tapping sound in front brake caliper

[Guest]

I have a 78' GS550 and I changed the front caliper brake pads a few months back and whenever I lightly squeeze the front brake lever, I hear a metal tapping sound on the disc brake. The bike brakes and stops as it should, but whenever I roll it forward/backwards and lightly play with the brake lever, I hear the tapping sound. When rolling, you can kinda hear the brake pad and disc brake rub a little, but its a very very light sound that I really wouldn't think it would matter.

Is the tapping sound normal though?

[hillsy]

This is a schematic of your caliper:



As you can see the caliper "floats" on pins (11 and 12) with o rings to hold in grease. There is quite a bit of scope for wear and slop to develop.

Check every thing is tight, then try and "wiggle" the caliper without depressing the lever. If you can re-create the noise then there is wear. Pull the caliper off and inspect the pins. A little bit of slop is OK, but excessive play should be looked into.

[TyeGuy]

Thanks hillsy

When you say slop, do you mean old excessive grease? I'll inspect caliper and pins after Thanksgiving and take a listen. However, just listening to it tonight, it doesn't really seem like wiggle in the caliper would cause the sound. It got a light "ting" sound thats coming from the disc brake and pad. But like I said, I'll take another closer look after Thanksgivings

[hillsy]

By "slop" I meant movement or play.

The outer pad may be moving around as the brake is applied which could be causing the sound you describe.

[Burque73]

I have a 78' GS550 and I changed the front caliper brake pads a few months back and whenever I lightly squeeze the front brake lever, I hear a metal tapping sound on the disc brake. The bike brakes and stops as it should, but whenever I roll it forward/backwards and lightly play with the brake lever, I hear the tapping sound. When rolling, you can kinda hear the brake pad and disc brake rub a little, but its a very very light sound that I really wouldn't think it would matter.

Is the tapping sound normal though?

Did you figure out the weird sound? I thought about you yesterday when I spun my front wheel while off the ground and heard a slight clicking sound from the speedometer drive unit. Could this be what you're hearing?
Oh, just reread your post and it seems to coincide with brake pads. Maybe the new pads just need to seat onto the rotors.