Hey Folks,

I usually try not to bug yall too much, but this is about brakes and I won't chance that.

I bought an 02 Low Rider from my old boss about 2 years ago. Everything has been well taken care of and I have never had any worries.

Now after 2 years I am starting to hear rotor scrape. Actually I only heard it because I took a quick run to the local store and didn't grab my helmet. I don't have any rotor scrape until the rotor heats up...It doesn't pulsate or feel mushy or anything. It still stops like a champ and aside from the noise I wouldn't think a thing about it.

I have taken the caliper off and run brake clean out spray on everything and have ordered new quality pads.

Anything else it could be?

Thank you in advance, your knowledge and time is VERY much appreciated.

Brian Rasor

 

Brian, it could be you have all the right things in hand. A piston may be dragging and that can happen when the pads get low. When you come to install the new pads you will need to push the pistons back into the caliper. To do that remove some of the fluid in the master cylinder first. Once installed bleed your brakes thoroughly with new fluid.

 

OK, will do and thank ya sir !

 

Sorry to intrude on ur thread! I started 1a little while ago, but my new question seems relevent to this thread. I got my new tyre, rotor and pads and its all back together. The bike rides well however im a bit concerned with the pattern on the new rotor, it seems to be grabbing more on the outside of the rotor than towards the centre. Is this normal? Do new pads need time to 'wear in' or is it an alignment issue? This pic is after about 10kms on the new disc, and it doesn't seem to pull up that well, although I'm trying not to brake too hard just yet. Thanks for any ideas, Matt.

 

There's only one thing stopping you and that's the brakes. Not sure about an '02 model, but the current stuff is ABS. ABS has some spec requirements to ensure that they function correctly.

Just for reference, I had "out of spec" rotors on an '10 Street Glide. Lead Tech at the shop noted that rotors had been replaced 3 times in 30K miles. So a "diagnostic" in the shop reveals that the wheel rotor mount is out of spec, 0.004" run-out, which results in 0.007" run-out at the brake pad. This makes the rotor look warped even though it's not.

HD replaced the wheel, rotors, pads on ESP, no charge. Now the front brake stops like it's supposed to.

Don't wait until you need your brake to have it mal-function. Get it checked by someone who knows what they're looking at.

 

Your right, brakes are too important to take any chances.

 

lemme, little wisp is normal. However when you replace pads, do not just push them back. Slide the caliper up off the rotors and remove the pads. Now insert a slightly thinner spacer in, and carefully brake to push pistons out just a little more. Now shoe shine them with a cloth till they shine. Now push them back to bottom them. (pry between two pieces of thin plywood. (be sure to dip out master cylinder and leave cover loose) Now for the real test. While holding caliper, push the brake very slowly making sure all 4 pistons move the same. If they do not, you need to pop them on out and re-ring piston seal and ring. Be sure to grease with the special caliper piston grease. You have a lot of age on them.

 

Rip is right. I use 2 paint sticks as spacers.

 

Thanks for all the good info. I truly appreciate it.