Brake sound

[Spewgore]

Hi, I'm a new rider and new to bikes. I have a 2007 Honda shadow Spirt 750 C2. I'm noticing a slight sound from the front wheel, like the brake pads are just slightly touching the disc, like the sound of sliding paper across a desk. Of course I only hear this at very slow speed and just over the sound of engine idle. It goes away with the slightest brake pressure. Is this normal? Or should I be concerned about a wheel bearing issue or maybe a calliper adjustment. I honestly don't know if it was present when I first started riding the bike, I was more concerned with just being vertical on two wheels. Bike has 18.5k on it. I've done 500 of them in the last month. It was safety certified just this March.

 

[frekeyguy]

Pads will drag a tad. It depends on how much they drag - that would cause the issue.

IF its just minimal = normal

IF it is excessively wearing pads down - then you have an issue.

Is it a single piston caliper? or multiple piston caliper?

 

[Spewgore]

Thanks, the spec say its a "twin-piston" brake calliper. I was kind if sure it's not a bearing because like I say, the slightest pressure on the brake makes it stop.

 

[frekeyguy]

Best thing to do is ...suspect your front end and turn wheel by hand to feel/hear how bad or how normal it is.

 

[Spewgore]

Thanks, I'm going to do that tomorrow. I once ignored a slight sound in my car and it became a big sound, then a noise, then a grinding, then a $900 wheel bearing. Lol.

 

[sixstring]

Brake rubbing is perfectly normal but there are some things you can do to minimize it.

I'm not 100% familiar with the Shadow but try loosening the pinch bolts and finger torque the axle. If the wheels spins more freely then the dimensions of your wheel spacers might be slightly off causing the forks (and thus calipers) and rotors to not be 100% parallel. I noticed this issue first on my bike which I had machined spacers for but noticed it again on a first gen R6 with OEM spacers. This doesn't affect riding or braking but it is a little annoying.