front-left caliper alignment
 

hello,
my bike front-left disk brake is very close to the edge of the caliper (see image)
how can i align it to the center of the caliper ?
the right-front side caliper is in the center, the problem is only the front-left one.
the brake function is good and the pads are new.
its a tenere 660 2008
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/392/17...4555945f_z.jpg
https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8849/1...14710e95_z.jpg
thank you.

Hi ram,
Have had the same scenario when I was replacing pads.

Now, the manual states something like 'tap the side of the right fork leg to position the disc correctly...'

I actually gently pressed the side of the fork (at its bottom part) with one hand, while tightening the axle with other. All fitted in place and calipers centered.

Cheers

Could be that the sliding pins are corroded, sticky of seized? If it's not sliding properly the pad on the piston side will do all the work and the other pad (and sliding part of the caliper) won't pull across fully in the opposite direction. This can result in asymmetric alignment as in your photo.

I found that loosening the pinch bolts on the axle, then pulling in the brake lever, re-tightening the pinch bolts while still holding the brake lever on centered the calipers so long as the pins & pistons are working as they should.

I go with Pleiades. I had the same issue with my rear calliper. Check the sliding pins.

Just to correct myself - tightening the axle pinch bolts....(sorry)

And as Pleiades mentioned, sliding pins would definitely be worth checking..

the problem is only the LEFT SIDE fork leg, not the right side, if i loosen the pinch bolts i can align only the right side fork leg, but i cant do the same on the left leg,

I think sliding pins are ok (see video)

am i missing something?

Caliper sliders look to be performing well, so it isn�t them. You�ve loosened the pinch bolts and compressed the forks a few times before retightening them. So all the usual stuff has been covered.

Just a thought, but is the front wheel (and/or spacers) fitted they right way round? It might not look it, but the front wheel is asymmetric about its centre line.

I�ve very nearly on a few occasions fitted a front tyre in the wrong direction because of this. I�ve now drawn arrows in marker pen on the disc carriers and a painted a red spot on the LH spacer so I don�t have the same trouble in the future.

calipers off centre
 

Hi I have just checked mine and the brake pad carrier is very close to the inside edge of the disc on the right hand side of the bike when sat on it. I was very careful not to put the wheel on the wrong way round when i changed tyres. To double check the wheel spacer on the RH side when sat on the bike is longer than the one on the LH side Correct? ie the gap between the hub and the fork leg is greater on this side?

brake caliper alignment
 

[QUOTE=keithy2;211234]Hi I have just checked mine and the brake pad carrier is very close to the inside edge of the disc on the right hand side of the bike when sat on it. I was very careful not to put the wheel on the wrong way round when i changed tyres.

Problem sorted took the wheel off the clutch lever side spacer has a flange on it and is 27.5 mm long and has a corresponding deeper pocket to accomodate it. the other side is 17.5 mm long, so it is virtualy impossible to put them on the wrong way round and not notice it, if you do the front axel would protrude out of the fork leg and the brake discs probly wont align. I went to the dealers and confirmed this by checking on a new bike in the show room. My problem was solved by tightening the axel and then tapping the fork leg inwards to create a gap between the disc and caliper THEN tightening up the pinch bolts to maintain the gap. Now the clutch lever side disc is central in the caliper and the pinch bolt side has a 1 mm gap between the disc and caliper, the brand new bike had a larger gap but was still not central on the same side. All pin sliders and pistons are moving and the wheel spins freely. This is a 2014 tenere, the 2008 and 2009 have different forks with no adjustment for preload.

On your bike as the brake calipers slide freely the only other thing could be stuck pistons.

[QUOTE=keithy2;211250] Don't know why it didn't dawn on me before...

This sort of problem usually stems from trying to align the forks with the standard mudguard still attached to the forks. The guard is quite stiff and springy and tends to splay the fork legs outwards. You should always at least loosen all the mudguard bolts when aligning forks or better still, remove the mudguard completely to take it out of the equation. This applies to all bikes with guards mounted to the fork legs. I remember now that I could never get mine aligned with the guard in place; not an issue now with a high guard as it's mounted to the bottom yoke.

The fact that you have tapped the fork leg inwards might have cured the issue with the calipers aligning, but unless you compress and release the forks with loose pinch bolts and let them settle on the axle of their own accord, you can’t be totally sure the fork legs themselves are parallel and you won’t suffer from binding and stiction. You might be OK, but to be sure I’d remove the mudguard, loosen the pinch bolts, compress/release the forks a few times and re-tighten. I bet the calipers will align without the need to for additional input from yourself.

BTW – 2008/2009 XTZs have preload adjustment, in fact they all do apart from the low ABS models and short-lived 2011 only “Touring” edition. The fork legs are identical castings on all models 2008-2015. The internals changed mid-2012 to a short progressive spring and long spacer sourced from KYB. These forks are identifiable externally by the raised preload adjusters, the early ones with Paioli internals have recessed hex key adjusters.

Come to think of it now, I reckon the OP's problem could well be the same; trying to get the fork legs parallel and aligned with the stock guard still in place.

brake discs alignment
 

The fact that you have tapped the fork leg inwards might have cured the issue with the calipers aligning, but unless you compress and release the forks with loose pinch bolts and let them settle on the axle of their own accord, you can’t be totally sure the fork legs themselves are parallel and you won’t suffer from binding and stiction. Come to think of it now, I reckon the OP's problem could well be the same; trying to get the fork legs parallel and aligned with the stock guard still in place.[/QUOTE]

Thank you pleades and others on this thread, undid the pinch bolts only, sat on the bike and give it a good bounce, the gap between the disk and caliper mount has increased to 2 mm!!

Thinking about how i originaly did the tyre change I had the front wheel dangling off the ground so the only force on the forks was the mud guard as you said, so the trick is bounce the forks and dont tighten the pinch bolts until there is weight on the front wheel.

This forum is great. :team[1]:

Done, both sides are aligned now , thank you all for the detailed solutions..

A bit late to add to this thread, I know.

However, I'd just like to say I wish I'd read it earlier, because I too have an issue with caliper alignment on the brake lever side.

Thanks to all for the wisdom. I'll be fixing mine asap.