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Hi,
Bike = Kawasaki kx450f 2017
My left rear breakpad is not straight as it should be, i already replaced them with new ones and put them in straight, but after riding the left one was turned again. How can i fix this? Is the caliper not aligned right or something?
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My initial thought is the floating (inner) brake pad is hanging on the pin and or your rotor is too small in diameter. But, after a closer look, is the caliper itself bent where the pad sits??? That will surely cause a problem. That should be parallel to the piston.
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RyanLester761 wrote:
My initial thought is the floating (inner) brake pad is hanging on the pin and or your rotor is too small in diameter. But, after a closer look, is the caliper itself bent where the pad sits??? That will surely cause a problem. That should be parallel to the piston.
Is that even possible? Maybe someone here can take the same picture so i can see if its normal or bent
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Looks like the caliper is bent. The part the pad presses against looks crooked. Should be parallel with the rotor.
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Caliper got hot and bent open like a few people mention. I hate to say it but it's new caliper time.
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Is the pin bent? It also looks like the piston is really extended there.
The older I get, the faster I was.
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Yep that's a bent caliper.
Surprised to see it on such a new bike.
Similar happened on my 2008 RM250 which I had like 250 hours on. But my pads went out of square from the caliper wearing away. So for it to bend seems odd.
Either way your only real fix is to get a replacement
@russ_69
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Edited Date/Time:
It's not really that uncommon, those Nissin calipers will do that if you get them too hot. I grew up on drum brakes so I am a real bad rear brake rider so mine get really hot and I've got two that are tweaked, just not as bad as yours.
I wish Kawasaki would put insulator plates like Yamaha have, it might help dissipate some of the heat. Either way I've seen this on all bikes to some extent that run Nissin calipers.
I've heard of guys bending them back in a vise but that seems a little sketchy to me. Looks like it is time to buy a new caliper.
2018 KX450F
2005 KX250
2003 KDX 220
1984 KX 80
1982 RM 80
1980 RM 80
1977 XR 75
1969 Honda Mini 50
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Barnett, I've seen more than a few rear brake draggers and or people that don't set proper slack in the master cylinder pedal have this happen. I've seen some riders even do it to a front caliper even. That caliper is stretched wide open from either excessive heat or excessive force or a combination of the two.
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I will second what DynoDan said, I'm a terrible brake dragger. I blame it on growing up in the 70's with drum brakes. Below is the caliper that was on my KX250, it too bent from heat. Those Nissin calipers just aren't built for repeated heavy heat loads. 
2018 KX450F
2005 KX250
2003 KDX 220
1984 KX 80
1982 RM 80
1980 RM 80
1977 XR 75
1969 Honda Mini 50
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DynoDan22 wrote:
Barnett, I've seen more than a few rear brake draggers and or people that don't set proper slack in the master cylinder pedal have this happen. I've seen some riders even do it to a front caliper even. That caliper is stretched wide open from either excessive heat or excessive force or a combination of the two.
Wow, they sure don't make parts like they used to.
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If dragging brakes is a problem, you could get a billet caliper. Just guessing but id assume a new caliper from kawi is close to a ride eng billet one. Billet will hold up to heat better than the cast stuff.
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kb228 wrote:
If dragging brakes is a problem, you could get a billet caliper. Just guessing but id assume a new caliper from kawi is close to a ride eng billet one. Billet will hold up to heat better than the cast stuff.
As long as I can buy good used calipers off of Ebay for $40.00 and rebuild kits for $20.00 I'm not going to spend $400.00 on something that might not get destroyed by heat. I will just keep spending $60.00 as needed. Thanks.
2018 KX450F
2005 KX250
2003 KDX 220
1984 KX 80
1982 RM 80
1980 RM 80
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1969 Honda Mini 50
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dkurtd wrote:
I will second what DynoDan said, I'm a terrible brake dragger. I blame it on growing up in the 70's with drum brakes. Below is the caliper that was on my KX250, it too bent from heat. Those Nissin calipers just aren't built for repeated heavy heat loads.
This is mainly a Suzuki and Kawi problem. I know they both spec a Nissin part, but I don's see this anywhere near as often on Yam/Hon.
Might have to do with the brake pad material or insulation.
KTM250SX YZ125 YZ85 PW80 ZX6 FZX700
