GS850 Brakes - uh-oh what's that little piece that fell out?

[Anonymous]

1980 GS 850G - I'm still having problems getting these front disks to work correctly. I would be forever in the GSR's debt if someone experienced with this can help answer the following questions: 1) What is the small piece that is about a 1 inch long narrow band of metal with two tiny upturned ends. What's its function? Does it snap into place? It just fell out when I took off caliper and must be loosely fitted (both sides fell off). It seems like it might fit at top of caliper. Also are the the pad springs supposed to snap into place, it seems like they move around and don't seem to lock. Any other tips GREATLY appreciated!!!

[KGB]

That small little piece helps with vibration.
It snaps in between the pads, over the top of the pads.
All it does it keep pressure on the pads to stock vibration and noise.
No big deal.

[dpep]

As Keith says it is a shim that fits between the back of the pad and the caliper. You may now hear a faint click, click, click sound in the front that will go away when you squeeze the front brake slightly. Also your brake may now squeak when you come to a stop.

Neither one of these things is harmful, just irritating. I lost my shims somewhere along the way myself. I have read here that spreading a thin layer of silicone on the back of the pad will take care of those sypmtoms; haven't actually tried it myself.

[Anonymous]

Thanks guys - DP- that's exactly what the brakes were doing. What about the pad springs, should this lock into place in the caliper or is it moveable? It doesn't feel like it is seating correctly

[KW]

The bit you're talking about isn't the spring. These little bits with the upturned ends just sit onto the caliper then your pads sit on top of them. From what I can see they stop the steel of the brake pads digging into the alloy of the caliper.

I bought some of these calipers to fit to my GS750 and one of these was missing, and there are 2 small dents in the caliper where the pads have dug in.

And they just sit on there - they don't clip on.