New pads and rotors, the pads are "touching"

[flash951]

I have just done some work to my brakes, new rotors, pads, rubber lines, rebuild calipers and so on.

When mounting the calipers back fitted with new pads onto the new rotors, the wheel will not rotate free. The pads are touching the rotors a little.

Question: Is this normal?

[r_towle]

sort of, yes.
The system is designed with a very slight wobble to the disk.
That wobble pushes the pads a few thousanths away from the disk when you let off the pedal.
If they are stuck on, the rubber lines may be at fault.

Once the pads are seated (drive the car, hit the brakes hard a few times) they should spin somewhat freely.

Rich

[flash951]

OK, I haven't bleed or driven the car yet, the car is still on the jack stands.

I have to pull the pads back the very last millimeters to make the wheel turn freely, and this requires some force to do, but the wheels are turning and are not completely stuck.

Yes, I have new brake lines and new gaskets in the calipers and even new clamps and pins for the pads. I am waiting for new master cylinder before I jack the car down are able to drive anywere.

[vulcan300]

Did you force the pistons all the way back into the calipers before sliding the pads into place?

[flash951]

Not all the way, but almost, there are some millimeters left to play with, but the last millimeters requires force, can not pull all way in using just hands. I just made enough clearance to fit the rotors. I used a special tool for pulling in the pads.