I replaced my front brake pads with Lyndall Z+ pads. I torqued everything down to spec but there seems to be play in the caliper. Do all front springer calipers have such play or did I mess something up in the process.

 

What has play?....The pads or the caliper itself....The caliper itself should not move.

 

The caliper is the one that has play... I tightened both allen bolts down to 30 ft-lbs. and it still has play...

 

The caliper should not move...Something isn't right.

 

thought so.. I'll take it all apart and put it back together again...

 

Take a pic and post it. The caliper does in fact move.THink about it ,the rotors dont move left to right. The caliper has tomoveor nothing would happen when you pull the handle.

 

Certainly the pistons inside the caliper will move but the caliper itself should be hard mounted and stationary. There is no "play" except for the movement associated with the suspension. But that doesn't sound like what you are describing.

 

Do you mean play or do you mean slop, there is a difference. The caliperWILL move when you squeeze the lever (very slight), but it does move. It has to, or the inside pad wouldn't put pressure on the rotor. Make sure when you are assembling, there is a small stand off, a nipple of sort, that helps things line up just so. I am assuming that you have a piston on one side of the caliper.

 

there's a very slight movement but it seems it should be this way..
I posted a vid in photobucket but you can't really tell because of the camera movement..

 

your brakes will need to seat with some riding but ride it in the 'hood, see if it works, do some fast stops, my back brake dragged for some time but everything is good now, wish I hadn't bought KBCs. Sounds like it is fine. Afterall, the manual says to lube the slide pins, that is so the caliper doesn't become fixed and not move properly. Ride safe and post a comment about how they say those pads don't squeal or leave brake dust.