Front brake makes scraping noise

[510]

Hey guys,

I'm beginning to notice a weird noise in the front brake. It's like the noise you can make if you rubbed a stick against a smooth, hollow metal cylinder.  For the past few months, it would happen when I was braking pretty hard, but after I hit a pothole while making a right turn today, it makes this noise even when I'm just lightly tapping the brake. Even when I'm gently pulling the brake while pushing the bike forward at a walking speed, it still makes this noise.

It doesn't have any effect on braking; it feels fine to me still. It's not a squeaking noise or a pulsating noise like a warped disc would have, so I doubt that's the problem.

I'm just wondering what this could be, and if it's still safe to ride.

Thanks!

[Foximus]

Youve most likely finally worn the brake pad out.    Take a peak to see how thick the brake pad is.   Should probably go ahead and buy new pads, cost around $30 at any motocycle store.   Try to get some nice quality organics.

[Kerry]

It's never a bad idea to check your brake pad thickness, but I bet the sound you're hearing is the fairly normal, constant "whisshhh" of slight contact with the brake rotor.

If you suspect anything worse (especially since you mentioned a pothole ), see if [THIS OLD POST] helps any.  I guess I'm wondering if that pothole might have nudged the front axle spacer somehow....  It doesn't sound like you're getting the "TAT TAT TAT TAT" I mentioned in that post, but that might be explained by a difference in the hole placement on my replacement EBC rotor vs the stock rotor.

[pherako]

i've had that rat-tat-tat before. I realized that the rotor-to-mount/flange rivets were hitting some part of the caliper. my solution was to loosen everything up, including the fender mount, realign everything, and voila!

I also found a low-speed brake noise on my friend's ninja500 - pads clicking back and forth in the caliper. bending the tabs to keep the pads steady fixes that one.

i'm blabbing on, probably not helping. g'luck.