Ok, this may be a stupid question, but, better safe than sorry. I just put on some new pads on my front disc breaks. After I got the calipers back on, the pads are barely touching the rotors when no brake is applied. Is this normal for new pads to rub a little bit on rotors? And, if not, what can I do to fix it?
-Thanks-

1985 Z28 305 LG69 w/ Holley 1850 650 cfm carb, vaccum secondaries, gutted cat, no egr, no smog, and a coconut air freshener.

 

I may be wrong... but shouldn't all disc brake setups have contact with the pads under all conditions? I'm pretty sure it's supposed to be that way, unless it's excessive "rubbing."

Just drive it around and see if it feels wrong.

And you're right, safe is always better than sorry.

Laters.

 

you'd need to step on the brake and after that the pads should be more or less in contact with the rotor at all times.

 

You mean after you pushed the piston in to get the new pads on, and before you pumped the brake pedal, right???

Yeah, thats normal, until you pump the brake pedal, then they should always be touching the rotor...

Better to ask, then have an accident.

 

It's something not to forget about, either.

After I was done rebuilding my front suspension, I lowered the car to the ground, got into the driver's seat, and pushed my car out of the garage "Fred-flintstone style". (It was early AM hours and I didn't want to wake my house up.) Well, the car rolled to the middle of the driveway, and I hit the brakes.

Oops, no brakes. Almost rolled into the street, and (of course) just at that moment, a car was coming down the road. Luckily I stopped right at the edge of the driveway just as the other car drove by.

And then i remembered... after putting the car back together, I never pushed on the brake pedal to bring the pads near the rotor. Oops!

Tip: Make sure you put the brake fluid reservoir cap back on before you press on the brake pedal for the first time! That fluid shoots pretty far...

Don't forget to cinch the caliper tabs to the rotor with a big set of channel locks (tongue&groove pliers)!