SuzukiSavage.com - Front Brakes Rubbing

danjray

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Front Brakes Rubbing
08/05/13 at 10:16:03

I've been riding my 2012 LS650 (boulevard although I feel weird calling it that in a savage forum Embarrassed

) for over a year now. This season the front brakes began rubbing, I brought it to the dealer to see if they could visually notice anything I didn't and they came to the same conclusion that nothing seemed wrong other than the audible noise it is making. He did suggest to replace the pads (which I did do) but the noise is still there.

Now the noise is seems to occur on only once per revolution, which I would figure comes from something being out of round, but when looking down the down tube while riding nothing appears out of round. It is a relatively quiet sound of just the pad rubbing on the disc and becomes the regular constant sound of stopping when pressure is applied during braking.

I've searched the forum without any luck finding a similar issue, but has anyone else experienced this, and if so are there any solutions? If not it's not the most annoying sound in the world, but it would be nice to fix it Grin

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2012 LS650 Boulevard S40
~11k Miles and counting fast
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Serowbot YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline OK.... so what's the speed of dark? Posts: 28639 Tucson Az Gender:	Re: Front Brakes Rubbing Reply #1 - 08/05/13 at 11:05:33 Some light contact of the pad with the rotor is normal... That's just the way the brakes are designed... Different brands of pads change the sound,... but there will always be a slight amount of contact...
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danjray Junior Member Offline Posts: 83 Connecticut Gender:	Re: Front Brakes Rubbing Reply #2 - 08/05/13 at 11:08:37 darn, I was afraid of that, but I guess I can live with it haha
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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28884 L.A. California Gender:	Re: Front Brakes Rubbing Reply #3 - 08/05/13 at 11:46:13 Quote: Now the noise is seems to occur on only once per revolution, which I would figure comes from something being out of round Not outta round... warped, new pads won't do anything. Not unusual, if it's only a tick per rev, ok There is a spec in the manual somewhere if it bugs you.
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danjray Junior Member Offline Posts: 83 Connecticut Gender:	Re: Front Brakes Rubbing Reply #4 - 08/05/13 at 11:55:27 If it is warped (which does make sense as I ride in all weather and could have hit a puddle with a hot disc) wouldn't I be able to see that by looking down the down tube while riding? Or do you think it could be slight enough to not be noticeable without actually measuring?
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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: Front Brakes Rubbing Reply #5 - 08/05/13 at 12:37:29 Get rolling about 20/25, pull in the clutch, LIGHTLY , as in one finger, pull the front brake. If you feel a pulse, your rotor is warped,, maybe not enough to matter, just make sure the caliper is floating easily on the pins,
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danjray Junior Member Offline Posts: 83 Connecticut Gender:	Re: Front Brakes Rubbing Reply #6 - 08/06/13 at 05:21:55 I tried feeling for any pulse, I didn't feel anything. But like you guys have said, it's nothing terrible, I'll just have to live with it unless it gets worse. Just so I know, if it does get worse, is the only solution to get a new disc?
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Re: Front Brakes Rubbing
Reply #7 - 08/06/13 at 06:08:58

No, if it it isn't too far gone it can be turned like a car rotor. And you may just have a single high spot from build up on the rotor or a pad. Pop the caliper off, take the pads out and sand them, staple the paper onto a piece of 1x4 or other scrap to prevent divots from your finger tips. Chuck up a 3M stripping wheel in your drill, scrub the disc rotor swept surfaces after pulling the rotor from the wheel.

I always scuff the rotor with 80 grit or a 3m wheel when installing new brake pads, helps them bed in easier and stay quieter.

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danjray Junior Member Offline Posts: 83 Connecticut Gender:	Re: Front Brakes Rubbing Reply #8 - 08/06/13 at 06:31:10 Awesome! Thank you for the advice! I will try that out, because I do enjoy quiet brakes
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swedishbiker Full Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 119 Växjö Sweden Gender:	Re: Front Brakes Rubbing Reply #9 - 08/06/13 at 07:32:36 You can make some play between the caliper and pad, silver tape or thin sheet metal or similarly.
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danjray Junior Member Offline Posts: 83 Connecticut Gender:	Re: Front Brakes Rubbing Reply #10 - 08/06/13 at 07:39:44 Between the caliper and pad? Wouldn't that push the pad further into the rotor?
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Re: Front Brakes Rubbing
Reply #11 - 08/06/13 at 07:49:26

Brake shim aka squeal eliminator. You can get the same effect from grease on the back of the pads, dampens any sound transmitted through the pad.

Also, while the pads are out, file the lining's leading edge at a bit of an angle, air pressure will then help force them off of the rotor. You have to treat them like 1970s Ford truck brakes, they share a contact until rolling design. Once over 15 mph or so, air pressure should slightly lift them off the rotor.

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danjray

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Re: Front Brakes Rubbing
Reply #12 - 08/06/13 at 08:08:49

Huh, alright I follow you there, now that you say that it does seem like the sound goes away once I get up to speed, I always thought that other sound just drowned it out. I honestly don't like messing with the brakes whenever I don't need too, I'll live with the sound haha. Maybe if I'd been around in the '70s to mess with the Ford brakes I'd have an easier time messing with mine haha

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2012 LS650 Boulevard S40
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WD Serious Thumper 2005 No Login Offline Professional "scooter trash". Posts: 5207 Rosemark TN Gender:	Re: Front Brakes Rubbing Reply #13 - 08/06/13 at 08:54:32 I learned that in the 80s, learned to drive in a 73 F100 (big block 360FE, C6 3 speed automatic). My 1985 F250HD cab and a half long bed used the same basic front brakes, as does my 1994 Ranger. My "good" trucks and "good" car have 4 wheel drums. 1949 Dodge, 1969 Dodge and 1972 VW Super Beetle (same year as me).
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danjray Junior Member Offline Posts: 83 Connecticut Gender:	Re: Front Brakes Rubbing Reply #14 - 08/06/13 at 09:40:57 Really? 4 Drums? I have an '04 Dakota with disc on front and drums on the rear, other than the brake dust I prefer the discs, any reason you say the drums are on your "good" vehicles?
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