Squeaky brakes

[rockyroad217]

I recently changed my brake pads as the previous owner never did and they were completely worn down. I installed Honda pads on it, and now they squeak something horrible. Even if I just roll it forward or backwards and don't squeeze the handle it still squeaks. If I squeeze the handle really hard it doesn't do it as bad. The rotor doesn't look like it has any grooves or anything in it, and I didn't feel any grooving on it either.

[93gc40]

Did you Bleed the brakes???? Did you check Run-out and thickness of the rotors? Brake Pads may just need a little break-in time, to seat.

[rockyroad217]

No I didn't bleed the brakes. I didn't open any of the system when I put on the new pads. I didn't check runout either because I don't have the equipment to do it. I figured if the rotor was warped or something I'd feel it when I braked. It brakes smoothly. I was reading about needing to grease the back of the pads or something? I only applied grease to the slide bolts when I reinstalled the pads.

[Sasquatch]

Mine squeal a little all the time and I'm not worried about it. It doesn't hurt anything.

I just replaced the front pads on my wife's car and the manual says to grease the back of the pads to prevent brake squeal.

Can't figure out for the life of me how greasing the back of the pads prevents sqealing, but that's just me

I did it anyway, just in case

[kacealraid]

Just changed my pads and they're doing something similar. I thought it was my chain needing a little lube, but I did that and still heard it. Safely assuming it's the new pads on my brakes. But it is a plus over the old squeel of not having good pads.

[oconeedan]

There is a spray made for squeaky brakes, you apply to the back of the pads, let it dry, and install. I have used it for autos, not for bikes. So check to make sure it's kosher first, but I can't imagine it is not. When dry, this spray leaves a tacky/rubbery residue on the back side of the pad.

DO NOT ever, ever, ever, ever, apply anything to the front side of the pad that goes against the rotor, other than a cleaner if you get a dab of grease on it.

Sasquach, the squeaking is usually caused by the pads vibrating against the pistons on the back side of the pads.
Dan

[Pavogg]

Squeaking brakes are the result of high frequency vibrations caused by the pads stuttering on the disc causing it to "ring". This is usually caused by one of two things.
The first is the back side of the pad not fitting flush against the piston. This can be cured by appling a silicone compound (available at auto supplies) to the back side of the pads.
Second, and most likely on new pads, is the pads not hitting flush aganst the rotor (disk) and the leading or trailing edge of the pad "skips" along the rotor surface setting up the vibration. You can limit this and help the pads wear in square by taking the pads out and filing a 45 degree bevel on all the edges on both pads. This eliminates the sharp edge contact until the pads wear in. When they wear in they are usually flat to the rotor surface and won't squeal.

[Sasquatch]

Originally Posted by Pavogg

Squeaking brakes are the result of high frequency vibrations caused by the pads stuttering on the disc causing it to "ring". This is usually caused by one of two things.
The first is the back side of the pad not fitting flush against the piston. This can be cured by appling a silicone compound (available at auto supplies) to the back side of the pads.
Second, and most likely on new pads, is the pads not hitting flush aganst the rotor (disk) and the leading or trailing edge of the pad "skips" along the rotor surface setting up the vibration. You can limit this and help the pads wear in square by taking the pads out and filing a 45 degree bevel on all the edges on both pads. This eliminates the sharp edge contact until the pads wear in. When they wear in they are usually flat to the rotor surface and won't squeal.

Thanks for the info Pavogg

The old pads had shims on the piston side that were all rusted so I turfed them. Maybe they are supposed to do the same thing? In any case, even without shims there is no squeal.

I was wondering why the leading and trailing edges of the new pads were bevelled. Now I know