2009 with ABS makes noises and pulses on regular stops

[seventyss]

Wondering if what I'm experiencing is normal. When I apply the front brake I hear a electronic whine and the brakes pulse. The pulse gets more noticeable as more pressure is applied to the lever. Am I wrong to think that the brakes should work like ABS on a car where there isn't any noticeable pulse of the brakes unless you are in a panic stop. The mileage is 7800 and had this feature when I bought the bike with 4600 miles.

 

[wfooshee]

Pulsing might be a rotor problem, but rotor warpage is not a big FJR issue at all.

So, 3200 miles with a bad feeling about the brakes? Really?

 

[cruppelt]

Pulsing might be a rotor problem, but rotor warpage is not a big FJR issue at all.
So, 3200 miles with a bad feeling about the brakes? Really?

Common, give the guy a brake (ahh I mean break of course), it took some guts to admit that.

No, other FJRs, including my 2006 never "pulse", except at a super hard fast stop, and then the ABS pulses so fast it's more like a vibration feel then the old style ABS pulse from 10 plus years ago. There is definitely something wrong with your bike. Rotors might be a rare issue on FJRs, but that would still be what I would start with. Another possible would be some crap in the brake line, which could make the ABS come on early, but like I said it would feel more like vibration with a high pitched whine then slower pulsing. Does the pulsing slow down as the bike slows down? If so, it's not the ABS, but mechanical rotor/wheel based.

 

[ionbeam]

Warranty?

 

[72Duster340]

I have a 2009 and in the two instances where I have had to use the brakes for an emergency stop, for a person taking a left hand turn in front of me, the brakes have never pulsated at all. If you are getting a pulsation and whine of the ABS pump activating on a normal stop there is a problem in the ABS system, possibly a bad sensor or wiring. As Ionbeam said "Warranty?", when was the bike purchased or does it have YES coverage? If it is still under factory warranty have a dealer repair it. If it's out of warranty and you do your own repairs check it out; get a factory service manual, find the pigtail to jumper, put the ABS controller into diagnostic mode, read the codes and start troubleshooting from there. Good luck and let us know what you find wrong.

 

[seventyss]

It seems to me that the pulsing actually is more obvious as the bike is coming to a stop. I notice the electronic noise whenever I apply the brakes. The bike is out of warranty but I do have YES. I don't know if they is a connection but there is a rattle when I hit bumps but it sounds like it's in the upper part of the bike. I have re-torqued the steering bearings but still have the clunk. Thanks for all the help.

 

[Donal]

Does the red ABS warning light come on?

Is it on all the time?

If there is a problem with the wheel speed sensors you would expect some indication

 

[Bounce]

+ with the others. Abs should only pulse when kicking in under max braking. I've had the exact issue you describe on a non abs non FJR bike. It was a warped rotor.

 

[C&C]

I would check for pad/rotor glazing before doing anything drastic. Pull the pads, rough them up a little with some emory cloth and see if this eleviates the pulsations.

 

[wfooshee]

I'm still wondering what the "electronic noise" is.

The ABS pump is a motor, and obviously a motor, which I would not call electronic.

If he's got a squealing noise, maybe there's a pad issue. Worn pads, wrong pad material, something like that.

 

[Patriot]

A couple of folks with pulsing brakes...

Read on the other forum where a guy had over torqued the front wheel bearings and caused this issue. So I r/r'd my front wheel bearings and it seems to be fixed. I would have never believed it. It felt great on a short ride around a few blocks, still need to take it on a longer ride...use the torque wrench dummy...

fixed by replacing the wheel bearings and properly torqueing everything to install the front wheel...

 

[majicmaker]

A couple of folks with pulsing brakes...
Read on the other forum where a guy had over torqued the front wheel bearings and caused this issue. So I r/r'd my front wheel bearings and it seems to be fixed. I would have never believed it. It felt great on a short ride around a few blocks, still need to take it on a longer ride...use the torque wrench dummy...

fixed by replacing the wheel bearings and properly torqueing everything to install the front wheel...

Interesting!!