Front wheel calipers bending disc?

Hi y'all,

I've just reassembled my front wheel. I don't know if this was happening before, but when I squeeze on the front brake, I can visibly see the caliper pulling the disc and wheel to the left slightly. It's not dramatic and there's no harsh grinding when I roll the bike back and forth, but I hesitate to ride it before asking, is this normal? I'm sure I have all the parts on (axel spacer, speedo, etc. etc.).

The back caliper doesn't do this...


-sf

The caliper should go to the disk. The disk and wheel should not move. I would make sure your caliper is free to slide in and out as it supposed to.

Hm, yes, that makes sense. I'll have to look at that. Is there a way to lubricate that motion?

The calipers definitely need to "float". They basically move side to side on the bolts that go all of the way through the caliper and have a nut on the back side. These are not the mounting bolts, but the other 2. Those can be cleaned and greased - might help if it's stuck. (assuming your calipers are like the 900/1000 calipers)

Just happened to think - could the mounting bracket be on the wrong side of the disc? Not sure it that's even possible but it wouldn't float properly.

make sure they are clean and slide easy, but i would not recomend grease. the high heat of the cals can melt the grease, and allow it to runn onto the pads.

mark1122 wrote:

make sure they are clean and slide easy, but i would not recomend grease. the high heat of the cals can melt the grease, and allow it to runn onto the pads.

Good point. I only use a tiny bit of high temp grease - a very thin coating. Basically try to wipe it clean with your hands and just leave what's left.

I never thought of it until now but the little packets of lube they sell at auto parts stores specifically for brake calipers would probably work pretty well.

I always use "copper grease" (the same you use on stainless bolt-threads to prevent them sticking to the aluminium) on the sliding caliper parts, and it works perfectly. It is specially formulated for high temps.

mind2find - any update on the brakes? Did you find anything that might be causing it?

I believe you are supposed to use Sil-Glyde. It is a silicone grease meant to go on disc brake caliper slide rods. It is specifically not a petroleum-based grease so it should not affect the elastomers used in brake caliper construction.

Do not use too much, just enough to keep water out and lubricate. The boots should prevent it from melting out. Make sure the boots are in good condition for this.

agscompany.com/downloads/datasheet/brake_lubricant_-_tds.pdf

If needed:
Click here > Caliper Kit from Z1E

Good Fortune!

Hey, yes, sorry, I looked at the caliper and it's definitely not sliding, so I'm going to have to grease those. It seems like the obvious fix. I rode through a lot of dusty roads in New Brunswick last year and coated my entire bike with thick orange-brown dirt. I can't imagine that helped.

What I'm wondering now is if I can take one bolt out at a time without having to remove the entire caliper or wheel or brake-line. I could pop one out, lubricate it, reinsert, and do the next. I know it sounds like I'm being lazy, but it's a trial with my bike because I don't have a center stand (ripped off by something before I owned it).

mind2find wrote:

Hey, yes, sorry, I looked at the caliper and it's definitely not sliding, so I'm going to have to grease those. It seems like the obvious fix. I rode through a lot of dusty roads in New Brunswick last year and coated my entire bike with thick orange-brown dirt. I can't imagine that helped.

What I'm wondering now is if I can take one bolt out at a time without having to remove the entire caliper or wheel or brake-line. I could pop one out, lubricate it, reinsert, and do the next. I know it sounds like I'm being lazy, but it's a trial with my bike because I don't have a center stand (ripped off by something before I owned it).

Due to life and death importance of properly functioning brakes, I would strongly urge getting an FSM and doing the job right.

Good Fortune!