Topic: New brake pads too tight for the caliber?

[janne_83]

Hey!

So I changed my brake pads today to my 1978 CB 500 but had a problem. The new pads are really tight for the caliber and when they are in place the front wheel is locked. When I loose the nuts of the caliber, the front wheel starts to rotate but after pressing on the brake lever the front wheel is locked again.

It seems like the new pads are too tight for the front brake to release the brake pad after the brake lever is released. I tried to lubricate the pad from the sides but it didn't help.

I tried to measure the diameter for the old and new pad (with a standard vernier caliper) but they seem exactly the same. The new pads has got a thin layer of black paint (picture) and it feels like the paint is just a little too much but I don't feel like modifying new parts and definitely not brake parts, so I don't think removing the paint is the first option. On the other hand, I definitely don't want a front brake that can lock the front wheel while riding.

Any help on this, please? All hints and tips are valuable.

[Steve_K]

You will need to remove the paint.  Others have had to do the same.  Use some brake grease where the paint was, but not too much.
Steve

[Eydugstr]

You will need to remove the paint.  Others have had to do the same.  Use some brake grease where the paint was, but not too much.
Steve

+1.  Scuff the painted edges with a wire brush.

[jonda500]

+2 remove the paint- original ones aren't painted. I had to not only remove all the paint but also some of the metal on one set I bought! The pad should be easy to slide in and out of the calliper, John

[Terry in Australia]

You'll need to remove the paint as suggested above, but it also could be that the pads are too fat. I installed some non-OEM pads on my K1 a few years ago, and had exactly the same problem. Eventually I pulled them back out and installed another set, and haven't had a problem since. Just because they look right abd are advertised to fit your bike, doesn't mean they are...........

[janne_83]

Thank you all very much for your help! I'm new with the CB but now I know what to do next 

The problem concerned also the outer pad but I'll leave that in place because the pad is passive and doesn't require any space to move back and forth.

The new pad actually looked pretty fat so the problem may occur even if I remove the surface paint.. let's see.

[Deltarider]

Why not fit genuine Honda brake pads? They've been upgraded over the years and - as always - fit perfectly.

[PeWe]

I had to grind off the thick black paint (like powder coat) on my new CB750 K6 SBS pads to make them fit and possible to move inside the caliper.  I got the feeling when grinding paint off that inner pad must be able to move too, a little to adapt to the disc

[camelman]

Did you take the front axle nut off? If it is installed with the flats outboard, then it'll cause this same issue. The flats should be inboard. Even if you didn't pull the nut, you should verify the nut is installed correctly...

Also, did you install the nylon washer behind the pad? If it slips out of center, then it can force the brake pad proud.

[jonda500]

Sometimes the aftermarket pads have slightly too much pad thickness - mine was rubbing/dragging and making the wheel hard to turn even after removing the black paint - I just took it for a ride and after braking hard a few times it came good - but I was only riding around the block, I wouldn't recommend riding far with the brakes dragging!
John

[Sockeye]

I'm about to order pads for my CB750F1 and am reading about fitting issues. So where do I buy a set that will fit correctly? Looking at the OEM part sites, the pads are listed as obsolete.

[janne_83]

It's been a while, but removing all the paint was exactly what it needed. I took off the paint from both of the pads, also from the surface that contacts the piston. The pads easily slided into their place and started working perfectly.

I used a drill with a round "wire brush" -bit and the job was done in 5 minutes.

Thanks for all your help!

[Deltarider]

Here's some more help. Use genuine Honda parts.