A handful of brake questions

[robsGS850]

Not sure if it's better to ask these all at once or separate them out but here goes... replaced my brake pads this weekend, raised some newbie questions in my mind:

1. Uneven pad wear. The left side pads were worn down to the metal backing, lots of brake dust. The right side (throttle grip side) still only about half gone, not much dust. Is this normal? Indicate one or the other is stuck open (or shut, wearing down the pads too much?)

1a. As a side note the worn-down side was missing the rubber boot over the piston. This is a must-fix thing right? I'm guessing it's maybe why my brake fluid is so dirty...

2. How freely should the front wheel turn when spun by hand? (ie, how much drag on the rotor is normal?)

3. How much caliper grease on the pins? Thin coat or glob it on? Grease the back of the pads too? (two manual say two different things)

Thanks for reading and any light you can shed on these things.

rob

[Scotts]

Well you are at the right place. I'll do the best I can here.

#1 This is may be an indication that the rotors are a little rougher on one side than the other.

#1a Yes for me. I would fix. It protects the finish on the piston. Could be why your fluid is dirty.
could be other reasons as well.

2. should spin freely without brakes applied.

3. I only put a thin coat on. Too much attracts dirt.

How old is your bike? Do you ride it alot or is it just being resurrected?

Scott

[doctorgonzo]

Uneven wear could be a frozen piston as well, which gets pretty likely with a bad boot. I'd buy a rebuild kit and use it.

[robsGS850]

thanks all around.

Ordered the rebuild kits from Z1.

Weird, it's the bootless piston that seems to be the working caliper. Huh.


Bike is very high km (115k+) owned forever, replaced everything bit by bit. Ride it whenever i get the chance.

thanks for the great resource