Today I was taking apart the brake assmbly to paint the calipers and put on new rotors. Once I got the wheel off I gave the rotor a spin, except for it didn't spin, well. It's turnable with some force but once you take your hand away it will stop spinning immediatly, like something is rubbing.

I then take off the caliper and it is difficult to get off, the reason, the caliper is still clamping to the rotor somewhat. What gives?!?!? I don't need an expert to tell me this is not a good thing. Theoretically, the pads are always rubbing against the rotor. Does it not do this if the car is running or what.

I took the rotor off and the wheel hub spins nicely and freely, so what I said is correct. When I put on the new rotors I'm thinking it will be worse because they are not worn down as the stock ones.

Any comments would be appreciated. Thanks

 

Its normal. The calipers do kind of ride the rotors all the time. Every car i've ever messed with is exactly as you described. Kind of difficult to turn the rotors by hand.
Unless they're REALLY tight or you can feel it grabbing while driving down the road with your foot off the brake, i wouldn't worry about it.
Chris

 

Sometimes the car feels like it pulls to the left, which is the side I was working on. It doesn't do this all the time, maybe just the road. I'll see when I take the other caliper off.

 

When you took the wheel off and spun rotor, the rotor can "cant" slightly ... that might be the issue.

In any case, look at the caliper pistons and make sure the dust boots are not torn or breeched. If they are, you might have contaminated the piston bore and th piston is binding.

Also, check the guide pins to make sure they move freely.

 

I agree.Try spinning the wheel with the wheel fully tightened down.The wheel holds the rotor tight against the hub and keeps it from tilting.If the wheel spins OK then you are good.

 

Don't worry, this is absolutely normal unless you cannot turn the rotor at all. The pads are always sligthly touching the rotors, once you get off your brakes there's nothing that pushes the caliper piston back except the rotor itself.