clicking noise- apply rear,front brake

[Keef]

Hey guy's, I have replaced all my brake pads. Went for a drive and I get this clicking noise when I use the rear,front brake. Not just the front but the combination of rear, one front. It clicks really fast or slow depending on speed when I start to brake. They work great, it's just the noise. Something not right.
I read where others have had this problem and stating that the Top Hat bushing was not installed correctly. Went to cycle Max
and viewed the caliber and did not see any thing called a TOP HAT or looked like one.

Can some one send me a picture or tell me exactly where this is so I can look at mine to see if this is the problem??

1997 GL1500 Aspencade Thanks a Million!!!!!

[WingAdmin]

Is the clicking coming from the front or the rear?

[Keef]

IT's coming from the left front.

[WingAdmin]

If you have the bike on the center stand, prop some wood (or a trolley jack) under the engine block to just lift the front wheel off the ground, then spin the wheel with someone gently applying the brake, can you better localize where the sound is coming from?

[Keef]

Did that. It's coming from the left front caliper.
Can't figure why yet......

[robb]

Check that 1 of the pads is not laying flat against the rotor. If not flat it will dig into the rotor slots when brakes are applied.

[Keef]

Thanks will do, as soon as the storm passes......today

[WingAdmin]

Also make sure the sliders are not bound up - this will keep the caliper from centering normally, and will cause too much free play on one side, and not enough on the other.

Look at the pads - if the inside is worn much more than the outside (or vice versa), or if the pad is worn on one end more than the other, that's a good indication of slider issues. The second one (worn more on one end than the other) could also indicate a bound up or seized piston.

[FM-USA]

IT's coming from the left front.

My last pad replacement did the same thing.
Everything was in place but still clicked.
#3 tear down I tried switching the pads around, it worked. WHY? I have no idea.

[robb]

Look at the metal coating on pad, have seen some with a bubble on end that was enough to cause uneven wear.

[gford]

the front left caliber has to be lined up or you will get clicking on the brake rotor. Loosen the pinch bolts on the left side and move the left axle out a bit to the groove in the axle.

[Keef]

Took the caliper back apart today. The pads were laying flat according to how they wore. The slider pins are nice and smooth.
Made sure the axle was in correctly. Put the grove of the axle just pass the fork. Cleaned every thing real good. Pads looked fine.
Reversed the pads.
The bolts on the disk are not hitting any thing. I can see nothing hitting any thing.
I put my hand on the caliper and spin the tire and I can feel the taping noise. I have had the caliper off and spin the wheel and no noise.

Hate to say it,,, but I give up. Going to drive it until I see some kind of wear or something happens or it quits ticking................

Thanks all for your help............

[Sidcar]

I've had this problem since I fitted EBC sintered pads but only on the rear brake, the fronts are fine. I've stripped the the brake, checked the pads are flat and true, etc, even tried another disc, but the noise persists. The brake is better than with the old pads so at the moment I'm driving to see if it goes away. Unfortunately I threw the old pads away so I can't put them back in to see if the noise disappears.

Sid

[Keef]

Sid,, yes I did the same thing too, threw the old ones away. I have the EBC organic pads. Softer but less wear on the disk.
Maybe after they get broke in a little bit, the noise will go away.....

[FM-USA]

I have the EBC organic pads. Softer but less wear on the disk.

Organic Pads... Careful in rain, they fade.

KEEF, try disconnecting the odometer cable at the axle, tie it up and ride.

[alwims]

I had the exact same problem after replacing the pads on my 08 1800. The clicking was more annoying than anything else. It went away after I had to do a very fast panic stop with my RAH trailer on the back. Was going 75mph when the traffic just stopped to rubberneck an accident in the opposite lane. I didn't lock them up, but could smell asbestos from the brakes. That was 4 weeks ago and no clicking since.

[OldZX11Rider]

My right front makes a noise. More of a rattling noise when I use it. I've got new EBC organic pads for both front discs. I hope that will get rid of that noise.
I've checked the calipers and they're tight.

[Keef]

I have the EBC organic pads. Softer but less wear on the disk.

Organic Pads... Careful in rain, they fade.

KEEF, try disconnecting the odometer cable at the axle, tie it up and ride.

It's not the odometer cable, the noise is there when I brake. Not all the time.

[FM-USA]

Was meaning the odometer gear at the axle might click once per revolution.
.

[Keef]

O , yea it's ticking a lot more than that. Like one guy said: like when you used to put a card on bicycle spokes.

Thanks fer trying.......

[Aussie81Interstate]

My best guess would be that the slider pins on both calipers need to be greased up - mine had a similar problem, but I have not replaced the brake pads in mine yet. The slider pins on both sides were nice and smooth - but dry as a bone, as soon as they got greased up - they let the caliper float like it should and all the clicking noise went away.

The only other thing I would check for is a warped disc?

[Keef]

The only other thing I would check for is a warped disc?

Thanks Aussie, looked at the pins and they r smooth and greased. As far as a warped disk, it did not do it with the other pads .

Guess the saying is true : Don't fix it if it isn't broke : Old pads were only half way gone, but I had to have new all the way around!
The ones on the back are doing fine and the ones on the right side are doing fine. The ones on the left are just making that ticking noise!
Driving me crazy!!

[FM-USA]

Don't cross any questionable borders, they might take you in for interrogation.
(tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick)

I knew I read this somewhere... by-''FUGLY''
**the TOP HAT spacer on the lower caliper hanger was put in the wrong way round**
I think this BUSHING is what he's talking about.

______________________________________
IF you're tearing down again but first, wheel up, rotate and with a strong light and your mirror, unless you did that already.
Wipe down the rotor, clear packing tape over the rotors bolts and spin.

One hand on the caliper, spin to feel ticking.
Also can use a long screwdriver and hold the handle to your ear while touching various parts of the caliper and odometer gear, zoom in on the ticking. (use this method on your engine, be amazed at the sounds)

Look for hard spots on the ticking pads. I had a few on my XS1100 and digging it out a little fixed it.
Well. . . . both front brakes use the same pads, switch?

HOPE ya find it this time round.

[Keef]

Thanks FM for sending the pix. I will definitely check that bushing out today some time.
As far as switching the pads, I don't know. Hate to do that after they have already seated a little.
Thanks again........

[FM-USA]

Thanks FM for sending the pix. I will definitely check that bushing out today some time.
As far as switching the pads, I don't know. Hate to do that after they have already seated a little.
Thanks again........

IF that bushing is correct the other thing to do before reassembling.
File a taper off the leading edge of the pads.
Not quite this much, but you get the idea.

.
ALSO, be sure the pads are properly seated in the spring (PURPLE)