arrow shows interference.

Is anyone using the Girling floating/slotted brake rotor? Having issues.


Is anyone using the Girling floating/slotted brake rotor? Having issues.


Is anyone using the Girling floating/slotted brake rotor? Having issues.
 
Seems like many aftermarket items of the day "some fitting required" Does look good and has to save a lot of weight!
 
Be very, very careful. I had a disc from a well known manufacturer that used the same style “E” clips to lock the pins in place….one failed and only heat/inert kept it in place…until,pulling away after sittping at traffic lights , the pin migrated and hit the caliper , fracur the disc, carrier etc…SO LUCKY …Dread to think of consequences at speed. I now use RTV 3145 - nin corrosive adhesive sealant to lock E clip in place.
 
Were they designed to run with the AP style calliper, I think they covered a bit less of the disc?
 
ntst8 said:
Were they designed to run with the AP style calliper, I think they covered a bit less of the disc?
Click to expand...
The adverts I've seen say they are replacement for 06-6595 06-1885, that's all. I'm checking with the seller who has sent an email to the supplier.

It's so close to being able to clear, maybe 1/16 of an inch and in an area that would be easy to mod. But it just feels wrong to have to resort to that. I will post what I find out, it's a very nice piece, I was going to have mine resurfaced (Blanchard ground) but the labor was nearly as much as this one cost new.
 
TBW said:
Be very, very careful. I had a disc from a well known manufacturer that used the same style “E” clips to lock the pins in place….one failed and only heat/inert kept it in place…until,pulling away after sittping at traffic lights , the pin migrated and hit the caliper , fracur the disc, carrier etc…SO LUCKY …Dread to think of consequences at speed. I now use RTV 3145 - nin corrosive adhesive sealant to lock E clip in place.
Click to expand...
I think I can guess the shop you got it from
 
I ran into the same problem. I carefully filed the caliper 45 - 60 degrees on either side a few thou's and it works well. I removed the wheel and blacked the caliper with a Sharpie marker to see what I had to remove + a bit more for heat expansion. I used a fine file and removed a little off the leg also as it was very close. By using a fine file it was easy to clean up the file marks and a little polishing it was good to go. It took about an hour.
 
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That’s pretty disappointing from a quality company such as Girling ( presumably Wassel ) as you say it would be easy to take a bit off the caliper, however the real problem would be the tangs on the pads tearing the clips off once the pads have worn down. These should all be recalled.
 
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not the first “replica” product to cause problems. Various famous old trade names have been bought up in the UK. You have been warned.
 
Norvil used to offer a lightweight 10.7 disc (not sure if it was 'floating' though) but it was advertised as Mk3 rear only and for use with: 'racing' caliper....
 
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I have limited experience with the company now using the Girling name (we must remember that this is the case and new Firling has no relationship to old Girling).

I bought their calipers and could not get them to work. The seals seemed stronger at retracting the pistons than the lever could overcome, making bleeding impossible. Obviously there is a way as others do use them, but the experience put me off, reinforcing my old fashioned / stubborn snobbery that brakes and braking components are best procured from expert brake / braking component manufacturers.
 
TBW said:
Be very, very careful. I had a disc from a well known manufacturer that used the same style “E” clips to lock the pins in place….one failed and only heat/inert kept it in place…until,pulling away after sittping at traffic lights , the pin migrated and hit the caliper , fracur the disc, carrier etc…SO LUCKY …Dread to think of consequences at speed. I now use RTV 3145 - nin corrosive adhesive sealant to lock E clip in place.
Click to expand...

Funnily enough, I have just purchased a Brembo twin disc / 4 pot caliper kit for another bike and the clips have a dab of epoxy adhesive on them as supplied…
 
Back in the day you had to rectify the many shortcomings of the bike as purchased. Maybe we haven't moved forward as much as we wish to think.
 
I guess it must be a new product and no direct experience. That's OK I'll sort things out and post here what comes of it for future reference.

Edit: Oops Curt13 thank you. That makes sense, I missed your post.
 
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cliffa said:
That’s pretty disappointing from a quality company such as Girling ( presumably Wassel ) as you say it would be pretty easy to take a bit off the caliper, however the real problem would be the tangs on the pads tearing the clips off once the pads have worn down. These should all be recalled.
Click to expand...
The tang looks like it would also need a shave. Yeah it is disappointing, stuff advertised as bolt on should, well, bolt on.
 
baz said:
I think I can guess the shop you got it from
Click to expand...

What really disappointed me was their attitude when I informed them -photos and all- of the latent failur and repercussions . It was “ you bought it several years ago, anything could have been done to it “. It could be a 1 in 10,000 or whatever failure rate but it would be Fatal for the person riding…no acceptance of possible design change!
 
Fast Eddie said:
Funnily enough, I have just purchased a Brembo twin disc / 4 pot caliper kit for another bike and the clips have a dab of epoxy adhesive on them as supplied…
Click to expand...
Funny that…pity the supplier I used could ( wouldn’t ) accept ANY disc on improvement.
 
What is the dia of the disc? it looks like the caliper is not sat fully out on the radius of the disc,
 
Holland Norton Works, however, sells the Girling disc?? (I'm not disagreeing with gpzkat):

exclusive Commando parts | Holland Norton Works

www.hollandnortonworks.eu www.hollandnortonworks.eu

"Upgrade kit for the standard disc brake system includes a Girling full floating stainless disc with black anodised billet aluminium centre, pair Ferodo Platinum brake pads, Goodridge stainless brake line #H25.
This kit is a direct replacement for the massive cast iron brake disc, standard brake pads and spongy rubber brake hose. The kit will fit both front and rear (Commando 850MK3). Kit parts are also available separately."


Is anyone using the Girling floating/slotted brake rotor? Having issues.
 
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