Front Brakes Dragging - Advice???
- reborn650
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The brakes work great, lottsa life on the pads and I had the rotors ground smooth this season by a machinist. Brake pressure is fine and the lines have been bled a couple of times to make sure there is no air in the lines.
The front brake pads seem like they are not returning to their normal position when I let go of the brake lever. If I squeeze hard when rolling they seem to release properly but eventually ease back onto the disks, not enough to have any effect on the disk but just enough to notice with a little friction noise.
Kawasaki does not sell rebuild kits for this model and I was wondering if I just take the two brake calipers apart and give them a good cleaning is this worth the effort.
Anyone have any experience with this maintenance task? The brake calipers have never been rebuilt and up until now they have worked quite well.
Cheers-Colin Firth-Ontario Canada
-1977 Kz650 Custom bought new by brother. Now with 810 kit, GPz750 cams, intake valves, Mikuni 29 smoothbores, velocity stacks, Dyna Igntion, MAC pipe and other goodies.
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- Bluemeanie
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- KaZooCruiser
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I second Bluemeanie, with some additional information.
FSM indicates seal replacement every second pad replacement.
You may have some corrosion buildup betrween the piston and the caliper.
Whether you replace the seals or not, taking the units apart and cleaning everything might take care of your binding issues.
The pins might need cleaning and lubrication as well.
Cheers back at ya.
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- KZQ
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Only I think that some noise is normal.
Colin said: "...not enough to have any effect on the disk but just enough to notice with a little friction noise."
Colin do you actually feel the brakes dragging when pushing the bike around? The real test is does the disk get warm from just running down the road?
KZCSI
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1968 BSA 441 Shooting Star, 1970 BSA 650 Lightning, 1974 W3, 1976 KZ900, 1979 KZ750 Twin, 1979 KZ750 Twin Trike, 1981 KZ1300, 1982 KZ1100 Spectre, 2000 Valkyrie, 2009 Yamaha Roadliner S. 1983 GL 1100
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- CoreyClough
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Post edited by: CoreyClough, at: 2007/10/01 23:44
'85 GPz550(ZX550-A2)
GPz550 Base Manual --> tinyurl.com/ze5b3qo
GPz550 Supplement Manual --> tinyurl.com/h34d2o6
GPz550.com --> www.nwsca.com/scripts/gpz_forum_2005/default.asp
First Race Win GPz550 --> tinyurl.com/o5y3ftp
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- reborn650
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Good advice for sure.
Only I think that some noise is normal.
Colin said: "...not enough to have any effect on the disk but just enough to notice with a little friction noise."
Colin do you actually feel the brakes dragging when pushing the bike around? The real test is does the disk get warm from just running down the road?
KZCSI
The brakes do drag noticeably when pushing the bike, but as far as feeling the disk temperature after a little run I haven't checked this yet. Clearly the pads are still riding on the disk so this leads me to believe that the caliper piston is not retracting as it should.
We've got some rain coming our way over the next few days so it will be a good time to disassemble both front calipers tomorrow and take a look at caliper piston movement. A good thorough cleaning will also be on the agenda.
Thanks gang
Cheers-Colin Firth -Ontario Canada
-1977 Kz650 Custom bought new by brother. Now with 810 kit, GPz750 cams, intake valves, Mikuni 29 smoothbores, velocity stacks, Dyna Igntion, MAC pipe and other goodies.
-1982 Ferrari 308 GTSi Red/Tan
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- RonKZ650
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321,000 miles on KZ's that I can remember. Not going to see any more.
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- reborn650
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Today I ordered a brake rebuild kit from Jeff @ Z1enterprises. This should solve my problem along with a good cleaning of the caliper interiors.
Just looking to get back to perfection with the old girl until another 30 year old part wears out
Cheers-Colin Firth-Ontario Canada
Post edited by: reborn650, at: 2007/10/02 19:19
-1977 Kz650 Custom bought new by brother. Now with 810 kit, GPz750 cams, intake valves, Mikuni 29 smoothbores, velocity stacks, Dyna Igntion, MAC pipe and other goodies.
-1982 Ferrari 308 GTSi Red/Tan
-Toyota FJ Cruiser - 6 speed tank
-2010 Mazda CX-7 Turbo (my bride's)
-1998 Jeep TJ Wrangler 4.0...
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- RonKZ650
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321,000 miles on KZ's that I can remember. Not going to see any more.
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- Patton
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The shop manual explains that the circular rubber seal around the piston tightly grips the piston. When the brake is applied, the piston does not slide through the seal, but only distorts the seal. When relaxed, the elasticity of the seal resumes its natural shape which returns the piston to its original position (where the piston isn't pushing the pad against the disc).
As the pads wear, the piston will eventually exceed the distortion limit of the seal and slip through the seal, whereby the seal assumes a new grip rest position around the piston, and fluid from the reservoir fills in behind the piston. The length of the lever stoke or pedal stroke remains unchanged, so the brake never needs adjustment.
The seal is made from special heat resistant rubber. (And relatively expensive when compared to the price of a garden variety o-ring.)
Best of luck with the caliper restoration.
1973 Z1
KZ900 LTD
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- gpzrox
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A little late, but that what I would try next.
84 GPZ750. Modded with stock Kawasaki parts: ZR-7 shock, ZX-6 coils, GPZ1100 throttle, EN454 brake, GPZ900 fuse box, etc. and non stock: Ken Sears mirrors, K&N filter, Pirelli Sport Demons.
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- bemoore
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77 KZ650C1 w/Kerker 4-1
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