Here's One for the Books

**cheesy** · 08-19-2010, 09:08 AM

I'm riding the Hi Bird to work this morning. Stop and gas up(premium), then cruised through a residential area. As I pulled away from a stop sign, I got this horrible noise that sounded like rocks in a tin can. The bike didn't feel funny, engine was running fine, bike wasn't shaking.

I squeeze the front the front brake lever just a tad and the noise stops. I release it, rocks in a tin can. I look down at the caliper and the floating side is dancing around in the stationary side. Hmm! New one on me.

Anyway, rode back home, SLOWLY, parked the bike. Mounting bolts are tight, just seems that the floating side of the caliper floats just a tad too much. Drove the Jeep into work.

So, new caliper, new rotor or both?

katoranger · 08-19-2010, 09:24 AM

Not sure, but I have some parts here.

Weldangrind · 08-19-2010, 10:35 AM

I was going to pretend that I understand, but I don't. Got pics?

BTW, if I was going to replace the pads, I'd be seeking out Honda stuff.

Cal25 · 08-19-2010, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weldangrind

I was going to pretend that I understand, but I don't. Got pics?

BTW, if I was going to replace the pads, I'd be seeking out Honda stuff.

davidsonsgccc · 08-19-2010, 01:27 PM

maybe there is a missing thin metal clip or pad retainer. i dont know about your bike but a lot of cars have clips that keep light resistance on them to keep them from dragging rotor or viberating like you described.

hope this helps.
shawn

SpudRider · 08-19-2010, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weldangrind

I was going to pretend that I understand, but I don't. Got pics?

BTW, if I was going to replace the pads, I'd be seeking out Honda stuff.

X2! How can the piston float through the brake rotor? :?: Please do post some photos of this phenomenon.

If Cheesy has the generic, Chinese brake caliper, it is a Suzuki design.

http://chinariders.net/modules.php?n...ewtopic&t=6514

Spud

**cheesy** · 08-19-2010, 04:01 PM

I'll get some pics this evening. I was more concerned about getting home sans road rash than taking pics.

I started noticing a growl from the front brake last Saturday when I went out for a ride and noticed the slight wobble in the rotor and could see the floating part of the caliper following the wobble. The growl would disappear when I'd touch the brake. Which made me think of loose pads. Looks like the problem goes deeper.

FastDoc · 08-19-2010, 05:45 PM

Warped rotor perhaps?

**cheesy** · 08-19-2010, 09:13 PM

Okay, Here is a pic of what I found. This is the backside of my caliper. The two bolts on the right were loose.

Here is a short video of what I was trying to 'splain about the dancing caliper.

Tightening the bolts took care of that problem but another reared its ugly head. Lunched one of the rear wheel bearings. I heard a snapping noise when I backed the bike out of the garage and it sounded almost like a tight chain. I loosened the wheel to slacken the chain and the snap was still there. Removing the chain just verified what I thought, bad bearing.

Maybe I had been hearing the bearings death throes. Anyway, it's gonna hafta wait for a week or so before I attend to it. Side job this weekend and bizniz trip next week.

roketa200E5 · 08-19-2010, 11:06 PM

cheesy,

Great reminder to feel my calipers before the next ride.

Weldangrind · 08-19-2010, 11:30 PM

Now that the brake mystery is solved, I recommend quality sealed Japanese bearings for the wheels. They're cheap at the local bearing shop. I've been using Nachi.

BTW, Loctite is your friend for caliper bolts.

Cal25 · 08-20-2010, 08:59 AM

Glad you got that sorted out. The video helped me understand what you were going thru.

Rear wheel bearings are siple to take out and put in. Well, after I figured out that the spacer tube between the bearings needed to be nudged out of the way so there was a place to tap on the bearings.

**cheesy** · 08-20-2010, 01:35 PM

Motion Industries is just down the road from work. I figure I may as well do the front ones while I'm at it.

SpudRider · 08-20-2010, 03:02 PM

Practicing preventive maintenance, I've replaced the bearings on all my wheels.

In the process, I discovered the Zongshen wheel bearings are very good quality.

I invested in the Motion Pro bearing driver rods; they aren't expensive, and they make the job much easier.

http://www.bikebandit.com/motion-pro...LAID=338418890

Since I own several front, and rear wheels for my Zong, I purchased a small quantity of SKF, and Japanese wheel bearings over the internet from Bearing Resource.

http://chinariders.net/modules.php?n...ewtopic&t=7746

As an added bonus, I received a nice T-shirt.

Spud

driller · 08-21-2010, 01:30 AM

This whole post sounds very familiar, my front brake was rubbing and growling continuously. It was driving me nuts, I had ground the excess off the pads, checked and rechecked the bolts and the rotor to no avail. Today I finally think I have discovered the problem and fixed it. The left side pad(the floating pad) was enough undersized in the caliper that it hung up and was not sliding smoothly. I had some 3M aluminum tape that I trimmed to fit around the edge of the pad to shim it in the caliper. The pad now fits just snug enough to slide smoothly and the noise is gone. HOORAH!

08-19-2010, 09:08 AM	#1
cheesy Moderator Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Elburn, IL Posts: 5,814	Here's One for the Books I'm riding the Hi Bird to work this morning. Stop and gas up(premium), then cruised through a residential area. As I pulled away from a stop sign, I got this horrible noise that sounded like rocks in a tin can. The bike didn't feel funny, engine was running fine, bike wasn't shaking. I squeeze the front the front brake lever just a tad and the noise stops. I release it, rocks in a tin can. I look down at the caliper and the floating side is dancing around in the stationary side. Hmm! New one on me. Anyway, rode back home, SLOWLY, parked the bike. Mounting bolts are tight, just seems that the floating side of the caliper floats just a tad too much. Drove the Jeep into work. So, new caliper, new rotor or both? __________________ Cheesy ______________________________________ 07 Hi Bird Enduro-Flown the Coop 07 Ural Gear Up 79 Honda CX500 77 VeloSolex 4600 V3 73 VeloSolex 3800 I'm making this up as I go.-Indiana Jones Telling me something 'is for my own good', is a fast way to a fat lip.-Me I don't even care about my own problems, why should I care about yours?-Quote on one of my favorite t-shirts
	0

08-19-2010, 10:35 AM	#3
Weldangrind Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sardis, BC, Canada Posts: 25,977	I was going to pretend that I understand, but I don't. Got pics? BTW, if I was going to replace the pads, I'd be seeking out Honda stuff. __________________ Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer
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08-19-2010, 01:27 PM	#5
davidsonsgccc Join Date: May 2009 Location: Chickamauga, Ga. Posts: 278	maybe there is a missing thin metal clip or pad retainer. i dont know about your bike but a lot of cars have clips that keep light resistance on them to keep them from dragging rotor or viberating like you described. hope this helps. shawn __________________ my help may not be the best but it is free+-Seek ye first the kingdom of GOD
	0

08-19-2010, 04:01 PM	#7
cheesy Moderator Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Elburn, IL Posts: 5,814	I'll get some pics this evening. I was more concerned about getting home sans road rash than taking pics. I started noticing a growl from the front brake last Saturday when I went out for a ride and noticed the slight wobble in the rotor and could see the floating part of the caliper following the wobble. The growl would disappear when I'd touch the brake. Which made me think of loose pads. Looks like the problem goes deeper. __________________ Cheesy ______________________________________ 07 Hi Bird Enduro-Flown the Coop 07 Ural Gear Up 79 Honda CX500 77 VeloSolex 4600 V3 73 VeloSolex 3800 I'm making this up as I go.-Indiana Jones Telling me something 'is for my own good', is a fast way to a fat lip.-Me I don't even care about my own problems, why should I care about yours?-Quote on one of my favorite t-shirts
	0

08-19-2010, 05:45 PM	#8
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	Warped rotor perhaps? __________________ Happy to serve.
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08-19-2010, 09:24 AM	#2
katoranger Join Date: May 2007 Location: Altamont, Kansas Posts: 15,103	Not sure, but I have some parts here.
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08-19-2010, 09:13 PM	#9
cheesy Moderator Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Elburn, IL Posts: 5,814	Okay, Here is a pic of what I found. This is the backside of my caliper. The two bolts on the right were loose. Here is a short video of what I was trying to 'splain about the dancing caliper. Tightening the bolts took care of that problem but another reared its ugly head. Lunched one of the rear wheel bearings. I heard a snapping noise when I backed the bike out of the garage and it sounded almost like a tight chain. I loosened the wheel to slacken the chain and the snap was still there. Removing the chain just verified what I thought, bad bearing. Maybe I had been hearing the bearings death throes. Anyway, it's gonna hafta wait for a week or so before I attend to it. Side job this weekend and bizniz trip next week. __________________ Cheesy ______________________________________ 07 Hi Bird Enduro-Flown the Coop 07 Ural Gear Up 79 Honda CX500 77 VeloSolex 4600 V3 73 VeloSolex 3800 I'm making this up as I go.-Indiana Jones Telling me something 'is for my own good', is a fast way to a fat lip.-Me I don't even care about my own problems, why should I care about yours?-Quote on one of my favorite t-shirts
	0

08-19-2010, 11:06 PM	#10
roketa200E5 Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 234	cheesy, Great reminder to feel my calipers before the next ride.
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08-19-2010, 11:30 PM	#11
Weldangrind Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sardis, BC, Canada Posts: 25,977	Now that the brake mystery is solved, I recommend quality sealed Japanese bearings for the wheels. They're cheap at the local bearing shop. I've been using Nachi. BTW, Loctite is your friend for caliper bolts. __________________ Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer
	0

08-20-2010, 08:59 AM	#12
Cal25 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Terrell and Grapevine Tx. Posts: 1,585	Glad you got that sorted out. The video helped me understand what you were going thru. Rear wheel bearings are siple to take out and put in. Well, after I figured out that the spacer tube between the bearings needed to be nudged out of the way so there was a place to tap on the bearings.
	0

08-20-2010, 01:35 PM	#13
cheesy Moderator Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Elburn, IL Posts: 5,814	Motion Industries is just down the road from work. I figure I may as well do the front ones while I'm at it. __________________ Cheesy ______________________________________ 07 Hi Bird Enduro-Flown the Coop 07 Ural Gear Up 79 Honda CX500 77 VeloSolex 4600 V3 73 VeloSolex 3800 I'm making this up as I go.-Indiana Jones Telling me something 'is for my own good', is a fast way to a fat lip.-Me I don't even care about my own problems, why should I care about yours?-Quote on one of my favorite t-shirts
	0

08-20-2010, 03:02 PM	#14
SpudRider Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Idaho Posts: 25,054	Practicing preventive maintenance, I've replaced the bearings on all my wheels. In the process, I discovered the Zongshen wheel bearings are very good quality. I invested in the Motion Pro bearing driver rods; they aren't expensive, and they make the job much easier. http://www.bikebandit.com/motion-pro...LAID=338418890 Since I own several front, and rear wheels for my Zong, I purchased a small quantity of SKF, and Japanese wheel bearings over the internet from Bearing Resource. http://chinariders.net/modules.php?n...ewtopic&t=7746 As an added bonus, I received a nice T-shirt. Spud __________________ Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." Mark Twain 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894
	0

08-21-2010, 01:30 AM	#15
driller Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Lawrence, Ks. Posts: 195	This whole post sounds very familiar, my front brake was rubbing and growling continuously. It was driving me nuts, I had ground the excess off the pads, checked and rechecked the bolts and the rotor to no avail. Today I finally think I have discovered the problem and fixed it. The left side pad(the floating pad) was enough undersized in the caliper that it hung up and was not sliding smoothly. I had some 3M aluminum tape that I trimmed to fit around the edge of the pad to shim it in the caliper. The pad now fits just snug enough to slide smoothly and the noise is gone. HOORAH!
	0