Need help - Heritage front brakes/caliper
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 169
Likes: 39
From: Peoria, IL
Need help - Heritage front brakes/caliper
Hey all.
Bike is a 2010 Heritage.
In the process of disassembling my front end, I removed the front caliper. When I lifted it over the caliper the brake pads clunked together. If I turn the caliper from side-to-side the brake pads move freely, flopping from one side to the other side.
Is this normal? I would have thought there would be some pressure holding the pads in place so they would only move when the pistons moved against them, and, would then retreat.
Anybody have any ideas? Thanks in advance for any help.
Bike is a 2010 Heritage.
In the process of disassembling my front end, I removed the front caliper. When I lifted it over the caliper the brake pads clunked together. If I turn the caliper from side-to-side the brake pads move freely, flopping from one side to the other side.
Is this normal? I would have thought there would be some pressure holding the pads in place so they would only move when the pistons moved against them, and, would then retreat.
Anybody have any ideas? Thanks in advance for any help.
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 175
Likes: 13
I am sure one of the experts will chime in eventually, I do know that when I took my rear wheel off my 2011, I too was amazed that the pads just sort of hang there attached by just one screw,you just sort of push the pads back into a slot, but it just seems that it would not be as secure as it could be.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 169
Likes: 39
From: Peoria, IL
Thanks for the reply.
I would think there'd have to be springs or tension somewhere holding the pads away from the rotor.
I have a service manual but it doesnt' show an exploded view of the caliper.
I would think there'd have to be springs or tension somewhere holding the pads away from the rotor.
I have a service manual but it doesnt' show an exploded view of the caliper.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 312
Likes: 11
From: Winston Salem, NC
The short answer is they rub the rotor lightly all the time. When you rotate the tire, there will be a slight noise from the pads contacting the rotor. If they are pretty worn, as in worn out,they will not contact the rotor. Be sure to clean the pistons good, so they don't stick.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 169
Likes: 39
From: Peoria, IL
OK, thanks for the reply. Do the pads just float on the pin or is there supposed to be a spring or something that holds them in place? Right now they're just flop back and forth. Seems like there should either be pressure holding them against the rotor or away from the rotor.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 312
Likes: 11
From: Winston Salem, NC
The two pads pins(screws) act as guides when assembled in the caliper at opposite ends. The pistons sit in the middle and keeps minor pressure on each pad against the rotor until high pressure is applied to actuate the brakes. The pad pins are not threaded so the pads can move freely. There is no spring.
Last edited by tracey87; Sep 6, 2013 at 06:45 PM.
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Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 514
Likes: 17
From: SW Mississippi
Nearly every disc brakes I've ever seen (maybe all of them, and I've never paid for a brake job in my life), car, truck or bike, have nothing that fastens the pads to the caliper pistons. Some have springs, but they simply hold the pads in place inside the calipers, they don't actually hold the pads away from the rotors. For the pads to be held off of the rotor, they would have to be fastened to the pistons themselves, and even then, there's nothing in the brake system that actually retracts the piston when you let off the brakes, it simply quits pushing outward. So, its really a moot point whether or not they're fastened to the piston. Either way, the pads are gonna be in ever so slight contact with the rotors. How's that?
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Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 169
Likes: 39
From: Peoria, IL
Front end rattle
Not too shabby! Appreciate the reply.
A part of what's driving these questions is I have a front end rattle. Whenever I hit a bump, big or little, there's a clanking sound coming from the front end.
I've owned the bike for over a year and have put about 5000 miles on it and its driven me nuts trying to find the source. I've searched and read all I can and I've checked on all the usual suspects like steering head bearings, loose bolts, etc.
So, about a month ago I realized when I gently apply the brakes going over bumps the rattle goes away.
I've been planning the front end tear down for some time in large part to see if I could figure out the source of the rattle, and also to add crome sliders and monotubes while I'm at it.
When I took off the calipers and heard the brake pads clunk, the sound confirmed to me that it had to be the brake pads. It is the same sound I hear when I hit a bump. So, all my questions are to figure out why mine would rattle and no one elses.
When I bought the bike the dealer said they had done some brake work and I've just lately thinking maybe they missed something (like springs) when they put the caliper back together.
I'm putting the finishing touches on the front end assembly today so when I get to the caliper I'll disassemble and see what it looks like.
A part of what's driving these questions is I have a front end rattle. Whenever I hit a bump, big or little, there's a clanking sound coming from the front end.
I've owned the bike for over a year and have put about 5000 miles on it and its driven me nuts trying to find the source. I've searched and read all I can and I've checked on all the usual suspects like steering head bearings, loose bolts, etc.
So, about a month ago I realized when I gently apply the brakes going over bumps the rattle goes away.
I've been planning the front end tear down for some time in large part to see if I could figure out the source of the rattle, and also to add crome sliders and monotubes while I'm at it.
When I took off the calipers and heard the brake pads clunk, the sound confirmed to me that it had to be the brake pads. It is the same sound I hear when I hit a bump. So, all my questions are to figure out why mine would rattle and no one elses.
When I bought the bike the dealer said they had done some brake work and I've just lately thinking maybe they missed something (like springs) when they put the caliper back together.
I'm putting the finishing touches on the front end assembly today so when I get to the caliper I'll disassemble and see what it looks like.
