New brake pads..problem.....

[Ronin]

Today put my rebulit forks back on and front wheel..I replaced the brake pads they were shot.
  The trouble is the pads are very tight.The wheel won't spin free at all.It's very stiff even to spin by hand.I took off the caliper and the wheel spins freely.
Before I changed them out they woked fine.The space between the pads is very small.I put the caliper back on and they popped in place.So it's only about a millimeter clearence problem,Am I going to have to grind them down?

[nastynate6695]

take the wheel off and open the top of your resovoir up.  Then compress the brake piston all the way closed with a c clap and a 2x4 or an old brake pad.  Then put the resovoir back on along with the wheel.. this should solve the problem of clearance.  Also try riding the bike just because you cant spin it by hand dosent mean it wont work under weight.

[Ronin]

Thanks dude! I've been crusing the net and came to that conclusion.I didn't open the fluid cap to let the pressure out.I got the pistons down..just not far enough I guess...Thank's again. :cheers:I'll have at it again tommorrow..dang! why do we have to go to work..I'd rather be working on my bike!!

[galahs]

And for goodness sake pump the brakes before riding off

Or you'll have no brakes on your first attempt to stop!!!!

[beRto]

I found the same when I replaced my front brake pads. The wheel doesn't bind, but it doesn't rotate freely either. I'd say that I can get a full revolution if I spin it fast with my hands.

I haven't ridden on the new pads yet, so I expect the wheel rotation will improve when the pad seats with the rotor. We'll see... 

[gsJack]

Only cause for front wheel that won't turn freely after pad change for me has been binding pistons caused by pushing dirty pistons back into the seals.  If very tight they can lock up wheel getting tighter with each brake application and if only binding a little they can cause very short brake life.  I've had it both ways.

Now I always pop the pistons when replacing pads and clean them thoroughly with scotch brite pads or equiv, reasssemble and bleed.  Always works like new that way.  I ride year around and my pistons get really cruddy, even rusty a time or two.

[beRto]

Only cause for front wheel that won't turn freely after pad change for me has been binding pistons caused by pushing dirty pistons back into the seals.  If very tight they can lock up wheel getting tighter with each brake application and if only binding a little they can cause very short brake life.  I've had it both ways.

gsJack, how "freely" does your wheel turn after the brake change? As I understand it, disk brakes are designed so that the pad is always in contact with the rotor. For this reason, isn't it impossible for the wheel to spin totally "free". Am I correct in assuming that this gets better as the pad wears with the rotor?

Now I always pop the pistons when replacing pads and clean them thoroughly with scotch brite pads or equiv, reasssemble and bleed.  Always works like new that way.  I ride year around and my pistons get really cruddy, even rusty a time or two.

When I replaced my pads I followed your advice and cleaned the pistons to a shine with a green Scoth pad. I pushed them all the way back in with the top off the fluid reservoir. As I mentioned, the wheel now spins fine, but not totally free. I assumed this was normal and would improve with riding, but now you've got me kind of paranoid... 

Are you gonna make me take off the caliper and re-clean the pistons?! 

[Ronin]

 :thumb:Fixed her today..I took the caliper back off and the pads.I got to looking and thought,this caliper is too stiff.So I remembered seeing on my suzuki cd,points to grease with silcone.I greased the pins,worked it back and forth a few times.It finally compressed and decompressed! Stuck the pads on and no problemo....I worked the brakes,their fine.There is a few thousandths between the pads and rotor.The wheel makes about 2 revolutions,when spun by hand before stopping. :cheers:Thank's for the input guy's..

[beRto]

:thumb:Fixed her today..I took the caliper back off and the pads.I got to looking and thought,this caliper is too stiff.So I remembered seeing on my suzuki cd,points to grease with silcone.I greased the pins,worked it back and forth a few times.It finally compressed and decompressed! Stuck the pads on and no problemo....I worked the brakes,their fine.There is a few thousandths between the pads and rotor.The wheel makes about 2 revolutions,when spun by hand before stopping. :cheers:Thank's for the input guy's..

bah! now I have to redo my work 

Oh well... thanks for the heads-up!

[Ronin]

Yep...redo's SUCK...but I find a fine cigar while or after working on it makes the whole thing go much better!

[beRto]

Yep...redo's SUCK...but I find a fine cigar while or after working on it makes the whole thing go much better!

Lit cigars around a motorcycle gas tank?! 
I'll stick to beer 

[Ronin]

I must have a good cap gasket......