The Yamaha Road Star Warrior Forum

With the warmer weather here I have switched to my half helment and noticed some noise coming from the front brake. It sounds like the brake pad on the left front rotor is constantly rubbing on the rotor. When I roll the bike forward I can hear it. I am coming from a 650 vstar and have noticed that the front brake seems weak for the 2 rotor set-up. Could I have a bad caliper? Might they just need a good cleaning with some brake cleaner? Thanks.

After I installed my new front SS brake line and had bled the the brakes I noticed the same thing. It appears that's just the way the brakes are. After awhile of riding they seem to rub less as if they are wearing down and gaining clearance.

Its common on all bikes that the pads touch the rotor before you start riding because you compressed the brake pads when you stopped.  The pads move away in a few seconds when you start riding again.  If new pads are installed it can take a  few miles for the clearance to return if you don't do a really good clean-up during the pad change.  If your pads are rubbing all the time they're going to wear out (obviously) so you should inspect closer.

+1 arizona

90% of the members here will tell you they always rub , myself included, the other 10% are deaf or dont ride their bike enough to know

I think they all make some noise, lift the bike and spin it to just make sure its not dragging.

Should not feel week though, use all 4 fingers

So how much drag is correct. I know what the manual says for free play and I get the rubbing noise like everyone else.

If I ride for a few minutes without using the front break, get it up on a lift and spin the front tire, I bet it barely makes a half revolution.

 Whats normal?

+1 normal

Guys, honest, they don't rub all the time - at least they shouldn't.  Its not OEM.  If they did rub all the time you'd get under a thousand miles out of a pad.  They rub only after you squeeze the lever or step on the rear pedal.  Once you start rolling again the action of the road and the rotor restores the gap.  Same with most bikes.  Any noise you hear is more likely something else unless you are running through pads like a pasadena grandma on the freeway riding the brakes.  Normal is: no drag after a few seconds of forward motion.

Seminole:

So how much drag is correct. I know what the manual says for free play and I get the rubbing noise like everyone else.  If I ride for a few minutes without using the front break, get it up on a lift and spin the front tire, I bet it barely makes a half revolution. Whats normal?

disc brake pads actually touch the rotor at all times there is no clearance, well there better not be anyway you'd get a loud chattering noise if there would be any clearance.( believe me i have changed alot of calipers because of loose pads)

however the pads are just barely touching and that is the noise you are hearing and yes the noise gets quieter the longer you do not use brake.

when you use the brake you apply pressure to the piston behind the pad pushing the pad hard against the rotor. when you let off the pressure drops but there is nothing to pull the pad back it just sits there and rubs lightly and eventually backs off enough so theres no noise.

cars. bikes ,trailers all do it, all normal

as far as spinning the wheels go, as long as you don't feel an abnormal drag you are ok. there should be a light drag.

Agreed - with the understanding that loose pads are a different thing.  I agree pads that are loose from their mounts or don't have their clips will do some damage or at least make noise.  Properly mounted pads there is a gap you can slide a piece of notebook paper into.  For example if you stop after a ride just using the back brake you can slip paper between the front pads and the rotor.  It doesn't work just in your driveway because the pads will still be under pressure from the fluid.

I suppose we are splitting hairs here - I'll just say +1 and agree. 

swisswarrior:

disc brake pads actually touch the rotor at all times there is no clearance, well there better not be anyway you'd get a loud chattering noise if there would be any clearance.( believe me i have changed alot of calipers because of loose pads)

however the pads are just barely touching and that is the noise you are hearing and yes the noise gets quieter the longer you do not use brake.

when you use the brake you apply pressure to the piston behind the pad pushing the pad hard against the rotor. when you let off the pressure drops but there is nothing to pull the pad back it just sits there and rubs lightly and eventually backs off enough so theres no noise.

cars. bikes ,trailers all do it, all normal

as far as spinning the wheels go, as long as you don't feel an abnormal drag you are ok. there should be a light drag.

 

 

Just my .02 ... assuming you have clearance @ the front brake lever adj scr and MC piston

Technically, the flexure of the square piston seal when not under hydraulic pressure relaxes the piston and it’s the centrifugal force of the spinning rotor that repels the pads. The floating front rotors can create an illusion that the pads are rubbing because of the fixed mount front calipers.

The rear brake is more traditional and forgiving as it’s a floating 2-pin caliper with a solid rotor. When you spin the wheel you’ll hear the high spot!

I would agree that the front brakes do seem to rub more now that I have chromed the rotors. I am assuming the slight rub will slowly disappear as the pad wear a bit. The bike pads are relatively new. The sound bothered me at first, but after reading the explanataion that it keeps the pad faces dry and warm, I have been more content to let it alone. It is very light and I only hear it as I coast into the garage after a ride. No big deal...