Topic: SQUEAKY BRAKES - WHAT WOULD CAUSE THIS ???

[ProTeal55]

Hello ,

Sience I have got my bike back, the front brakes have gotten louder and louder when applied.
At first it was just on the inital squeeze, and as I applied more pressure the "squeak" went away.
Today I went for a quick ride, and the damn things squeak the entire time they are being applied
A loud, loud squeaking...

They do stop, and stop damn well, but I cant get why they are squeaking so bad, and why it is getting worse ?
Everything is tight, and where it should be..

Are the pads trashed ? They are newer (last year, but like zero miles on them)
Are the rotors in need of a good de-glazing / sanding ?

Not that I mid if they make noise, but If their is something I can do to fix it I will...

[StevieMac]

- Put some automotive anti-squeak on the back of the pads
- Clean the pads
- I usually file the edges of the pads slightly so the edge is slightly bevelled rather than a sharp 90 degrees.

That should do it!

[marvsho17]

Did you clean off the anti rust coating on the rotors??

[dusterdude]

join the crowd my man.

[ProTeal55]

- Put some automotive anti-squeak on the back of the pads
- Clean the pads
- I usually file the edges of the pads slightly so the edge is slightly bevelled rather than a sharp 90 degrees.
That should do it!

The pads on both calipers allready have a beveled edge, but I will try and file them down some more.
While I have them off I will give them the once over with some sandpaper as well...

Did you clean off the anti rust coating on the rotors??

The rotors were both used, so I am guessing the coating is long gone. I plan to give both sides of both
rotors a good sanding while the calipers are off..

join the crowd my man.

Whatever crowd you are a part of I dont want in 

[GroovieGhoulie]

I just had to do the horizontal cut on my pads because of the squealing.  Went totally away.  Also did all of the following.  If your sqeual is bad, you will have to do all of it as well:

Make sure you have the nylon washer behind the piston-side pad.  It rests between the piston and pad.
Some silicone grease on the backside of BOTH pads.  The off-side pad is as important as the caliper pad.
Don't over tighten the caliper bolts.  7 pound-feet are sufficient.
Adjust the off-side pad to be just touching the disc, then back off a half-turn.  If you have feeler gauges, clearances should be around two or three thousandths with it feeling like you're pulling it from under the phone book.  The wheel should turn freely without any drag from the offside pad.
Scuff the face of the pads.
Scuff the face of the rotor, both sides.
Clean periodically with brake cleaner.  Brakleen is fine.
Make the horizontal cuts in the pads.
Make sure the piston is moving freely and releasing when you let up on the brakes.  Failure to release can lead to pad drag, which contributes to squeal.
Clean the piston seal groove and make sure the piston seal is nice and even.

If your brakes still squeal after all that, bear in mind this line to the SOHC Honda service manual that I am writing:

Problem: There is a sharp squealing coming from the front brake.

Solution: Most do, some don't.

[number13]

Sound advice from  GroovieGhoulie there.
Also make sure your caliper pivot is , you know, pivoting.
Take it apart and grease that thing!!

#13

[Bodain]

I've had the same problem on my 550. Bought new pads. That didn't help.

Problem was solved by...

Take out the pads. Put some 60 grit sand paper on a flat surface. Take those two pads across that sandpaper a couple of times.

Now remove the disk... Hit both sides with some finer sand paper.....  Your removing any foriegn material that might be on your disk or pads.

Slap it back together.. Squeek is gone.... Well it was for me anyway.

[chippyfive50]

I 3rd the Grooviegoulie, I took a hacksaw and put a tictactoe pattern in both, the sound of silence...

[ProTeal55]

I 3rd the Grooviegoulie, I took a hacksaw and put a tictactoe pattern in both, the sound of silence...

So thats all it takes, is to cut some "x's" into each brakepad ?
I will have to try that when I get home...

[GroovieGhoulie]

I used a Dremel and cut a single horizontal (parallel to the ground) line in the center of my pads all the way from front to rear.  I cut it down to the wear indicator.

Pretty much solved the problem.

[ProTeal55]

I used a Dremel and cut a single horizontal (parallel to the ground) line in the center of my pads all the way from front to rear. I cut it down to the wear indicator.

Pretty much solved the problem.

So what does this "line cutting" do to solve the suqeak ?
Does it allow the brake-dust to escape thru this "groove" or something along those lines ??

[GroovieGhoulie]

Brake dust evacuation is one thing, but it's so small and isn't in line with the swept area that I believe the dust evac is minimal.

What I was told is that cut turns one big pad into two smaller pads and this changes the vibration/harmonic frequency out of the audible range for humans.  So it's still squeaking, but you can't hear it.  Kinda like a dog whistle.  I guess if you're merrily crusing silently along and the neighborhood dogs are running from your bike in terror and whimpering in pain, you've done good! 

However, so far, no dogs have run howling from my bike.

[eldar]

See, now if it wasnt for having to stop and for people in cars, this would not be an issue!

[Duck]

I've had the same problem on my 550. Bought new pads. That didn't help.

Problem was solved by...

Take out the pads. Put some 60 grit sand paper on a flat surface. Take those two pads across that sandpaper a couple of times.

Now remove the disk... Hit both sides with some finer sand paper.....  Your removing any foriegn material that might be on your disk or pads.

Slap it back together.. Squeek is gone.... Well it was for me anyway.

yep, this is the ticket, and greasing the caliper pivot...

[ProTeal55]

10-4
Thanks to all for the help. I plan on ripping my brakes apart tonite when
I get home.

Will post results....

[ProTeal55]

UPDATE 6/24/06

Removed the brake pads last night.
I took my trusty air powered cut-off wheel and groved a "X" into each pad, and re-installed on the bike. With doing nothing more than that, I can honestly say the sqeaking I had before is 85% gone  I am amazed still at how something so simple can make that big of a difference...

Thanks to all for the tip, as it was a good one ...

[KB02]

So, which is better? Carving the Tic-Tac-Toe pattern, or the straight line? The rear Brake on my Ducati does the same thing. The Brake silencer did the trick for a short time, but then it wears out. Figure I'll try the trick with that, too.

[ProTeal55]

I spoke too soon...
The squeak is back.
Not as bad as before - but it is their.
Need to tear into them tomorrow and see what I can do...

[cben750f0]

M8 i think you might just have to live with the queel, i dont think i know of one CB around here that doesnt have a sqeeky brake to soem degree.... i just periodically clean mine, put a groove in them, and put a 45 dree chamfer on the leading edge of the pad, oh and the nylon ring, and some sqeel goo, but is still does it, i also have drilled discs and that made no difference either...  if you find the holy grail of antisqueel, you will be a ledgend in the SOHC 750 world ...peace

[ProTeal55]

It is what it is.
I am gonna try some "anti - brake squeak goo" as you put it, and see if that helps.

Seems as if the pads are glazing the rotors (in my situation)
Example: Before I left my house for my little ride today, I took some fine grit sandpaper and
did a good little sanding on both sides of both rotors. The first 1/2 of the ride the brakes were silent, with a little
squeak here and their.  ;DThen the brakes started to squeal more and more as the ride went on.  >:(Got home - did a quick scuff of the
rotors again , and i was back to quiet brakes  Do I just have crappy brake-pads ? I got some Organic ones from CRC.

Is their a "quiet" pad for these bikes I am not aware of ??

[cben750f0]

from what i can gather, they aerly brakes dont always give clearence to the disc when the lever is released, thats why the pad adjustment is so important, they are rubbing all the time, and that will glaze the pads bad, i have tried a few different types of the brake pads for my brakes, and eventually they all squeel,  haveing the holes in the rotors didnt really make much difference to them, though with the holes they work better in the rain.... i dunno what else to suggest...peace

[Jmon99]

Reading this thread with reeeal interst.
I was always led to believe that if they squeel, you know they're working

[cben750f0]

it should probably read..' if they squeel they are honda!!!'.... lol peace

[3 sticks]

Anyone ever hear of "the Norton oil bath"?

Howabout "the Honda brake squeal" !?

Someone needs to make shirts..

cheers - will