Just got a 01 Super Glide this summer. Been noticing that the front brake seems to be always a little engaged. When I am going slow enough (no wind noise), I can hear them scraping. I took the caliper off today, and the caliper appears fine, pads are in great shape, as well as the rotor.

Is there a way to back off the front brake a little, just enough so that there isn't constant friction?

Forgive my ignorance, I am a quick learner, but not a mechanic. I bought the bike to do things just like this so I can learn. Been taking all sorts of things apart, and just learning how they work. Brakes however, can be a little concerning if they don't work while riding.

Thanks for the help!

 

2 sportsters and now my Dyna, they all seem to do that, my friends softail does the same. i can hear it at low speeds only, never caused any problems for me

 

^ Same here on my '97 Wide Glide. Even took it to the HD dealership and they could not correct problem.

 

Good to know guys, thanks! I feel better knowing it's not an issue, and going to lock up one day on the freeway.

 

Get a can of brakkleen and clean it real good. Jack up the front wheel off the ground and give it a spin. If the wheel spins freely you are ok. If the brake is engaged enought to interrupt the free spin of the tire then you need to re-build the caliper or at least bleed the system and pull the caliper off and retract the pistons to see if they stick. If you do this clean around the edges of the pistons to get any foreigh debris out of there.

Me personally? If they stick at all I will just get a rebuilding kit and rebuild them. Not hard to do. I installed speed bleeders on my calipers and bleed them once a year to keep them working freely. Brake calipers will last for many years if you simply clean and bleed them once annually.

 

Install new seals in the caliper. Clean the pistons and DON'T lube them when installing them, just a little brake fluid to ease the piston past the seal. The piston is supposed to deflect the seal slightly when it moves toward the disc, but be held and retracted by the seal, when the pressure is released.
Agree....flush and bleed the brake system yearly. Brake fluid is hygroscopic, picks up moisture from the air. DOT 5 silicone based is much less so, but the new systems run DOT 4 and absolutely need to be flushed annually to preserve the internals. Most brake systems rust out before they wear out.