Brakes dragging against tyre?

[Fifteen15]

When I wheel my bike out of the garage, there's like a scraping sound, as though the brakes are dragging on the tyre.

Any ideas?

Ta.

[TamSV]

Sounds like the brake pads dragging on the discs caused by sticky caliper pistons. If that's the case the brake calipers need a service.

If you can, get the wheel up in the air on a paddock stand or similar and spin it by hand. You can usually hear the pads in contact with the discs even on well serviced brakes, but they shouldn't be grinding. If the wheel doesn't spin freely (or slows down very quickly) then get the calipers looked at.

[Fifteen15]

Sounds like the brake pads dragging on the discs caused by sticky caliper pistons. If that's the case the brake calipers need a service.

If you can, get the wheel up in the air on a paddock stand or similar and spin it by hand. You can usually hear the pads in contact with the discs even on well serviced brakes, but they shouldn't be grinding. If the wheel doesn't spin freely (or slows down very quickly) then get the calipers looked at.

Thanks. Is it a serious problem? Does it need to be fixed asap or can it wait a few weeks? I have a list of maintenance issues to deal with on the SV but so little time!

[TamSV]

Hard for anyone to give you a definitive answer on that without seeing it. It may well be fine but it would be best if you can spin the wheel and make your own decision - or get someone to have a quick look/listen at it for you.

[Red Herring]

Is it a scraping sound, as in metal on metal, or a softer rubbing sound? If it's the former your pads may be down to the metal in which case yes, that's urgent. The only other thing is could something be caught up between the mudguard and tyre (you don't say if the noise if front or rear).

[Badeye]

My K3 is the same, for me its more of a rubbing noise. I'm gonn ahave the front wheel off this weekend and take the calipers to bits and give them a good clean.

[mikerj]

How can the brakes possibly drag on the tyre, unless the caliper is hanging off the bike? :confused:

Seized or partially seized callipers should be fixed ASAP. Apart from the waste of fuel or horrible feel they give, as the brakes heat up they can apply more and more pressure to the disc, which gets hotter so more pressure is applied until you either grind to a halt with smoke pouring off the brakes or you lean into a bend and the front end washes out.

[Stephen McG]

If the bike has been laid up for a while, it is likely brake pads rubbing against disk.
Calling it seized may be a bit dramatic.
Use a wide headed screwdriver and gently prize the pad away from disk (on piston side of caliper)
when done 'wiggle' the caliper from side to side (laterally)
do the same on the other caliper

Push bike forward and back - the running noise should disappear
If so
pump the front brakes to bring pads back towards the disk
2 or 3 pulls should do it
If you cannot move the pad away or the problem persists then say the pistons are seized.

SMcG in Glasgow