Brake question..
Thread Starter
|
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 19,980
Likes: 6,107
From: Florida
Brake question..
'04 Fatboy. Rear brake howled when coming to a complete stop. Change pads & chamfered them. No change,howling persisted. Swapped stock rotors for floaters & cleaned caliper. Loud howl changed to an intermittent quiet squeak when stopping--a big improvement, but still annoying. Now, I don't put much mileage on this bike,about 300/year,'cause I also have a RoadKing that I ride almost exclusively. Mostly short rides around the neighborhood on the Fatboy. A tech told me to take it out, & ride the hell out of it for a while, & that would get rid of the squeak. So I have been riding it almost exclusively for the last week,all over town, & the squeak is gone. My question is--Was he right?? or is it just a coincidence. If the pads were glazed for some reason, could putting a bunch of mileage this week on it have "worn down" the glaze, if there was one? Or did the new pads & rotor just need breaking in?
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 274
Likes: 3
From: Portage, IN
A brake squeak is basically the pad vibrating when in contact with the rotor. The faster the vibration, the higher pitched the squeak is. Sometimes a slight imperfection in the pad or the rotor or just the two coming into contact at a slightly less than perfect mating, will cause this vibration...When you rode it around for that time and it stopped, chances are you allowed the pads to conform to the slight variations in the rotor and then the squeak stopped...If the contacting part of the pad was glazed somewhat, it can cause this too..."burning" through that will make it go away usually too....
MODERATOR
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,108
Likes: 1,964
From: New England
Most of the squealing is caused by the brake pad back plate vibrating against the caliper pistons.
A real good cleaning will generally work for just a short time. But applying something like stop-squeal on the pad's back plates will help longer.
I've even used anti-seize on the backing plate of the pads with good results. But over time, cleaning and a re-application may be needed to minimize the noise.
Hope that helps!
A real good cleaning will generally work for just a short time. But applying something like stop-squeal on the pad's back plates will help longer.
I've even used anti-seize on the backing plate of the pads with good results. But over time, cleaning and a re-application may be needed to minimize the noise.
Hope that helps!
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,210
Likes: 1
From: LI, NY
Parts sit from non use and rust builds up. Rust particles helps metal to metal contact which causes the noise.
Also on car brakes the disc break assemblies use white lube or silicone lube to prevent break squeal.
Having a second bike and using it for 300 miles a year is not using it.
Also on car brakes the disc break assemblies use white lube or silicone lube to prevent break squeal.
Having a second bike and using it for 300 miles a year is not using it.
Thread Starter
|
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 19,980
Likes: 6,107
From: Florida
I've heard that the stuff you put behind the pads to stop the squeak is only for later model bikes--can't use it on an '04 'cause it could contaminate the caliper, or fluid.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,699
Likes: 2
From: Deltona, FL
Umm, you've heard wrong. If someone told you putting lube on the back of a pad would contaminate your brake fluid, never let that person near your brakes!!! Ever!!!
Brake systems are closed. Nothing is supposed to get in.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
RKC20000
Frame/Suspension/Front End/Brakes
3
May 31, 2007 12:01 AM
