I just installed Centramatics on my GL1800 Roadsmith Trike and have a concern...

[mpolissky]

Hi everyone,

Just installed Centramatics on my GL1800 Roadsmith Trike's front wheel this morning and now have a woosh type rubbing sound, which is heard even better at low speeds. Went back to the shop and checked everything again, the wheel installed correctly. Looks like by installing Centramatics, the gap between rotor and brake pads has changed and causes the rubbing.

I called Buckskin who sold me these things and he said it happens sometimes and recommended to ride for few hundred miles and let the brake pads ware out a little and this noise / problem will go away.

Anyone had similar experience? Is it expected and normal? Please let me know.

Thanks,
Michael

[John Luciano]

I have had noisy brake pads. Not familiar of what you are talking about Explain what are they exactly

[Greydog]

If the pads are constantly rubbing on the rotor I would think that the heat build-up due to friction would soon warp the rotor and glaze the pads. You might want to look into a better "fix".........but I don't even know what Centramatics are????

[BlueTrinity]

<font color="black"><span style="font-family: Verdana">I don’t think what you are hearing has anything to do with the brakes </span></font><br />
<br />
<font color="black"><span style="font-family: Verdana">Centramatics were designed for large trucks with constantly changing balance due to extreme operating conditions and there was no particular aerodynamic design incorporated. At speed on a motorcycle, that's one more thing for air to pass over and I suspect you are probably listening to that sound. </span></font><br />
<br />
<font color="black"><span style="font-family: Verdana">The constant centrifugal movement of matter to offset imbalance has been used for years through the insertion of more a viscous material into tubes and tires. Formerly referred to as "Slime", the most common of these materials today is PJ-1 Balance Plus and costs only about $9 or so to do a motorcycle.</span></font><br />
<br />
<font color="black"><span style="font-family: Verdana">I personally do not have enough aversion to wheel weights to buy the mechanical balancing systems. I have however, used the liquid and it does a fantastic job but it's a real mess to deal with when changing today's tubeless tires.</span></font>

[mpolissky]

Centramatic wheel balancers is the new way of balancing the wheels. This video explains the way it works. Many people love it, but I had a problem. Maybe because my brakes/pads are still new...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ullnFQD4F1I&amp;feature=related" target="_blank">YouTube - Centramatic Automatic Wheel Balancers Demonstration</a>

[Gorilla]

What happens at low speed before the centifical force can take place? In the video when the wheel first starts up it does a pretty good bounce before the balancing takes place.

[BlueTrinity]

Unfortunately, that is one of the negative attributes of centrifugal force balancing.
When you come to a stop, the laws of nature prevail and gravity takes over. The weight transfers to the bottom of the tire and you are automatically out of balance again (and it is not just a slight imbalance) until you achieve sufficient rotation of the wheel.

[Jimsjinx]

The forks must be spread apart a slight bit for installation. This is not good for your fork's internal alignment. I have had a long discussion with a very good Goldwing mechanic, and he has already had to repair a couple of fork tubes from this aftermarket item. I was very impressed with his experience,and I would not be comfortable putting them on my trike, or bike. JMO jimsjinx:no: