Motorcycle Repair: GL1100A brake problem, brake calipers, goldwings

Question
I recently had both the front and rear brake pads replaced but the mechanic (expert on old Goldwings) could not get the front to release properly (slight drag). He rebuilt the front calipers and inspected all brake lines. After driving to work today (50 miles) I noticed the front rotor was cool but the rear was hot (leads me to believe the rear are not releasing properly as well). Any ideas I can subtly pass on to the mechanic?

Answer
Hi Will! Great question. Here is what I would do: Put the GW on it's center stand and place a small jack under a non-damagable area of the front of the engine. We're trying to get both wheels off the ground. Once you have the bike so that both wheels are off the ground (only needs to be a half inch or so) take a rubber or plastic tipped mallet and hit the brake calipers on the backside of the piston housings. Do this to the rear and both front calipers. This will force the pistons to retract. Now spin the tires. They should rotate freely (A small amount of drag is normal). Start with the front brakes and firmly apply the front brake only, then release it. The front wheel should still rotate freely. If it doesn't, then the front calipers are still sticking. Now apply the rear brake pedal and release it. Check the rotation of BOTH the rear and front wheels. I say to do this because most GW's have a linked braking system that allows the front brakes to actuate when the rear are engaged. This will help determine which brake set is sticking. When new pads are installed, the mechanic usually has to manually force the pistons back into the housing so as to make room for the thicker new pads. If the pistons have debris or gunk on them, they will often have trouble retracting. This happens alot on older bikes. If you do these tests and find that one of the calipers is sticking, then take your bike back to the mechanic and explain the test you did. This will help him to resolve the problem faster. Hope this helps Will and Ride Safe!!!