Author Topic: cb550 front brake squeaks  (Read 7648 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline bigragu

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 81
cb550 front brake squeaks
« on: June 23, 2012, 02:30:39 PM »
Any solution to my front brake squeaking? Even after replacing the pads and a new piston seal it still squeaks and the disc is also rubbing? Everything is true and balanced with new spokes

Offline Dimitri13

  • Not a
  • Master
  • *****
  • Posts: 1,603
  • 1974 CB550K
Re: cb550 front brake squeaks
« Reply #1 on: June 23, 2012, 04:38:46 PM »
Did you adjust the caliper per the manual?

Offline bigragu

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 81
Re: cb550 front brake squeaks
« Reply #2 on: June 23, 2012, 04:49:30 PM »
Ya.......no luck still rubs

Offline adamlwvdc36

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 56
Re: cb550 front brake squeaks
« Reply #3 on: June 23, 2012, 07:04:40 PM »
take the caliper back apart and apply brake grease between the caliper parts and pads... be generous.  this fixed my same issue.
_ADaM

Be a COWBOY, not a NERD!  youre riding an antique bad ass motorcycle for God's sake...

75 CB550 Named "Don Casper"  Don for grandpa, Casper for the guy that mentored me to riding... RIP Kenny...

Offline brooze72

  • Talk to my friends here at SOHC4 if you need an
  • Expert
  • ****
  • Posts: 1,308
Re: cb550 front brake squeaks
« Reply #4 on: June 23, 2012, 08:53:31 PM »
Mine is gone since I did what adamlwvd36 suggested, however I used "brake quiet" as well as roughing up the disk & cutting an inline groove in both pads.
2011, 2012 & 2013 Godzilla Relay Rally Rider
"Hold on loosely...don't let go
 If you cling too tightly...you're gonna lose control"
1972 CB500K1 - restored rider
1981 CB650C - new project

Offline phil71

  • Master
  • *****
  • Posts: 1,813
Re: cb550 front brake squeaks
« Reply #5 on: June 23, 2012, 09:12:00 PM »
ebc pads? they are built to squeak

Offline bigragu

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 81
Re: cb550 front brake squeaks
« Reply #6 on: June 24, 2012, 06:52:51 AM »
I'm assuming if I use the grease I need to remove the CRC noise reduce spray?

Offline bigragu

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 81
Re: cb550 front brake squeaks
« Reply #7 on: June 26, 2012, 05:29:33 PM »
After thinking my front brake was making noise due to the pads rubbing I've come to realize it's the caliper not retracting the pad away from the disc, any suggestions?

Offline adamlwvdc36

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 56
Re: cb550 front brake squeaks
« Reply #8 on: June 26, 2012, 07:22:45 PM »
brake grease is another name for brake quiet, thats what i meant.  Six in one, half a dozen in the other.  Glad to help
_ADaM

Be a COWBOY, not a NERD!  youre riding an antique bad ass motorcycle for God's sake...

75 CB550 Named "Don Casper"  Don for grandpa, Casper for the guy that mentored me to riding... RIP Kenny...

Offline adamlwvdc36

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 56
Re: cb550 front brake squeaks
« Reply #9 on: June 26, 2012, 07:25:59 PM »
If the caliper cylinder is not going back into the caliper, you will need to take it back apart and gently squeeze the master cylinder untill the cylinder comes out all the way.  clean the surfaces of the cylinder and inside the caliper being careful not to muck up the rubber seat in there.  Put it back together, bleed the brakes, put grease or "brake quiet" back on the backs of the pads and ride quietly.
_ADaM

Be a COWBOY, not a NERD!  youre riding an antique bad ass motorcycle for God's sake...

75 CB550 Named "Don Casper"  Don for grandpa, Casper for the guy that mentored me to riding... RIP Kenny...

Offline HondanutRider

  • Ride often - ride long - ride SAFE...and be an
  • Expert
  • ****
  • Posts: 1,283
Re: cb550 front brake squeaks
« Reply #10 on: June 26, 2012, 08:09:59 PM »
If the caliper cylinder is not going back into the caliper, you will need to take it back apart and gently squeeze the master cylinder untill the cylinder comes out all the way.  clean the surfaces of the cylinder and inside the caliper being careful not to muck up the rubber seat in there.  Put it back together, bleed the brakes, put grease or "brake quiet" back on the backs of the pads and ride quietly.

I think you should actually take the rubber O-ring/seal out of the caliper cylinder and make sure it and the groove it sits in is perfectly clean.  Rather than greasing the back of the pads, make sure they are free to move (no rough spots or excess paint) and apply a light coating of anti-seize material (a type of high-temp grease with abrasive compound in it) on their surfaces where they reside in the caliper housing - don't get any on the braking surface.

Offline DJ_AX

  • Expert
  • ****
  • Posts: 1,279
  • ?!
Re: cb550 front brake squeaks
« Reply #11 on: June 26, 2012, 09:16:52 PM »

Ahem ...... uhhh BigRagu
You should definitely take a few minutes to read the Brake FAQs...
There's some great advice in there...
=> http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=259.0

~ Vincent . . . '75 CB750 K5 . . . '97 BMW r1100rt . . . had; '75 CB550 K1 (sold) . . .  '73 CB350G (gifted) HELL YEAH!
Disclaimer: I could be wrong. :)

Offline SohRon

  • She laughs 'til she cries when they call me an
  • Expert
  • ****
  • Posts: 946
Re: cb550 front brake squeaks
« Reply #12 on: June 26, 2012, 09:36:19 PM »
After thinking my front brake was making noise due to the pads rubbing I've come to realize it's the caliper not retracting the pad away from the disc, any suggestions?

Using the Google search will get you tons of answers, but here are some things to check:

1. If your piston is not retracting, the first thing to suspect is the little return port in the Master cylinder.  One way to see if it's clogged is to apply the brake, then release the lever and open the bleeder on the caliper. If you get a stream of fluid, it's clogged. That hole measures ~  .017" - .018", so it'll take something tiny to open it up.

2. Pull the outer caliper (caliper "A"), then remove the piston and rubber seal. Thoroughly clean the seal slot with a metal pic or other instrument. Don't forget the groove running down the center of the slot. The slot must be free of any debris. Re-install the seal, then coat the piston with Dow - Corning high vacuum silicone grease and install it into the cylinder until it stops.

3. Coat the sides and backs of the pad "pucks" with hi-temp grease per Honda's instructions (see the Honda Shop manual), and, yes; it's important to coat the backs of the pads for several different reasons. Just don't get any grease on the braking surface.

4. Set the inner pad (caliper "B") to a gap of .006" from the rotor, then bleed the brakes per Two Tired's description in the FAQ

All of this info is available using the Google search.

And get a copy of the Honda manual. That will save you a lot of grief.
"He slipped back down the alley with some roly-poly little bat-faced girl..."

Assembling my '74 CB550: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=86697.0
Assembly of the Right-hand Switch (a rebuilder's guide):  http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=80532.0
Installing stock 4X4 exhaust: CB500-CB550 K: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=82323.0
CB550 Assembly Manual: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,151576.0.html

Offline bigragu

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 81
Re: cb550 front brake squeaks
« Reply #13 on: June 27, 2012, 03:41:41 AM »
After thinking my front brake was making noise due to the pads rubbing I've come to realize it's the caliper not retracting the pad away from the disc, any suggestions?

Using the Google search will get you tons of answers, but here are some things to check:

1. If your piston is not retracting, the first thing to suspect is the little return port in the Master cylinder.  One way to see if it's clogged is to apply the brake, then release the lever and open the bleeder on the caliper. If you get a stream of fluid, it's clogged. That hole measures ~  .017" - .018", so it'll take something tiny to open it up.

2. Pull the outer caliper (caliper "A"), then remove the piston and rubber seal. Thoroughly clean the seal slot with a metal pic or other instrument. Don't forget the groove running down the center of the slot. The slot must be free of any debris. Re-install the seal, then coat the piston with Dow - Corning high vacuum silicone grease and install it into the cylinder until it stops.

3. Coat the sides and backs of the pad "pucks" with hi-temp grease per Honda's instructions (see the Honda Shop manual), and, yes; it's important to coat the backs of the pads for several different reasons. Just don't get any grease on the braking surface.

4. Set the inner pad (caliper "B") to a gap of .006" from the rotor, then bleed the brakes per Two Tired's description in the FAQ

All of this info is available using the Google search.

And get a copy of the Honda manual. That will save you a lot of grief.
Thanks for that info I'll give it a try