Front Brakes

[mikeyhill]

I cant seem to remove the front brake caliper because of the front fender. Do I have to remove the fender or is their a trick to getting the caliper off.

[jonathan180iq]

The fender is only held on with 4 little 10mm bolts. (Located on either side of the fork.) Use a wrench and it pulls right off.

[alantf]

There should be no need to remove the fender. An Allen key bolt holds the caliper on, then when removed, another allen bolt holds the pads in. If you need to remove the fender, you're doing something wrong. :cry:

[mikeyhill]

So I see the bolts and can pop off the fender thanks. But I cant get the caliper off as it bangs into the fender. What am i doing wrong?

[blaine]

So I see the bolts and can pop off the fender thanks. But I cant get the caliper off as it bangs into the fender. What am i doing wrong?
Do you have the piston in the caliber pushed all the way back,so the caliber will tip,and slide off the mount?
:cool: :)

[cayuse]

I don't recall having a problem. If you pull out the allen bolts it should wiggle out. It IS a tight fit to the fender but it will work.

[mikeyhill]

I will try to get the caliper past the fender.

[geezer]

ok hopefully i got to you in time. before you remove the caliper you should first push back the piston so that way you can get your new pads which will be thicker on with no problems. to do this i use a flat head screwdriver

[blaine]

ok hopefully i got to you in time. before you remove the caliper you should first push back the piston so that way you can get your new pads which will be thicker on with no problems. to do this i use a flat head screwdriver
:plus1: Said that in my last post. :poke2:

[geezer]

yeah you did :neener: but two people saying it is better than one :lol:

[mikeyhill]

Thanks everybody for the help. I needed to un bolt 1 side of the fender to allow the caliper past. After that thanks for the tip about the piston it worked like a dream.

Front brakes done!

[mikeyhill]

Got the pads on but now when i drive along get a squeaking from the front wheel which stops when i pull the brakes.

Should I be concerned?

[geezer]

go to autozone and let them know whats happening. they will give you some stuff and tell you how to use it. go ahead.

[mikeyhill]

What stuff?

[geezer]

:lol: didnt i say to trust me? its an anti rattle cream, it would be easier fo ryou go to them . they will show you what it is and how to use it in person. which is better than me trying to tell you over a computer. no mush!!

[mikeyhill]

Ok thanks. I take it i have put the pads in correctly as the bike stops when i pull the brake and i don't hear grinding

[geezer]

not sure what you mean. but once you get the anti rattle cream you will have to remove the pads again (something you should be real good at) and apply the stuff to the backing plate on the pad and anywhere that backing plate touches the caliper. then your noise should go away ;)

[Jere]

What about squeaking while applying the brake? Same deal or do I get other stuff? :)

[cayuse]

Mikey,
Something sounds seriously wrong if you are getting a constant squeaking while riding along, without applying the brakes. Try lifting your bike up on the kickstand and the rear wheel and see if you can spin the front wheel. (maybe get a friend to help)
Is there a lot of squeaky drag on the wheel? Shouldn't be.

[mikeyhill]

So I took the pads out and then put them back in. I went for a test ride 1st 10 minutes no squeak then just as i got home high pitch whistle came back at slow speeds.

I put the bike up off the ground and spun the wheel don't think it was dragging. Any ideas?

[geezer]

take it all apart again and do a vigorous cleaning of everything. inspect the pads for some kinda contamination. do you still have the old pads? if so intall them if the noise goes away BINGO your pads are garbage dont forget to reaply that lube stuff. did you get the orange stuff from autozone? thats tuff has worked well for a few months now for me

[mikeyhill]

Ok so I got brake cleaner and the orange stuff and will try that tonight.

[geezer]

good deal. its hard to belive it but that stuff works.

[jonathan180iq]

How loud are these sounds?

I have a buddy that tries to dissect every little creak his car makes and he is the same way with his bike.

Parts that move will make some noise. That's just a given.
I just want to make sure you aren't listening too hard and trying to fix something that isn't broken.

[mikeyhill]

The noise is a light squeak about 10 minutes after i have been riding, it stops if I pull the brakes.

[Water Warrior 2]

Keep in mind that the brake pads are always in contact with the disc. You will get a slight dragging noise even pushing the bike around by hand. You might try a few very aggressive braking sessions to bed in the new pads.
Did you get new pads from Suzuki or the aftermarket ? Some aftermarket stuff can be a really hard material that will probably squeak till #ell freezes over.

[mikeyhill]

The squeak has stoped fingers crossed. Thanks for everybody's help.

[geezer]

was gonna ask if you lubed the calibper slides

[5th_bike]

Did you pull the two shims (thin metal plates) from the back of the old brake pads and onto your new brake pads ? If not, that could cause the squeal.

[mrlmd1]

New brakes frequently squeak for a short while and then they stop as they wear in.