Wassup fellas,

I just purchased and installed new Galfer blue break pads for the 54 and it sounds like they are dragging at low speeds. I put the bike on the front stand and tried to spin the wheel, and it spins for about a half a turn. Is it normal to hear new pads rubbing against the rotors or are my pads dragging? If they are dragging, how do I fix it? Maybe, I need to get use to the sound since they are new and not stock. My stock pads made this noise only when I pushed the bike around, not while riding and they weren't this loud.
What do you think?

Thanks in advance
Chico

2k2 may be able to answer your question? weeee

its completely normal for the brake to "kiss" and that's the sound you are hearing... but it shoudn't "kiss" so hard that it actually slows or stops the wheel from turning.

It will "kiss" because when you apply pressure on the brakes, there isn't a force that returns the brake to its full "off" position (like in air brakes)

noise has been noted on many occasions from the front brakes on 954's.
The 2 I had had slight noise till about 1000 miles on the pads but not much after.
There has been notes of certain pads being more loud or grindy sounding than others too.

Chico, did you compress the pistons fully (with the resevoir cover off to let the back pressure out while compressing the caliper's pistons) when you installed the new pads?
if you did so but not all the way the caliper may be sticking slightly and producing what Friction954 is calling "kissing" from the increased friction of a sticky caliper. if you did so but had the fluid cover still on you may be having a pressure build up.

the main thing I was thinkin initialy was that you sould re-check your mounting and also if you put the lil metal anti-chatter/squeel thingies back in properly.
Those things do not need to be re-installed. no harmfull side effects will arise from not re-installing them.
If installed improperly they may provide pressure to the pads.


ahhhh lastly but firstly if you're paying attention... it is a slight possibility that the new pads have just a wee bit more thickness than the stockers do by a mere cunt-hair (hehehe) and they need to be worn down ever so slightly till they go back to that 'fine drag' that you described having with your stock pads.


I just say bleed the brakes and be merry :D (only after you check the mounting over again)

gntbldr, Yes I compressed the pistons fully with the resevoir cover off and I saw the fluid rise afterwards. I noticed that 4 pistons exist in each caliper but only two are pushing out on the pad, I think this normal since its occurring in both calipers, am I correct? I understand why they arent going back in as Friction954 said, so that's normal, but do all 4 pistons suppose to push out on the pads or just two suppose to push out on the pads? If 4 suppose to maybe 2 of mines are sticking in both calipers.

I'll see what you guys say about how many pistons suppose to push out in each caliper, if only 2 then I think I'll wait until I get about 1000 miles on the new pads and see if the sound go away when they wear down some. These pads are slightly thicker than stock and they bite hard when I apply the brakes, not complaining about that.

Thanks for the info.

I do believe that only two should push per caliper. If all four pushed then the 2 opposing pistons would fight each other times 2 (for both sides)

no worries. Let them loosen up a lil and see how it goes.
I personaly would go do a few high speed stops to get some wear down so they don't drag too much for just toolin around and then possibly warp the rotors (but that's just a slight possibilty on the warping... I'd do it just to play it safe and to also have a little fun with trial and error)...just find the right roads to air it out on first :wink:

Cool deal...thanks for responding.

yw. :)