is it ok for the rotor and brake pads to lightly touch

 

No, but a picture would be nice if possible. When you say lightly touching does that mean the friction material is almost gone or does the rotor have a deep enough lip that it's cutting past the last little bit of pad? Either way it sounds like you need a brake job, if it's touching any other way then something ain't right either.

 

Yes, they do pull back ever so slightly but it's hard to notice. Lift the front wheel and spin the tire. If it spins freely your golden.

This is assuming you have friction material left.

 

It is totally normal since the only thing pulling the pads back are the piston rings and seals, the travel is so small the rings/seals don't actually slide, they flex, then when the pressure is released they will pull back.

As said, if you spin the wheel it should spin fairly freely, but that scrape of the pads on the rotor will be normal. If there is enough drag to actually slow the bike while rolling, the pistons are sticking due to dirt inside the seals and possibly corrosion if not dealt with.

If you pressure wash the bike around the brake calipers, even with a garden hose, it is possible to blow water and dirt in behind the seals where it can cause sticking or even corrosion. So never ignore it if the brakes do hang up enough to actually slow the spinning wheel beyond that light scuffing on the rotor when the brakes are released or if you notice your bike actually will slow a bit as if the brakes are still on lightly when coasting to a stop.

Same thing is true with car disc brakes.

 

thanks guys for the help I just put a new 606 tire on. and notice the rotor and brake pads lightly touching. the tire will spin fairly freely. thanks for the heads up on pressure washing the calipers.

 

Yeah, sounds like your good to go. Like everyone said, they don't open much, but just enough to allow wheel to spin. If they opened up enough to have a gap or space between rotor and pads, dirt and crap will get between them wearing rotor and pads quickly. So very little to no space is a good thing. Your calipers seem to be just fine. Time to ride ride ride.....