Front brake caliper

Vulcanrider03 · 11-24-2015, 03:29 PM

I changed my front brakes pads today and flushed the caliper with new DOT4 and noticed that when brakes are applied I see the calipers move a little bit.. is that normal ?

VulcanE · 11-24-2015, 03:33 PM

Yes it is normal to have a little movement

**ringadingh** · 11-24-2015, 03:37 PM

Yep, you want them to do that, its called a floating caliper.

Vulcanrider03 · 11-24-2015, 04:06 PM

Tkx guyz,,, i had never paid attention to it before on the OEM set up

I thought the caliper on my new HD wheel were not working right

gv550 · 11-24-2015, 06:14 PM

Actually...... no.
The front brake is not a floating caliper design, they are opposed piston style and are bolted solid to the fork sliders. If your calipers are moving in relation to the sliders then you need to remove them and clean the mounting surfaces, then install the bolts and torque them to 25nm.
If the calipers still appear to be moving (and pulling the sliders with them) then you may not have properly cleaned the pistons before installing the new pads. As the pads wear the pistons move out to take up the gap and dirt gets caked onto the surface. This dirt must be removed leaving a clean shiny surface before forcing the pistons into the caliper, or they will seize in the bore. When one piston seizes, the opposing piston tries to take up the gap on both sides and has to pull the caliper to do so.
So, the front calipers should not move when you apply the brakes, only the pistons and pads.
The rear brake is a floating caliper, it has pistons on one side only and caliper has to slide to pull the opposite pad against the rotor.

MET-RICK · 11-24-2015, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gv550

Actually...... no.
The front brake is not a floating caliper design, they are opposed piston style and are bolted solid to the fork sliders. If your calipers are moving in relation to the sliders then you need to remove them and clean the mounting surfaces, then install the bolts and torque them to 25nm.
If the calipers still appear to be moving (and pulling the sliders with them) then you may not have properly cleaned the pistons before installing the new pads. As the pads wear the pistons move out to take up the gap and dirt gets caked onto the surface. This dirt must be removed leaving a clean shiny surface before forcing the pistons into the caliper, or they will seize in the bore. When one piston seizes, the opposing piston tries to take up the gap on both sides and has to pull the caliper to do so.
So, the front calipers should not move when you apply the brakes, only the pistons and pads.
The rear brake is a floating caliper, it has pistons on one side only and caliper has to slide to pull the opposite pad against the rotor.

Thx. Gary for the good to know info. and the great explanation. Cheers

Gypsy Dragon · 11-25-2015, 11:10 AM

How much did you mill off the mount on the forks to accommodate the HD rotors? 0.125? Once mounted, did the rotors hit the calipers dead center?

Vulcanrider03 · 11-25-2015, 08:48 PM

I milled 1/8' inch on both side

11-24-2015, 03:29 PM	#1
Vulcanrider03 Advanced Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Rockland,ont Posts: 519	Front brake caliper I changed my front brakes pads today and flushed the caliper with new DOT4 and noticed that when brakes are applied I see the calipers move a little bit.. is that normal ? __________________ Lukster National CVFR SAA Rockland,Ont Nomad 2010 Voyager trunk Alleycat intake / YVANIZE ECU, Freedom performance 2 into 1 Kuryaken grip with Throttle mod lost of chrome add on Sound digital 1200.4 2 ohm 6 x 9 MPX 690 Hertz in custom fairing 6.5 hcx hertz speakers in hard bags 6.5 MPX hertz in pods Login or Register to Remove Ads
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11-24-2015, 03:33 PM	#2
VulcanE Sr. Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Cartersville, Georgia Posts: 4,838	Yes it is normal to have a little movement __________________ Cliff "VulcanE" Evans 2005 Blue & Silver 1600 Nomad VBA # 320 VROC # 20381
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11-24-2015, 03:37 PM	#3
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	Yep, you want them to do that, its called a floating caliper. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
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11-24-2015, 04:06 PM	#4
Vulcanrider03 Advanced Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Rockland,ont Posts: 519	Tkx guyz,,, i had never paid attention to it before on the OEM set up I thought the caliper on my new HD wheel were not working right __________________ Lukster National CVFR SAA Rockland,Ont Nomad 2010 Voyager trunk Alleycat intake / YVANIZE ECU, Freedom performance 2 into 1 Kuryaken grip with Throttle mod lost of chrome add on Sound digital 1200.4 2 ohm 6 x 9 MPX 690 Hertz in custom fairing 6.5 hcx hertz speakers in hard bags 6.5 MPX hertz in pods
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11-24-2015, 06:14 PM	#5
gv550 Advanced Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Listowel, Ontario Posts: 642	Actually...... no. The front brake is not a floating caliper design, they are opposed piston style and are bolted solid to the fork sliders. If your calipers are moving in relation to the sliders then you need to remove them and clean the mounting surfaces, then install the bolts and torque them to 25nm. If the calipers still appear to be moving (and pulling the sliders with them) then you may not have properly cleaned the pistons before installing the new pads. As the pads wear the pistons move out to take up the gap and dirt gets caked onto the surface. This dirt must be removed leaving a clean shiny surface before forcing the pistons into the caliper, or they will seize in the bore. When one piston seizes, the opposing piston tries to take up the gap on both sides and has to pull the caliper to do so. So, the front calipers should not move when you apply the brakes, only the pistons and pads. The rear brake is a floating caliper, it has pistons on one side only and caliper has to slide to pull the opposite pad against the rotor. __________________ Garry 2009 1700 Voyager KACT, sold at 679,465 kms 2011 1700 Nomad Improve handling, suspension and tire life with Garry's Fork Brace. PM for details. Login or Register to Remove Ads
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11-25-2015, 11:10 AM	#7
Gypsy Dragon Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Round Rock, Tx. Posts: 493	How much did you mill off the mount on the forks to accommodate the HD rotors? 0.125? Once mounted, did the rotors hit the calipers dead center? __________________ 1997 KZ1000 Police 2003 Kawasaki Z1000 w/ 149k mi (sold) (un-sold!) 2013 Vaquero in Green (the fastest color) Thunder Mfg Prototype Hi Performance Kit Rev 2 109 cid Klockwerks Windshield Corbin Young Gun Throttle Mod Freedom Performance 2-1 Roarin Toyz Intake PCV with AutoTune Ivanized ECU
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11-25-2015, 08:48 PM	#8
Vulcanrider03 Advanced Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Rockland,ont Posts: 519	I milled 1/8' inch on both side __________________ Lukster National CVFR SAA Rockland,Ont Nomad 2010 Voyager trunk Alleycat intake / YVANIZE ECU, Freedom performance 2 into 1 Kuryaken grip with Throttle mod lost of chrome add on Sound digital 1200.4 2 ohm 6 x 9 MPX 690 Hertz in custom fairing 6.5 hcx hertz speakers in hard bags 6.5 MPX hertz in pods
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