Brake caliper pistons not retracting

heffree · April 11th, 2014, 04:26 PM

My front caliper is dragging pretty badly and making a loud scraping noise at the moment. I'm kind of a bike noob and not entirely sure how everything works but are the pistons in the caliper supposed to retract at all when I'm not braking? If so, they aren't.
If not, what else could be causing the problem?

accumack · April 11th, 2014, 04:53 PM

Sounds like you may need new brake pads. How many miles are on your pads?

Flying · April 11th, 2014, 05:29 PM

If the pads are still in spec and are not contaminated, your slide pins or piston may be seizing.

Our brake system uses floating calipers. The pistons push on one side of the brake pads into the disc/second pad in order to brake.

The pads and caliper freely move along the caliper slide pin and guide bolts that keep the whole system moving with the rotor. This allows the brake system to move with imperfections in the rotor. The destiny of every motorcycle rotor is to get f-ed up and scored and eventually replaced. This system will reduce vibrations and extend pad life as your rotor wears and develops defects (over thousands of miles).

Normally the pads and caliper should stay in light contact with the rotor, not enough to create any real braking force until you pull the lever. The pistons should remain extended unless pushed back in by force.

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

Whiskey · April 11th, 2014, 06:12 PM

Check your pads, check if the pistons are clean, and the pins are clean & very lightly greased with copper grease.

If the pistons are covered in baked on crud (pretty likely) get a can of disc brake cleaner & an old toothbrush to them. clean the pistons whenever you change the pads

heffree · April 11th, 2014, 07:00 PM

I just replaced the brake pads today, still have the same problem. Could it just be the rotor? If so, any recommendations for where to get one?
I'll try giving the pistons a good cleaning before buying anything though.
Thanks guys!

Motofool · April 11th, 2014, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heffree

.............I'll try giving the pistons a good cleaning before buying anything though..............

In the future, clean pistons before replacing pads; otherwise, dirt and crude will go deeper as the new (thicker) pads force the dirty pistons in.

Use this guide for cleaning:
http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/Brake_caliper_rebuild

April 11th, 2014, 04:26 PM	#1
heffree ninjette.org member Name: Jeff Location: Utah Join Date: Mar 2014 Motorcycle(s): EX250 Posts: 24	Brake caliper pistons not retracting My front caliper is dragging pretty badly and making a loud scraping noise at the moment. I'm kind of a bike noob and not entirely sure how everything works but are the pistons in the caliper supposed to retract at all when I'm not braking? If so, they aren't. If not, what else could be causing the problem?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Brake caliper rebuild help	agentbad	1986 - 2007 Ninja 250R Tech Talk	3	April 6th, 2014 10:24 AM
2010 Ninja 250r Brake fluid bleed/Replacement and brake caliper cleaning	RandomPhantom	2008 - 2012 Ninja 250R Tech Talk	1	May 30th, 2013 08:13 PM
Brake caliper pistons	JamesNZ	2008 - 2012 Ninja 250R Tech Talk	19	January 22nd, 2012 09:47 PM
Brake Caliper and paint.	Penguin250	2008 - 2012 Ninja 250R Farkles	11	June 26th, 2011 05:19 PM
Rear brake caliper	Reswob	2008 - 2012 Ninja 250R Tech Talk	4	April 8th, 2010 08:16 PM

April 11th, 2014, 04:53 PM	#2
accumack ninjette.org member Name: jim Location: texas currently in Temecula Valley CA Join Date: May 2013 Motorcycle(s): honda crf230l & 2013 ninja 300se wife has Honda crf230l & honda cbr250r repsol Posts: 222	Sounds like you may need new brake pads. How many miles are on your pads?

April 11th, 2014, 05:29 PM	#3
Flying ninjette.org sage Name: - Location: somewhere cold Join Date: Jun 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Ninja 250 Posts: 596 Blog Entries: 1	If the pads are still in spec and are not contaminated, your slide pins or piston may be seizing. Our brake system uses floating calipers. The pistons push on one side of the brake pads into the disc/second pad in order to brake. The pads and caliper freely move along the caliper slide pin and guide bolts that keep the whole system moving with the rotor. This allows the brake system to move with imperfections in the rotor. The destiny of every motorcycle rotor is to get f-ed up and scored and eventually replaced. This system will reduce vibrations and extend pad life as your rotor wears and develops defects (over thousands of miles). Normally the pads and caliper should stay in light contact with the rotor, not enough to create any real braking force until you pull the lever. The pistons should remain extended unless pushed back in by force. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

April 11th, 2014, 06:12 PM	#4
Whiskey ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Morgan Location: A city twinned with Kawasaki Join Date: Nov 2011 Motorcycle(s): '08 Ninja 250, 2010 STR 675 Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 1	Check your pads, check if the pistons are clean, and the pins are clean & very lightly greased with copper grease. If the pistons are covered in baked on crud (pretty likely) get a can of disc brake cleaner & an old toothbrush to them. clean the pistons whenever you change the pads

April 11th, 2014, 07:00 PM	#5
heffree ninjette.org member Name: Jeff Location: Utah Join Date: Mar 2014 Motorcycle(s): EX250 Posts: 24	I just replaced the brake pads today, still have the same problem. Could it just be the rotor? If so, any recommendations for where to get one? I'll try giving the pistons a good cleaning before buying anything though. Thanks guys!