Front Brake Racket

[Kijona]

Here's another "is this normal or not?" thread. Pertaining to my 97/98 GS"E".

I've noticed my front brakes make hella racket while riding. I can hear the brakes dragging (or something) at speed if I listen closely enough and it's starting to bug me a bit. I also noticed it gets louder when I lean the bike into a turn and during a turn. I have checked the front for signs of worn wheel bearings, worn steering head bearings, everything. All checks out. The bolts holding the caliper were SUPER tight with a bit of corrosion (almost had to use a breaker bar) but nothing serious. I removed them, cleaned them up, and replaced. Nothing. Still making noise. It just sounds...I don't know...sandy and dry....

I've removed the pads completely to check for any gremlins - none to be found. The pads are in excellent shape though they may be extremely old? Original pads possibly, though highly unlikely. I'd say there's still ~ .25" of meat left on them.

Just to be clear, it's not like they are dragging very much...I can spin the front wheel freely and it'll free-spin almost 3 full rotations with just a light flick of the wheel.

I'm tempted to put butter on the rotor to quiet them down. 

[Watevaman]

 My '90 (with presumably original brakes, too many POs) don't make anything like that. The only noises they make are a bit of a rubbing at low speeds (doesn't hinder rotation of the wheel, though) and a buzzing when coming to a stop (due to ventilation I'm assuming, a buddy's 1300 cruiser does the same).

[BrianKD]

Here's how my roommate and I fixed the dragging front brakes on my 98:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBEkhVW7dGY

[adidasguy]

Front axle tight? Bearings tight or loose?
Check ALL screws and bolts. Seems something is loose or bearings are worn out.

Put on center stand. Have someone press down on back of bike. Wiggle all the front stuff with the font wheel off the ground. You should find something loose or worn out.

[Kijona]

Front axle tight? Bearings tight or loose?
Check ALL screws and bolts. Seems something is loose or bearings are worn out.

Put on center stand. Have someone press down on back of bike. Wiggle all the front stuff with the font wheel off the ground. You should find something loose or worn out.

That's what I did. All of the above. The steering head bearings are in very good shape, free enough but not sloppy.

[Kijona]

Here's how my roommate and I fixed the dragging front brakes on my 98:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBEkhVW7dGY

So basically all you did was remove the front wheel, caliper, and those four outer bolts on the fork brace, then re-installed everything without those four bolts in place so it would line up properly? Then you just re-installed the 4 bolts last?

I may try that. Interesting but makes sense! Very clever. Thank you!

[Paulcet]

How about the speedometer drive?

[Dizzledan]

You say the brakes might be originals? Things could have dried out down there and the backs of your pads and the spacer/bracket at the bottom of the caliper need some grease.

Do you do your stretches before you ride? Might be hearing your bones creaking too.

[mister]

So many things it could be...

Rattling bones
Marbles rolling around in your head
BBs in the handlebars
BBs inside tire
The man inside the engine lost his dentures and they're bouncing around on his running wheel

[Kijona]

It's the brakes. Gets louder when you squeeze the front brake. I'm gonna try what BrianKD did.

[BrianKD]

Here's how my roommate and I fixed the dragging front brakes on my 98:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBEkhVW7dGY

So basically all you did was remove the front wheel, caliper, and those four outer bolts on the fork brace, then re-installed everything without those four bolts in place so it would line up properly? Then you just re-installed the 4 bolts last?

I may try that. Interesting but makes sense! Very clever. Thank you!

That's right!

[BrianKD]

Also, be sure to push the pistons back into the caliper before you put the caliper back on.

[tt_four]

Mine used to make a noise when I'd ride, and it got louder when I'd grab the brake. It was noticeably the brake pads rubbing across the holes in the rotor. I loved that sound though haha.

What about the spring above the pads?? Is that still in good shape?

when you say it gets louder when you lean, is that both directions? If it's making a noise I would expect it to get louder when you lean to the side the brakes are on. It's like how you can hear your car so much better when you're next to those tall medians on the highway because the noise has no choice but to bounce back at you.

[tt_four]

also, make sure neither of your pads are wedged in at an angle.

[Kijona]

Leaning in either direction causes the noise to become louder. I will take the front caliper completely apart and reassemble. I'll also follow the advice on taking the front end apart and putting it back together so it seats properly. If noise still remains, I'll come back to this.

[adidasguy]

If leaning either direction causes front wheel noise, I'd seriously look at the wheel bearings. Something seems to be making the wheel shift position. Maybe the bearing spacer in the wheel (between the bearings) is missing?  Any wiggle in the bearings? Could rthe front axle be worn so the wheel can wobble a little?

I really doubt it is the brake calipers.

[twinrat]

has your disc got to much float on there floating pins . if the noise arrived after you reasembiled the front then its something you left out or put in the wrong way round.

[Kijona]

If leaning either direction causes front wheel noise, I'd seriously look at the wheel bearings. Something seems to be making the wheel shift position. Maybe the bearing spacer in the wheel (between the bearings) is missing?  Any wiggle in the bearings? Could rthe front axle be worn so the wheel can wobble a little?

I really doubt it is the brake calipers.

I have thoroughly inspected the front wheel and bearings for any signs of wear or damage and there is zero to be found. There's absolutely no play in the wheel whatsoever. No lateral or longitudinal wiggling. It sounds like it's coming from the rotor. It has a very crisp and sharp sound similar to if you were to take a wire brush and shove it against the rotor while it was spinning. In fact, it almost sounds like a knife being sharpened...if that makes sense.

It also becomes much more prominent whilst applying the front brake, and is most evident while coming to a slow stop. Applying the front brake lightly enough to make it drag without actually braking will make the noise even louder.

I'm out of town at the moment so I haven't been able to mess with the bike yet. I'm just sharing what I experienced last time I rode it.

[Kijona]

has your disc got to much float on there floating pins . if the noise arrived after you reasembiled the front then its something you left out or put in the wrong way round.

I haven't touched it yet. It was doing this from day one. A close inspection of this picture of my bike reveals some grooves cut in the rotor but I don't know how normal that is compared to other bikes: http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/3687/img7748a.jpg

I never even thought to look at it before. I believe someone called it "scalloping"?