Front brake pad dragging.
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Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
From: Sunny NH
Front brake pad dragging.
I have noticed when I move the bike around in the garage I can hear the front pad dragging on the disk.
It isn't hard enough to slow the bike (I don't think) but you can definatly hear it.
Anyone else notice it? Is this normal?
It isn't hard enough to slow the bike (I don't think) but you can definatly hear it.
Anyone else notice it? Is this normal?
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,813
Likes: 6
From: Rio Grande Valley-Texas
RE: Front brake pad dragging.
It is somewhat normal. There have been a few discussions here concerning the same thing. Some solutions are swapping the rotors around or going to floating rotors. I went the floating rotor route for reasons of a visual as well as performance upgrade. You might do a search and see what others are trying. Again the no-$$ is to swap the rotors around. BTW even after the floating rotors I still have a small amount of noise.
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 72
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From:
RE: Front brake pad dragging.
Very, very, VERY normal...ha HA...If the pads were to back off completely, it would take more travel of the piston in the caliper causing a "to much travel" brake handle. Same as on a car. There is no device on the caliper that pulls the pads away from the rotor.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,738
Likes: 7
From: St. Charles, IL
RE: Front brake pad dragging.
Disc brakes drag, on all vehicles(just can't hear the cars because you usually don't push the car around in nuetral) and very normal.
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Joined: Jan 2007
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RE: Front brake pad dragging.
normal?
yes no maybe
really shouldn't happen but it does.
And yes there is a contraption built into Every caliper that moves the
pad away from the rotor when everything works properly.
It is called the square cut o-ring.
But unfortunately most HD's don't also have the sticky back on the pad to keep the
pad seated up against the piston.
If it really bothers you and you have the skills here is a simple helpful fix.
pull the calipers off (one at a time).
Pull the pins that keep the pads located in the caliper (watch how you take them out, only fit back one way that's right).Pads that is.
Lightly clean the corrosion of pins with a coarse fibre cloth (scothbrite).
Clean pads and any visible rub points.
Get some disc brake stop squeak in aerosol can at auto parts store (permatex/ loctite).
Also get some anti seize.Or some phillips milk of magnesia will work in a pinch.
Spray a couple of light coats of stop squeak on the BACK SIDE of pads.
BE ABSOLUTELY SURE IT'S THE BACK SIDE
put a VERY light coat of anti seize on the pad PINS.
Reassemble calipers and pads and put on bike, do same on other caliper.
Squeeze brake handle several times to reset the pads back to pistons.
If all went well you are done and the dragging noise should now be less noticeable.
yes no maybe
really shouldn't happen but it does.
And yes there is a contraption built into Every caliper that moves the
pad away from the rotor when everything works properly.
It is called the square cut o-ring.
But unfortunately most HD's don't also have the sticky back on the pad to keep the
pad seated up against the piston.
If it really bothers you and you have the skills here is a simple helpful fix.
pull the calipers off (one at a time).
Pull the pins that keep the pads located in the caliper (watch how you take them out, only fit back one way that's right).Pads that is.
Lightly clean the corrosion of pins with a coarse fibre cloth (scothbrite).
Clean pads and any visible rub points.
Get some disc brake stop squeak in aerosol can at auto parts store (permatex/ loctite).
Also get some anti seize.Or some phillips milk of magnesia will work in a pinch.
Spray a couple of light coats of stop squeak on the BACK SIDE of pads.
BE ABSOLUTELY SURE IT'S THE BACK SIDE
put a VERY light coat of anti seize on the pad PINS.
Reassemble calipers and pads and put on bike, do same on other caliper.
Squeeze brake handle several times to reset the pads back to pistons.
If all went well you are done and the dragging noise should now be less noticeable.
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