Sticky caliper or not ?

[Codemonkey]

Hi All,

I've noticed the last few days when taking the bike of the centre stand that the front brake has been stuck on (pads stuck to the disk). Giving the bike a bit of a shove soon releases them, but there was a definite rubbing sound as I push the bike back out of the garage.

This morning I got the front wheel off the ground (sadly not during an epic wheelie) and rotated the wheel. To me it seems like there is a lot of drag and its certainly not possible to spin the wheel and have it continue rotating at all, as soon as you stop shoving the wheel round, it stops dead.

This is the first bike I've had with twin disks so I'm not sure if this is normal or if I've got a sticky piston.

So BCF massive, am I going to be spending tomorrow cleaning brakes ?
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Test Passed 10/05/2011 Current bike: XJ6-N

[Kickstart]

Hi

Does sound like a sticking caliper.

Other possibility would have been pads sticking to the disk (some pads will stick to some disks when left wet), but this would result in the wheel moving normally once initially moved which you say isn't the case here.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Codemonkey]

[totalllama82]

Raise the front of the bike up and try to spin the wheel. It should slow to a stop after a couple of rotations. I'd maybe take it up and down the road a few times first to get a little heat into them - mine tend to drag more when cold.

If it doesn't spin or you get a quarter turn out of them, you're going to be a busy boy
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Gone: Haotian HT125-8 / Yamaha YZF 600R Thundercat / Kawasaki ZX9R C2
Current: Kawasaki ZZR 1400 A7F

[Kickstart]

Hi

By the way, also check the wheel bearings and that nothing else is rubbing

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[brains_t]

Sounds like you need a winter service, Del here shows you how to do it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4CDe5ARBSI

[Codemonkey]

Thanks all. I'll drop the callipers off and spin the wheel to check the bearings, I'm pretty sure its the brakes though. Just popped out and got some red rubber grease and brake cleaner so I'm all set for a fun day in the garage
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Test Passed 10/05/2011 Current bike: XJ6-N

[Codemonkey]

[Codemonkey]

Well, I got bored so decided to go and have a go at sorting it. I stripped everything down as per the video posted by brains_t and gave everything a good clean. The pistons were not that bad really, I think the problem was caused by a metal clip that the ends of the pads slide against.
There was a bit of a build up of salt & crap behind one of them resulting in the pad being a very tight fit. Once pushed towards the disk they simply didn't move back.

Cleaned everything and greased up the pistons with red rubber grease, then copper grease on the other bits, reassembled and now its much better

Cheers all!
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Test Passed 10/05/2011 Current bike: XJ6-N