Damaged Brake Rotor, Mechanic in Ufa?

[MCole]

I've managed to bend my front brake rotor pretty good in Ufa, I think the caliper isn't damaged, but am not 100% sure at this point. Does anyone know a mechanic in Ufa that could take a look at it and attempt to straighten the rotor?

More importantly - is this something that is safe to straighten and ride on? Or do I need to order a new one? I will probably have to order it from Europe and have heard the horror stories about Russian customs.

I ride a Triumph Scrambler, there is an aftermarket EBC rotor that will fit and there are supposedly two EBC dealers in Russia. I'm trying to contact them, but I imagine they won't have anything in stock.

Thanks for any advice!

[MCole]

To answer my own question - I managed to find a motorcycle club in Ufa. They have a garage and were helpful, but they're riders first, not professional mechanics. There is also a motorcycle/ATV type store here, but I've been warned against going to them by multiple people.

Eventually managed to find another motorcycle mechanic here in Ufa, Andrei. He has a clean, well organized shop and definitely seems to know what he is doing. He knows someone who is a foreman or something in an aviation factory in Ufa and he is confident they can repair the disk there tomorrow. If that doesn't work we'll explore other options. I'll send the GPS coordinates of Andrei's shop to Colebatch.

[colebatch]

Originally Posted by MCole

To answer my own question - I managed to find a motorcycle club in Ufa. They have a garage and were helpful, but they're riders first, not professional mechanics. There is also a motorcycle/ATV type store here, but I've been warned against going to them by multiple people.

Eventually managed to find another motorcycle mechanic here in Ufa, Andrei. He has a clean, well organized shop and definitely seems to know what he is doing. He knows someone who is a foreman or something in an aviation factory in Ufa and he is confident they can repair the disk there tomorrow. If that doesn't work we'll explore other options. I'll send the GPS coordinates of Andrei's shop to Colebatch.

I am no brake disc expert, but if there is someone who works in an aviation factory there, I would try to get a new disc made.

If you try an straighten a bent disc, and then machine it down to be properly flat, there is still going to be tension in the metal that shouldnt be there, and may appear under stress or under heating up due to use. Not to mention that once you re-machine the disc, it will probably be too thin to safely use.

As long as they can get a hold of some brake disc steel, then I think it will be no problem to have a disc machined up. Its easy enough for a metal worker ('metalist' in Russian). It will be heavier than stock (as it wont be patterned and probably not drilled, but the metal will not be under tension and it should do a perfectly good job until you get back home). i.e. a new disc will give you peace of mind

PS, thanks vm for repair facility co-ordinates. These are extremely useful for other travellers

[DEAN Rus]

Originally Posted by MCole

he is confident they can repair the disk there tomorrow.

I rode 60000km on CBR1100xx on a repaired brake disk. Without any problem.
Do not worry - it will work. Anything bent can be unbent.

[MCole]

Originally Posted by colebatch

I am no brake disc expert, but if there is someone who works in an aviation factory there, I would try to get a new disc made.

This is what is actually happening - they took the disc to the factory yesterday, tested the metal and decided to make a new one. Should be ready today, we'll see how it works out. Only in Russia could you find someone willing to make you a brake rotor in a factory that manufactures jet engines for fighter planes...

[colebatch]

i had a set of brake pads made from jet fighter brake pads once in Russia.

They traced out my brake pads from a set of sukhoi jet fighter brake pads ... the cut them out, drilled them , and ground them down to make them thinner.

They were HARD!

[MCole]

Well things didn't work out as planned... The date the new disc would be ready kept getting pushed back, finally the "new" disc was ready - it was my old disc, somewhat straightened and machined - even that wasn't done well, however, the width of the disc varied over 2/10mm. I could have done better with a grinder myself. They couldn't find the metal to make a new disc. Bit frustrating because it is clear that either the guy at the factory or Andrei knew this very early on, but it was never communicated to me even though I had explicitly explained I didn't want to risk using the old disc. In the two weeks I wasted I probably could have received a shipped disc faster.

So not quite sure I'm ready to recommend Andrei at this point. In any event I will have an aftermarket disc Wednesday, the delay hasn't been too bad though as there is an ample supply of in Ufa and I met some charming Russian girls