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Posted

Hey, Just here and asking questions already...


I have a kawasaki ER-5n and I noticed that the pads on the front brake are grinding against the disc. The wheel still turns freely when i spin it but i can hear the pads on the disc. I'm just wondering if this is something I should get checked out or if I can leave it as it is.


any help is most appreciated.


ta

Posted

Have the pads worn away? If they have, change em pronto!


What state are the discs in? Are they scored? If the pads have worn away, and its metal on metal, you might have ruined the discs as well :(

Expensive......


Alternatively, have you used high pressure water when cleaning? Or been out in some terrible weather?

Its possible some derbris/road grit has got between the pads and the discs......


Assuming the pads are ok, this could be cured by removing the pads and giving the calipers and pads a good clean (use a brake cleaner, nothing else) Making sure you put the pad back where it came from....


Pics or video would be helpful ....

HtH

Posted

I'm not so sure it's a bad sign so would be inclined to disagree (at the moment) with what Dan's said. If the wheel is turning freely and the 'grinding' noise just sounds more like the pads are lightly brushing against the metal of the disc then it's nothing to worry about as the pads are constantly touching the disc, it's only when pressure is applied to them that stopping power comes in.


If you sit on the bike with the engine off and wheel it forward and backward a few metres there should be a slight noise, nothing to worry about. But if it's a loud scratchy noise and like Dan says the disc is looking scratched (deep scratches, light ones are OK) then it could be that something has gotten trapped inbetween the pad and the disc so taking the pad out for inspection would be a good first move.

Posted

To be fair, I did imagine the worst case scenario, not trying to scare ya :thumb:


Pete has some good points!

Posted

Cool, I have a feeling that it's just the pads touching the disc since ther isn't any scratching, I didn't know they were always in contact like that so I was worried that they might be needing fixed.


thanks for that.

Posted

Here's a good article on how disc brakes work if you fancy reading up a bit more on them. There are a few good diagrams that show the brake layout (very simple), although on some of them the pad isn't touching the disc so isn't quite accurate but I think it's illustrating the lack of force when the brakes aren't applied.


http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-part ... -brake.htm


The piston is the bit that's pushed along by the hydraulics in the brake lines. In turn the piston(s) pushes on the pads which press on the disc (from either side, like a hand gripping a piece of paper I guess). When pressure is released from the brake lever or brake pedal the piston will let some of the pressure off and move back into the caliper slightly, but only enough to stop the pads gripping the disc. If it moved back anymore then the pad would rattle around and open up a world of woes!


Anyway, that's my very basic run down of it. That article's quite a good one if you fancy a bit of light reading.

Posted

well explained SP, also the pads only move a little way otherwise the brake lever would be ineffective in pushing them the distance required without having larger lines etc, hydraulic volume.

As long as you can move the bike forward and back freely, and if you raise the front end and can spin the wheel by hand, you're fine..

but check what you have left on your pads, if they are grating because there is very little friction material you will need to get them replaced, (pads that is)

Posted

thanks for the link, it explained it all without getting complicated. I checked the pads and they still have plenty left on them, so all is well.


thanks again for the info, i feel a lot better about riding my bike now :)

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