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ZX6R (01) - Tokico front break pin extremely loose!

2K views 6 replies 4 participants last post by  oldninjadude 
#1 ·
Hi all

This is my first post, so I do apologise for the forwardness of just signing up and asking questions!

I recently bought a 2nd hand ZX6R (01) -- and loving every moment of it! -- However I had a bit of a scare within the first few days of riding the bike, when one of the four break pads fell out of the calliper while travelling - thankfully I was going very slowly so I was able to use the back break to stop and was able to get a pick up to send it back to the place I bought it from.

They told me the pin that holds the break pads in on the calliper was missing on one side, so I was lucky the second pad hadn't fallen out as well. Needless to say they were very surprised, shocked, and spent the day doing up the bike and replaced the pin, the pads etc etc etc.

Since then she has run fine for a good few weeks - I however being VERY paranoid, am checking the breaks every time I get on the bike to make sure the pins are actually in!

So far so good. Till this morning. I had a long ride yesterday (compared to what I normally do), and things were ok -- there was heavy rain during part of my trip and as such got completely soaked! -- Got home, got the bike under cover, and kept it dry.

As I was wheeling her back out to go on my commute to work, the front break started to make a clicking sound -- (only when wheeling forward though). I noticed that one of the break pads seemed a little loose, but secure, and only seems to make the clicking sound when the breaks are fully off and at a very slow speed. However the worrying part, was seeing the pin that holds the pads in looking VERY loose. On the other side (the calliper that has not had any trouble at all) the pin is pretty much solid - no movement, and the clip that stops it falling out happily in place. The other side, it looked like the clip was about to fall out -- I pushed it back in again, but the whole pin / clip seems VERY loose to me.

While I have been looking at the forums, and looking at people's experiences with this, I have either not looked hard enough, or it hasn't been mentioned before I wanted to ask this...

Is this normal? Have I done something, or need to do something to make this pin more secure? Being paranoid, something doesn't sit right -- and I am sure breaks are not meant to make this sound! -- Any advice would be really great.

From looking around, I am sure the break itself is a Tokico (as it says it on the side), 6 Pot, (there is only one guide pin and clip per side, and it is centred).

Let me know if I have missed anything else which could be useful, and thanks in advance!

Colin
 
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#2 ·
#3 ·
the tapping noise could be were the pad has slop up and down movement .i had it myself,if you look at were pads sit in the caliper you will notice wear marks in the alloy caliper,like grooves, its the movement on the pads that slightly binds to disc witch makes it drop up and down causing like a tapping noise,when riding your bike when this noise happens at slow speed gently pull lever to see if noise goes away,
 
#4 ·
Hi all!

Thanks for responding quickly :)

oldninjadude: I have checked the pin, and I can see that the R pin is still in place -- it is very loose though, but hasn't rattled off in anyway. Maybe I am just paranoid, but I have a feeling it should be more secure than what it currently is - I have purchased another Pin and R pin from a supplier, just to be 100% sure. The pin on the left break calliper is really secure and doesn't rattle about.

scoot33: It does look like the rattling is exactly that -- when I apply pressure to the break it does stop rattling, and it only happens at slow speed. When I am breaking (say for a traffic light), the first pull on the break leaver, I can feel a "clonk" through the break handle, but the breaks apply and everything seems normal after that (no further clonks) - This also happens when pushing the bike, so I will pull the break leaver and hear the clonk, then it will stop, till I push the bike forward again (guessing the pistons then reset), and it happens again. -- It sounds like the break pad is loose inside the calliper, up and down and left and right.

With this - I have been informed something like copper grease or something similar can be placed between the pots and the back side of the break pad (not the breaking side) which can help stop it moving around so much -- but will also stop the breaks squeaking (which it seems to be doing now). -- Would this be a good idea, or am I setting myself up for a disaster!

Thanks again

Colin
 
#5 ·
brakes my good man, not break.

If the pin that the shop replaced is the same diameter and length as the one on the other side, and the "R" retaining clip is secure, I wouldn't worry too much. There needs to be a little slop so that as the pads wear down, the piston will be able to move the pads inwards. If it was tight, it would most likely bind/kink.
 
#6 ·
its just slop in the cradle not much you can do really as it just wears with time,as long as pin is in and r clip just ride it really i have changed calipers now to 4 pot nissins ,but i did get use to the noise lol,yeh a bit of copper grease behind pistons and on top of pates should be fine dont slap loads on just a light brush over
 
#7 ·
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