First off Hub, this has nothing to do with my ZX-14, front brakes are perfect on Big Red. After changing the front tire on my CBR for the first time about two weeks ago, I now have heavy front disc drag. I took her completely back apart twice, each time checking the spacers, alignment, re-torquing everything, bouncing up and down on the front suspension and pumping the front brake with the pinch bolts loose and then retorquing. All the usual tricks to no avail, there is still heavy drag on the front discs. Up on the stand with the wheel off the ground, a healthy spin and she stops in about 1/4 turn. My ZX front will spin several revolutions. When I roll her in and out of the garage I can feel and hear the drag. Local Honda shop wants to look at it under warranty, they think the caliper pistons are sticking and not pulling the pads back clear of the rotor. Makes no sense, it rolled free before the wheel was off for the tire change and the bike is still brand new, barely out of break-in. My theory is that when I re-assembled, the lower fork legs are not perfectly parallel with each other, maybe a few thou off. The front axle is designed so that it can be moved in and out relative to the left lower fork leg apparently for adjustment reasons. Since the rotors are mounted on the wheel and the calipers on the lower legs, there is some room to get things a hair off center. In theory, calipers are self-centering and this should pose no problem. Since the radial calipers are precison fit into bushings on the lower fork legs though, this may be throwing my pads slightly off with respect to the rotor, i.e pads and rotor no longer perfectly parallel. Again we are talking a few thousands here but enough to cause some drag. Given some time they probably will wear in to the new angle and stop dragging. I made a high speed run and checked front rotor temperature and it was barely warm to the touch so no harm being done. What sayest thou O' great purveyor of cycle knowledge and lore?
* Last updated by: Kruz on 12/17/2009 @ 3:17 PM *