Originally Posted by
hayden52
Those cutouts are to eliminate or reduce brake fade when the rotors get hot enough to outgas organic material from the pads. Without the cutouts, the vapors from outgassing would create a low friction barrier between the pad and the rotor, reducing braking ability. I doubt these are the source of your problem, as the brake pads are chamfered at the edges to avoid this. More likely, your rotors are glazed and they are chattering. Try to roughen the surface with some steel wool (without soap).
Seems like quite the claim considering that automobile disc brakes are smooth unless it’s a Porsche or something. Motorcycles seem to have them, but even then, not on every one.
My mountain bike plus me and a pack still comes in way under 200lbs.
I can try some steel wool but it sure feels like a design problem. The chattering brake I had made the entire bike vibrate once it warmed up, this is totally different.