Front Brakes Rubbing

[Caba]

I just took the bike out for a 100 mile spin on Saturday and as I was pulling in to the driveway, my wife (standing there waiting for me, oops!) said that it sounded like something was rubbing up front. I couldn't hear or feel anything significant during the ride, so I threw it up on the center stand and had her lean on the back to put the front in the air. Sure enough, when I spin the front, it won't coast more than 1/2 turn during my hardest spin.

Everything looks all right but it does have an audible rub and I thought I noticed a drop in milage during the last little bit. I thoroughly washed the bike and blew out the brake area afterward without any effect (hoping to get lucky).

I have put about 800 miles on since I hit the deer last fall and got new Avons at the same time. I don't think the discs are out of line because it has an even rub for the full turn of the wheel. There is plenty of pad left on the brakes and I don't notice anything in stopping.

Anyone have any Ideas? Is there a way to adjust them out? Could they just be sticking and need cleaned?

 

[skyway]

Is there a way to adjust them out?  Could they just be sticking and need cleaned?

No adjustment can be made. Strip them down and clean them. If your very careful and remove the reservoir cover and pump the brakes slowly, just enough to get at the dirt thats preventing brake release, and not enough to pop out parts and start fluid pissing everywhere, you will be able to clean them and gently squeeze the pads back out to clear the rotor.

This is the down and dirty method. The alternative is a complete strip down and clean, which will include bleeding the system.

 

[exskibum]

Before I cleaned them, I'd check to see whether it did the same thing when the bike has been sitting several hours and is cold. If you don't get that same symptom, it's possible that you have contaminated brake fluid (remember, it's hygroscopic) and any water in the system that vaporizes (slave cylinder gets heated from brake operation) can work to exert pressure to push the pads against the disc, like you're lightly braking.

Don't know for sure about the FJR's brake system, but this has been an occasional problem on motorcycle disc brakes for years -- the more heat the particular system (and pads) transmit from pad/disc interface to piston to brake fluid, the more likely the problem, but it does depend on having water contaminated fluid. Probably the main reason that it's a good idea to change brake fluid annually -- being hygroscopic, it even absorbs moisture from humidity in the air.

If that ain't what it is, I'm afraid Skyway's right and there's no easy way around it.