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I have front brake squeal and am lost for a cure. I took them off and put the blue stuff on the back, sanded the rotors, and cleaned everything. All the things I would have done to stop squeal on a car, and it's still there. Any ideas? Are some pads more prone to squealing than others? Is anyone familiar with that anti-squeal stuff you just spray on without taking anything apart? Does it have a chance of working?
Thanks, Ray

I did all the same stuff you did on an 03 with little or no success. Mine started at 10K and it didn't stop till probably 35K+. I changed the front pads to Galfer Greens (organic) and the noise changed but it was still there. I finally gave up on it and eventually it went away. I have no idea why. I later totaled the bike so not an issue now. I currently have an 04 that is quiet.

wayne

ray82609 wrote:I have front brake squeal and am lost for a cure.

Earplugs or headphones/mp3 player.

I thought it was one of those..'They all do that' things...

DJ

Mine makes a noise too. But it's not so much a squeal- it's much lower pitch than the typical brake pad squeal I'm familiar with. More like "brake groan" or hoot. But it happens at the typical times- lower speeds with light pressure on the brake lever.

Does that sound familiar?

My bike is an `03 and the pads appear to be OEM at just above half-life. Just curious.

Yes, mine is an 03 too. We both seem to have the same symptoms
-Ray

See, I wonder if it isn't caused by something else. The high frequency squeal is typically caused by vibration of the pads in the calipers. The goo is supposed to "insulate" them so a) they don't vibrate and b) they can't transmit that vibration into the caliper which is what makes the sound.

I've never had mine apart but I'm thinking the spring clips are worn or... maybe they're not tenors? Baritones?

This used to drive me crazy, so when I changed tires @~11000mi, I did the all the usual caliper cleaning. Applied synth caliper grease (the blue stuff ) to the back of the pads also, but I also put a very light coating on any surface that the pads may contact....such as the bottom of the spring clip (you can see where it contacts the top of the pads), the inside/bottom and the sides of the caliper itself etc. The retaining pin also got a dab....I'm talking a very, very light coat here....
Lo and behold...the squeaking was gone.
It stayed that way for the next 8,000mi when I changed tires again. I did the calipers again, and I have to think that in spite of all the extra goo in there, they were not that gunked up at all...
This time I swapped out for SBS pads, and re-lubed. I have heard nary a peep for 9000mi now.....

jm1515 wrote:This used to drive me crazy, so when I changed tires @~11000mi, I did the all the usual caliper cleaning. Applied synth caliper grease (the blue stuff ) to the back of the pads also, but I also put a very light coating on any surface that the pads may contact....such as the bottom of the spring clip (you can see where it contacts the top of the pads), the inside/bottom and the sides of the caliper itself etc. The retaining pin also got a dab....I'm talking a very, very light coat here....
Lo and behold...the squeaking was gone.
It stayed that way for the next 8,000mi when I changed tires again. I did the calipers again, and I have to think that in spite of all the extra goo in there, they were not that gunked up at all...
This time I swapped out for SBS pads, and re-lubed. I have heard nary a peep for 9000mi now.....

Yup I did all that too. I'm wondering if it has something to do with the floating rotor.
-Ray

Probably the pins 'vibrating' in the holes ??