Excessive brake drag?
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 2,106
From: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Excessive brake drag?
Recently, while changing front wheels, I noticed the wheel seemed more difficult to rotate than I remembered before I put on new pads a few months ago.
So I checked the torque required to make the wheel start to move. It took 5 ft lbs on both front wheels. I checked again today and it repeated identically.
I've been getting a fair amount of brake dust with these pads. They've been on for a few thousand miles, so I'd suspect they're worn enough not to be dragging by now.
I lubed the caliper pins when I did the brake job, so I doubt that would be a cause.
Has anyone else ever measured the torque required to move the wheel?
I'm almost thinking of putting the old pads back on just for comparison.
So I checked the torque required to make the wheel start to move. It took 5 ft lbs on both front wheels. I checked again today and it repeated identically.
I've been getting a fair amount of brake dust with these pads. They've been on for a few thousand miles, so I'd suspect they're worn enough not to be dragging by now.
I lubed the caliper pins when I did the brake job, so I doubt that would be a cause.
Has anyone else ever measured the torque required to move the wheel?
I'm almost thinking of putting the old pads back on just for comparison.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,950
Likes: 264
From: St. Louis, MO
St. Jude Donor '08
I've never measured Tom but I can't imagine mine take 5 lbs, I've never noticed any real drag. I'm familiar with the feel because I've adjusted enough drum brakes in my life to have a feel for when you are done adjusting so I think I'd notice.
I should be, if predictions hold, be swapping out to skinnies this week so I'll try to remember and check.
Oh and after about the second time of cleaning my wheels, I put ceramics on my car (60k miles ago now) and haven't looked at dust since. I love store brand ceramic brakes for street use, cheap, long lived, and effective.
I should be, if predictions hold, be swapping out to skinnies this week so I'll try to remember and check.
Oh and after about the second time of cleaning my wheels, I put ceramics on my car (60k miles ago now) and haven't looked at dust since. I love store brand ceramic brakes for street use, cheap, long lived, and effective.
