When riding in Daytona without a helmet of course you hear sounds on your bike that would normally be muffled when wearing a helmet. The only sound I heard that I didn't like was my front brake pads clicking on my front discs. The sound was very slight when first starting out each day and would go away after a few blocks. I stopped a couple of times to see if I could wiggle my pads and I could so I was not to worried about it. My Boss Is a 2000 with the Wilwood brakes. Has anyone else experienced this ?
Front brakes
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Yes Don I have tried that and the pads actually do drag against the rotors very slightly. Maybe I should bleed the calipers and try it then. My front brake lever seems very firm with almost no play so maybe I got some air in the lines somehow. I do remember this winter I loosened the banjo fitting slightly on the master cylinder and moved the brake line . Maybe that did it .
Jack,
What about a speedo cable? Yes, No?
Actually the pads will just touch the rotors a bit normally.
Before you go through bleeding, why don't you pull the calipers off the rotors, and spin the wheel. If there's no more noise, try spraying the back of the pads with anti-squeal. Maybe the noise is just the pads moving a bit, and the anti squeal should make them stick to the caliper pistons. You're right about being able to hear a lot more without a helmet on!
What about a speedo cable? Yes, No?
Actually the pads will just touch the rotors a bit normally.
Before you go through bleeding, why don't you pull the calipers off the rotors, and spin the wheel. If there's no more noise, try spraying the back of the pads with anti-squeal. Maybe the noise is just the pads moving a bit, and the anti squeal should make them stick to the caliper pistons. You're right about being able to hear a lot more without a helmet on!
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825 Posts
Jack, I can hear a very silent clicking noise when I turn my front wheel, too (when the bike is jacked up). But I never heard something while riding- no clicking, and no squealing.
Check the gap between the rotor bolts and each side of the
lower fork tubes. There is only a VERY little gap between both sides at my
bike. If not perfectly aligned, or if one wheel bearing goes south, it could
produce your clicking noise when the heads of the rotor bolts hit the lower fork tubes. Just a thought....
Loaf
Check the gap between the rotor bolts and each side of the
lower fork tubes. There is only a VERY little gap between both sides at my
bike. If not perfectly aligned, or if one wheel bearing goes south, it could
produce your clicking noise when the heads of the rotor bolts hit the lower fork tubes. Just a thought....
Loaf
JackHogV8 said:
I think Don has your answer - it is normal for there to be drag between pads/rotor. I would not bother bleeding them. I have not had the front calipers off my bike yet and I have the Brembo calipers ... I am guessing there is an anti rattle clip anyway, check the tension on the clip and use some anti rattle spray/lube on the backside of the pads like Don mentioned already. When the front tire is off the ground is there any "play" ... I have heard clicking noises before from a bearing that is going bad like Loaf suggested.
Don
I have tried all the fixes to keep my front brakes from squealing with no luck. I have sanded all the edges smooth, used three different types of anti-squeal, changed pads twice and after about 100 miles it always comes back. I may change to the Brembo's but I just don't like the cost. But when you are out in a crowd and you stop and everyone looks at you because of the squeal I think it may be worth it.
Bill
Bill
The sound you hear is normal. The pads are within .001's of the rotor and you will hear the vented (holes) rotor going past the pads. Yup I heard it from day one. Those pads are hugh not like a small Harley pads so you have a ton of friction area, exactly why you hear the clicking sound. Brembo brakes are slightly different.
FastEddie
FastEddie
Thanks guys for your input and advise. That's what's great about these sites , if you have a problem everyone tries to help you solve it . Although I'm aware of all that was mentioned I will check everything out again . I had my whole front end apart this winter and installed new neck bearings , inspected and repacked the front wheel bearings , lubricated the speedo cable and checked the drive and clearances but with the front wheel off the ground I can feel the pads draging . The wheel spins Ok , but it is far from being free wheeling . For example if I spin the front wheel by hand , it will only spin a couple of revolutions and stop . Does this sound normal ?
Bill,
Mine is a 2002, and I had the same squeek from the pads as you do. Tried everything you tried. Changed pads, sanded, chamfered the pad edges, lightly sanded the rotors........everything. It was driving me crazy.......crazier! I cured it by taking a deep breath and upgrading to the Brembos. Cost me $1033.70. Expensive, but worth it I think.
Much better stopping power, and no more squeek!
Mine is a 2002, and I had the same squeek from the pads as you do. Tried everything you tried. Changed pads, sanded, chamfered the pad edges, lightly sanded the rotors........everything. It was driving me crazy.......crazier! I cured it by taking a deep breath and upgrading to the Brembos. Cost me $1033.70. Expensive, but worth it I think.
Much better stopping power, and no more squeek!
Jack,
My wheel only turns a few revolutions and stops, just like yours. Same with the original Wilwood calipers. When I spun the wheel without the calipers mounted, the wheel spun for quite a while.
The thing that struck me with your problem, (and it may not even be a problem) is that you said it went away after a few blocks.
It could be that after sitting for a time, (like over night,) the hydraulic pressure in the calipers "relaxes", and lets the pads retract just a bit, so there is a little play in the pads. Then when you apply the brakes, the pads tighten up a bit again, and don't move around. If you spin the wheel without squeezing the lever, then squeeze the lever again and spin the wheel, I think you'll see it may be a bit harder to spin the wheel until the calipers release a little. It's normal.
You said you have a high and firm lever, so it's not air in the system. If you haven't sprayed a little anti rattle/squeek on the pad backs already, I'd try that. Also, make sure your calipers are centered on the rotors. With my original Wilwood calipers, and even the new Brembos, I had to shim them a bit to get them centered on the rotors.
Ed is also correct in that the drilled rotors do make a little noise normally.
On a positive note, at least you're not missing any riding weather!!
Gotta go get the snow blower ready for tonights 4-8". SNOW SUCKS!!! :cus:
My wheel only turns a few revolutions and stops, just like yours. Same with the original Wilwood calipers. When I spun the wheel without the calipers mounted, the wheel spun for quite a while.
The thing that struck me with your problem, (and it may not even be a problem) is that you said it went away after a few blocks.
It could be that after sitting for a time, (like over night,) the hydraulic pressure in the calipers "relaxes", and lets the pads retract just a bit, so there is a little play in the pads. Then when you apply the brakes, the pads tighten up a bit again, and don't move around. If you spin the wheel without squeezing the lever, then squeeze the lever again and spin the wheel, I think you'll see it may be a bit harder to spin the wheel until the calipers release a little. It's normal.
You said you have a high and firm lever, so it's not air in the system. If you haven't sprayed a little anti rattle/squeek on the pad backs already, I'd try that. Also, make sure your calipers are centered on the rotors. With my original Wilwood calipers, and even the new Brembos, I had to shim them a bit to get them centered on the rotors.
Ed is also correct in that the drilled rotors do make a little noise normally.
On a positive note, at least you're not missing any riding weather!!
Gotta go get the snow blower ready for tonights 4-8". SNOW SUCKS!!! :cus:
I understand but I thought maybe you had some method of measureing for center. Maybe Dial Vernier calipers might work . I'll check it out.
I'm trying not to plow or shovel any more snow this winter. What the hell , Sat. is the first day of spring. Ya , right HA HA
I'm trying not to plow or shovel any more snow this winter. What the hell , Sat. is the first day of spring. Ya , right HA HA
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