Topic: No more squeaking front brakes!

[ADW]

Hi all. I have a '72 CB350F. Been chasing a front brake squeal for as long as I've owned the bike (over 10 years). Won't bother getting into the things I've tried, but I've tried them all! Certainly all the things that have been mentioned here on SOHC. But I finally found a solution. There is a company called TrueDisk that will straighten (if necessary) and grind (not lathe, GRIND) your rotor to within 0.001" for $45. I brought my front rotor to Tom earlier this week, and he was planning on grinding it for me while I waited, but it turned out there were a couple other problems with it that needed more time. I left it with him, and just got it back in the mail today. Installed it on the 350F, and NO MORE SQUEAKING! You grab the front brake lever and...it stops. That's all. No cringing when you grab the brakes and anticipate that horrific squeal that makes everyone look. Anyway, no affiliation or association with the company other than a satisfied customer. Good guy, good process, good prices, GREAT outcome! His bizcard/contact information are in the photo below. Also the website is: www.truedisk.net (And yes, I know the rotor carrier could use painting, but this bike is a survivor and I'm not painting anything.)

[seanbarney41]

That is great news.  Unfortunately, after a few thousand miles, the surface left from grinding will wear smooth and it will squeak just like it did before.

[1976cb750f836]

I use a DA and some 100 grit. Sometimes coarser.

[pjlogue]

I had a set of pads on my 750 that squealed like crazy.  They were new pads and I ended up putting on a set of new old stock OEM Honda pads I had.  Huge difference in stopping power and absolutely no noise from the OEM pads.  I think the pad material is the main contributing factor in squeal.  A glazed rotor will make pads squeal too but real good pads tend to prevent glazed rotors from squealing.  Too bad they don't make the OEM pads any more.

-P.

[Bankerdanny]

100% organic pads or ceramic (vs semi-metallic) should squeal less too I would think.

[dave500]

im with sean,the stainless will smooth over again,your machinist ground em because you cant lathe cut stainless its too hard itll just chatter etc and wont cut neat n true,also look at your swing pivot and see if its worn the bush and can vibrate?

[ADW]

im with sean,the stainless will smooth over again,your machinist ground em because you cant lathe cut stainless its too hard itll just chatter etc and wont cut neat n true,also look at your swing pivot and see if its worn the bush and can vibrate?

Good tip on the swing pivot, hadn't thought of that. It seems to be quite sturdy/no significant movement that could be attributed to the pivot/pivot pin. I didn't put a dial indicator on it, but it didn't feel loose to the point where it might need repair. And of course the whole thing is supposed to be a bit loose horizontally; that's what the adjuster screw is for. Anyway, everything's nice and quiet right now but I'll keep your suggestion in mind on the swing pivot if things get noisy again. Thx.

[BRG-BIRD]

The only thing that stopped my CB550F brakes from squeaking was NOS Honda brake pads

[HondaMan]

There was also one other old tip that worked, but did slightly reduce the pad's grip: I knew several who drilled tiny holes (4) in a line vertically down the pads and inserted pencil leads from mechanical pencils (the thick ones) into those holes. The holes and the leads were almost the same size, snug fit. The graphite seemed to stop the squeaks. But, graphite is also somewhat a lubricant, so it's not hard to understand a bit of braking loss.

[dave500]

graphite is a lubricant,i use it on the throttle tube,i wouldn't get it near brakes,ive also cut a cross with a hacksaw across the pads,that stopped it.