Did I screw up? Just changed my front brake pads to Lyndall Z+'s on my 06 Heritage Classic,and now the front brakes (whole front end fro that matter) doesn't feel right. I removed the oldpads and sat them down as they came out of the caliper, turned around and kicked across the floor (unintentionally). According to the service manual, the pad with the two tabs (pictured) are on the outboard side.Did I install pad correctly, or am I a complete idiot and need to go back to 1st grade and learn how to read again?

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Well, the pad padrt of the pad faces inward towards the rotor. The hard metal backing is on the outside of the caliper on either side. Look closely at the caliper and see if the pad part of the pad is facing in towards the rotor. IT could jsut be that you have not set them in yet. Pump your hand flever till it is firm and ride for about 20 minutes to set them in.

 

Both pads face the rotor, and I have ridden about 90 miles since I replaced them. The rotor also has a dark circle in the middle of the pad contact area. Have tried cleaning it, but wont come off

 

OK, there are TWO things you must be aware of when installing the brake pads.

ONE..... the two tabs are outboard (closest to the caliper)

TWO.... the curved portion is to the rear of the bike.
(looking at your picture the curved portion is towards the left)


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I just had the padsitting there for the picture....It isin the caliper reverse of the picture. Thanks for the help....I guessI have the pad installed correctly.

 

Sounds like you did it correctly. RIde it for a bit and then look at it. I don't know about you but I don't expect the part of my rotor the pads squeeze to shine.

 

Dude your bike is blue ,,do you have fingerless gloves and chaps.[sm=joke.gif]Nice ride man...Awesome!!!

 

Thanks.... No fingerless golves, never wear chaps, or full fingered gloves, for that matter.

 

Oh i understand that the pad was just sitting for the pic. What I was eluding to was the pad shown would be an outboard leftside caliper pad on the front of my ultra.( I would need to order a different pad set for the right side.)

Looking at your caliper assembly, that pad would be the one that is on the OUTSIDE in reference to the brake rotor. The pad with one fattab would be on the inside mounted in the backing plate of the caliper assembly.

 

When you replaced the pads did you happen to check the fluid level in the master cylinder? As the pads wear the level drops. When new pads are installed the caliper piston needs to be pushed back into the body a bit to allow room for the new pads. Depending upon the caliper design it can be hard to reinstall on the bike, or it can be installed but the new pads drag on the rotor, heating and discoloring it. The heat can also glaze the pads which can decrease their efficiency, or even ruin them.

If you have to push the piston back into the caliper, remove the master cylinder cover and push the piston v-e-r-y slowly to prevent creating a brake fluid geyser. Pushing the piston in without removing the cover can pop the cover gasket.