Topic: Front brake drag issue

[cosmicvision]

Brake squeaks whilst riding & has a little drag that you can feel rocking it back & forth at a stop. So I mount bike on center stand & loosen brake adjust screw all the way out...brake drags. Tighten adjust screw all the way in...brake drags.



I just want a freespinning front wheel man, is this too much to ask?

[lucky]

I think you need to take the front brake caliper off and closely inspect it . Maybe the piston is sticking in the bore.

[Ausmithe]

One thing that could cause the piston to stop fully retracting is a worn out piston gasket, or o-ring. Pull your caliper and inspect to see if it needs cleaning or more likely just replacing.

[70CB750]

If nobody rebuilt the caliper since 74, this is not unexpected. 

I fixed my caliper - read unstuck - when I got my K0, but it would always talked to me while riding - sometimes more, sometimes less.

When I went to dual setup, I rebuilt both calipers, fresh rings and such, replaced hoses and brake fluid and used vacuum grease to lube the pad. 
Knock on the wood, she is quiet and there is no drag at all.

[HondanutRider]

This problem (or squeaky front brakes) keeps coming up. Lucky has mentioned a probable cause for for this problem.  The solution is a clean rebuild of the caliper, with correct assembly of the pads and caliper hinge.  As well, the master cylinder needs to operate correctly (e.g. releases pressure) and the brake hoses need to be solid.

All this has been discussed many times before...if it it isn't already, it needs to be properly documented and filed in Tips & Tricks or somewhere so that everyone can find it and agree on solutions. 

My front brake on the CB350F squeaked and dragged badly after I first rebuilt/restored it.  I researched the the problem and analyzed how it was supposed to work.  Then I reassembled it using some anti-seize, dielectric grease, and silicone - all in the correct places - and it works perfectly now.  It continues to operate without any drag or squeal even after extended periods of sitting idle.  I mention this to indicate that this problem can be solved and these brakes can operate correctly.

[Fritz]

I just want a freespinning front wheel man, is this too much to ask?

All your front brake wants is proper maintenance, is this too much to ask?



Listen to HondanutRider. The front brake is the most important device on your bike. It deserves a master cylinder rebuild, fresh brake lines, new piston seals, original Honda pads and high quality grease to keep dust and moisture out. Mine rewarded me with more than 10,000 squeak free miles.

[sam059]

Look at the master cylinder. There is a tiny hole in bottom of master cylinder that is the return feed. If this is plugged or restrickted the fluid behind the caliper piston has no place to go, not releasing caliper. If the piston in the caliper is not seized and moving i suspect the issue is in brake master. Good luck.

[tlbranth]

If you adjust all the way in, it WILL drag. And all the way out WILL drag. You adjust so that the stationary puck juuuuuust clears the rotor. The deformation of the piston seal then pulls the moving puck back just the right amount. It's kind of a fine adjustment and takes a bit of patience. Caliper needs to be in good shape and rotor needs to have no runout for this to work.