Topic: Front brake disk, pads, etc. Squeal

[stocky]

how do the oem honda pads compare performance wise against vesrah, ebc, etc?

Running ebc and have tried everything to try and get rid of the squeal, if oem pads perform well and are quiet, probably the route ill have to go.

[RAFster122s]

The 3M high vac petcock grease helps a little. Usually the squeal is caused by debris or buildup of glazing on the rotor or pad and it also can be caused if the pad is not contacting the rotor squarely. It usually is not self healing unfortunately, meaning as it wears in it will go away.
The pad is vibrating against the rotor.
TruDisc (TruDisk) can Blanchard grind them flat again and that truing process almost always kills and squeal of the brakes.
Glaze can be removed by a good scrubbing of the rotor and pads with a coarse ScotchBrite pad with brake cleaner.

[Scootch]

Usually the squeal is caused by debris or buildup of glazing on the rotor or pad  The pad is vibrating against the rotor.

Yesterday I took my caliper apart and this is exactly what I found to be the case. There was a piece of either rock or metal that was embedded in the stationary pad. In fact there were shallow score marks in the pad where that debris had apparently made several passes through the pad. The debris must have somehow been attached to the rotor to make those passes or it got between the rotor and pad and moved around for a bit before finally embedding in the pad. I have not ridden the bike since I found this yesterday afternoon. But I pushed the bike around in the driveway and the horrendous squeal when I would move the bike forward and back is now gone. Now I am left with the "normal" intermittent low squeal. 

I don't believe that the piece of debris was in the pad initially after I repaired the fork seals. I think the "normal" low squeal started then and sometime later the next several days the piece of debris became lodged and the squeal got really bad. When I found the debris in the pad yesterday I should have been more careful and taken a pic of it before touching anything. Unfortunately my first reaction was - holy hell this shouldn't be there - and I touched it and it fell away. But the shallow gouges in the pad remain. Fortunately it doesn't seem like the rotor got scored.

I think what was happening was the debris in the pad was riding on the rotor much like a phonograph needle rides on a record. And as the bike moves and rotor spins you get the squeal. Now I maybe need to do something with the scoring in the pad - or possibly change the pads for Honda OEM ones. Today I will ride the bike and see what I can do about the intermittent squeal. 

[MauiK3]

Also check that the piston side of the active brake pad has a nice rounded nose so it can't dig in and get stuck too easily.
Best of luck

[Scootch]

Before I rode the bike today I checked the alignment of the arm and pads to the rotor. That seemed good but I jacked the front end up and took a closer look and tried readjusting the positioning of the pads. To my eye the position looks good and the wheel spins freely. Took the bike for a test ride and the squeal is diminished. The horrendous sqeal that was caused by the debris is gone. I don't know how I could bevel the pads unless I used a file. I don't know how well that would work. I don't have access to a lathe. I don't really want to spend $60 on OEM brake pads - especially if not sure that is going to fix it.

[RAFster122s]

Coarse sanding block or file is best way to bevel the pads, just don't go crazy. You see the photos of the stock pads from Honda? Gentle slope is fine.
You are just trying to relieve the leading edge a bit..
Wear a mask doing it. Stuff that gets in your lungs usually doesn't come out again...or not easily. So, stuff like polishing aluminum, definitely be wearing a good mask... aluminum build up in your body leads to health issues long term.

[Scootch]

Coarse sanding block or file is best way to bevel the pads, just don't go crazy. You see the photos of the stock pads from Honda? Gentle slope is fine.
You are just trying to relieve the leading edge a bit..
Wear a mask doing it. Stuff that gets in your lungs usually doesn't come out again...or not easily. So, stuff like polishing aluminum, definitely be wearing a good mask... aluminum build up in your body leads to health issues long term.

Thanks for the input and advice! I wasn't sure if a file would be ok to use...

[MauiK3]

I also bevel the edge at the piston end of the pads, I used my little belt sander. A file would work.

[Scootch]

Someone suggested a product such as...
Permatex 80729 Disc Brake Quiet

Does anyone have any experience with something like that?

[stocky]

ive tried beveling the edge of the pads and still no luck with curing the dam squeal

[RAFster122s]

A feeler gauge between the pad and rotor should tell you if the pad is square against the rotor or if you find it can slip beneath the edge then you have a misalignment you would want to try and correct.
The geometry equation of adjusting the pivot point to understand how what you need to shim or take off the mounts contacts.
I would use brass or aluminum shim stock. Less chance of aluminum stock of reacting with the aluminum of the fork leg...fwiw.

[Scootch]

So I changed out the semi metallic brake pads for Honda NOS pads. Squeal is gone...

[stocky]

So I changed out the semi metallic brake pads for Honda NOS pads. Squeal is gone...

My god. Guess like this will be my next move, can’t stand much more squealing. How are the performance of the oem pads?

[Scootch]

So I changed out the semi metallic brake pads for Honda NOS pads. Squeal is gone...

My god. Guess like this will be my next move, can’t stand much more squealing. How are the performance of the oem pads?

I haven't ridden a whole lot with the NOS pads yet and I'm not the most discerning rider but I like them. So far I don't notice any difference in front braking. And yes I use the front brake more heavily than the back. I like the feel. Maybe I won't like the brake dust but we shall see. I like the feel and I really like the lack of squeal !  😂