Terribly squeaky brakes

[silver_ride]

My front pads, which only have about 500mi on them, are squealing to the point that people on the sidewalk are plugging their ears, its really godawful..some of you may already know im a total noob to all this..what should i do to quiet it down?

[TopCatGr58]

Hey there Silver,

Okay, you put on NEW pads, did you notice a thin piece of metal attached to the back of the old pads? Did you put it on the new pads, or just the pads alone? If you threw away the thin piece of metal, you can make one from an aluminum can, cut one open, flatten it out, laya pad over it, use a magic marker to draw the outline, and then just some heavy duty scissors and cut out another piece. Also. apply some brake pad lubricant to the backside of the pad, and the side of the thin plate that will make contact with the pad, just a thin layer so that it won't SQUEEZE out and get on your rotor!

That should quiet them down.

T.C.

[silver_ride]

Ive never noticed any thin piece of metal..PO lost it long ago perhaps? What does it look like, where does it go and whats it for?

[TopCatGr58]

Hey again,

I must be tired, and I think I'm confusing auto style brake parts with my motorcycle stuff? I just double checked the microfiche and it doesn't show a vibration plate, just the pads and the caliper piston. I know some cars use a thin vibration plate between the pads and the piston.

After 500 miles I would think the pads would have seated to the rotors by now? I've read of the thin vibration plate on here before. Hopefully others will chime in with other suggestions to try, like scruffing up the contact friction surface of the pads a little.

T.C.

[JeffH]

I've read of the thin vibration plate on here before. Hopefully others will chime in with other suggestions

T.C.

TC,
I think you were actually correct with your first assessment. My 78E has the thin metal plate you mentioned. It clipped around the brake pad on the Piston side. Lineup is Piston, Thin Plate/Clip thingy then Brake Pad. Only one plate per caliper on the Piston side.

Jeff

[CaptonZap]

Take the pads out, and figure out which edge is front. Take a file, and file a 45deg chamfer on the front, (leading) edges of the pads.
And the shims were in the brakes of my G and J when I replaced the pads.
So I think they are supposed to be there. CZ

[WMarshy]

Take the pads out, and figure out which edge is front. Take a file, and file a 45deg chamfer on the front, (leading) edges of the pads.
And the shims were in the brakes of my G and J when I replaced the pads.
So I think they are supposed to be there. CZ

+1... also while you have them out, take your hack saw and put a cut across the pad (think radial). Of course I'm assuming your pads dont have the slot in them...

[bikerphil]

You can also try some of that stop squeal membrane goop that is applied to the back of the pads. Auto parts sells it. If you have sintered or semi-metalic type pads, they are much more prone to squeal than the organic type. Also, if there is a glaze on the rotors, it can be sanded off with some 100 grit sandpaper.

[mjpxs11sh]

+

heres what i put on mine not because they were squeaking but to prevent it.

[ManagerMike]

Try the simplest thing first, make some really aggressive stops with the front brake, from say 45 mph allowing them to cool a bit between stops. This will help seat the pads, it should decrease the noise level immediately. It may not eliminate it altogether, but should lessen it enough that you don't make small children in the neighborhood cry.

[jetmechmarty]

Sand the rotors as BikerPhil recommended. Use 100 grit GARNET paper.