I just rebuild the front calipers on my 84 650 last summer.  Bought
new pads and rebuld kits.  They wouldn't release the rotor and I
couldn't move my bike.  They were so stuck, I had to use the brake
line and pump the handle to get the pistons out.  Too forever and was
a real mess.  Be prepared for anything when it comes to brakes and
rebuilding calipers.  I hope I never have to do that again.

On Feb 10, 4:37 pm, stanley/ Randolph <[email protected]> wrote:
> Wrong term, I guess.  I have a slightly sticking caliper, and noticed that it 
> was difficult for it to push the pads back.  Of course, I perceived it as 
> slight warpage but it only happened when I first used the front brake on my 
> 450.  After riding a minute or so it the slight squeak of the pad rubbing 
> stopped, until I applied the front brake again.  So the caliper was slow 
> retracting, I figure, and the slight off-center was, I surmised, to push the 
> pads back away from the rotor.
> It has only 10,000 miles on it, but I think it sat a good while, because the 
> usual carb problem evidenced itself, only mildly, upon initial cold start.  
> Acetone took care of most of it, but still a very slight hesitation 
> before/during warmup if the choke is not at least partially engaged.
> I haven't ridden in a while and last time I took it for a spin, just around 
> the storage complex, the front caliper stuck and wouldn't come loose again, 
> clamping down more the warmer it got as it dragged.   It does release after 
> it cools down, but acts up again if I use the front brake.
> I will have to do some teardown of my own, to clean and re-seal a caliper...
> BTW the disc is clean, smooth, and no discoloration.
>  
> Stanley
>  
>  
>  
>
> --- On Mon, 2/8/10, Dennis Hammerl <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> From: Dennis Hammerl <[email protected]>
> Subject: Re: [Nighthawk Lovers] stuck brake caliper 82 750
> To: [email protected]
> Date: Monday, February 8, 2010, 9:48 PM
>
> Warp on the pads ? Shouldn't be. The rotors have a "wave" of +/-- .005"  The 
> machine that grinds them is a real trip, computer operated and all. The 
> calipers "float" and will "follow" the wave when the brakes are applied. Once 
> the brakes are released, the wave bats the pads away and the pads spend very 
> little time in contact with the spinning rotor. When a bike emits a pulsed 
> brake squeal, the calipers have gotten stuck and don't float anymore. The 
> 70's bikes had a pivoted arm for the caliper and used single piston brakes. 
> Once they started to use longer pads and double piston calipers, they went to 
> a sliding sleeve setup so the pads would stay parallel. Pivots, sleeves, all 
> can rust up. 
> I had a Wing owner give me a ration over his "warped" rotor. (Rear of course, 
> most Wing owners don't use the front brakes) He went to turn it (scarred from 
> abuse) and noticed the warp (duh... in a lathe, sure you can) He proceeded to 
> turn it flat. By the time he had a complete pass on one side, it was below 
> minimum thickness. I got the last laugh. He had an Aspencade with ventilated 
> rotors. $270 to replace. Tough darts..
>
> From: stanley/ Randolph <[email protected]>
> To: [email protected]
> Sent: Mon, February 8, 2010 12:25:08 PM
> Subject: Re: [Nighthawk Lovers] stuck brake caliper 82 750
>
> That is most excellent to know.  I noticed the warp on the pads of my 450, 
> and wondered about it, thinking it might be something like that. 
>  
> Stanley
>
> --- On Sun, 2/7/10, Dennis Hammerl <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> From: Dennis Hammerl <[email protected]>
> Subject: Re: [Nighthawk Lovers] stuck brake caliper 82 750
> To: [email protected]
> Date: Sunday, February 7, 2010, 2:07 PM
>
> Rotors can not be turned(#). Replace only. Rebuild caliper/s as needed. 
> Aftermarket pads can be better than OEM. Please avoid sintered metallic pads. 
> The OEM are sintered and cause huge wear.
>
> # Rotors are not flat, turning them makes them flat and end result is below 
> minimum spec thickness. Rotors have a deliberate warp to make pads retract 
> and not drag. Very different from auto think. Calipers "float" and track the 
> warp without problems.
>
> From: mongoose22p <[email protected]>
> To: Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers! <[email protected]>
> Sent: Sun, February 7, 2010 2:36:20 PM
> Subject: [Nighthawk Lovers] stuck brake caliper 82 750
>
> yes i need some help with my bike the brake caliper on 750 82 it has
> 30.000 miles and it chewed up my right side rotor pretty bad can they
> be turned like a car i dont know anything about it is it brake shoes
> that have it stuck previous owner must have rode it with it stuck to
> tear up rotor i have replacement i bought 2 on ebay should i change
> both rotors or just bad one should i change pads if so what kind
> should i get is caliper bad or just stuck what usually happens thanks
> steve
>
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