Squealling front brakes
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 280
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From: Port St Lucie, FL
Squealling front brakes
My front brakes are squealing like little piggies! But as soon as you touch the front brake lever they stop. The stealer says it is normal, another shop says I need floating rotors because the problem lies with my stock rotors because they are polished but I say there stock. I want to try new pads because mine are wearing crooked. What pads do you guys suggest?
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,013
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From: Nashville TN
My front brakes are squealing like little piggies! But as soon as you touch the front brake lever they stop. The stealer says it is normal, another shop says I need floating rotors because the problem lies with my stock rotors because they are polished but I say there stock. I want to try new pads because mine are wearing crooked. What pads do you guys suggest?
This is what I use on the front
http://www.jpcycles.com/Product/240-710
It does help to rebuild the front calipers everytime you replace pads( brakes tend to drag alittle) but this is on the old style harley calipers....not so much on the brembos.
later
John
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,783
Likes: 10
From: Oh
My front brakes are squealing like little piggies! But as soon as you touch the front brake lever they stop. The stealer says it is normal, another shop says I need floating rotors because the problem lies with my stock rotors because they are polished but I say there stock. I want to try new pads because mine are wearing crooked. What pads do you guys suggest?
If you don't do this, expect another set of pads to wear crooked and your rotors will warp from the excess heat of rubbing.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 30,886
Likes: 33,062
From: King George, VA
There was a service bulletin a while back about front squealing brakes. The instruction was to remove the rotors and swap the right for left and left for right so the center pattern was reversed.
For the dealer to tell ya, "That's normal". Ask him why in the world would Harley engineers design the brakes to squeal.
For the dealer to tell ya, "That's normal". Ask him why in the world would Harley engineers design the brakes to squeal.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 658
Likes: 1
From: Chesapeake, VA
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 805
Likes: 4
From: The Live Free or Die State
There was a service bulletin a while back about front squealing brakes. The instruction was to remove the rotors and swap the right for left and left for right so the center pattern was reversed.
For the dealer to tell ya, "That's normal". Ask him why in the world would Harley engineers design the brakes to squeal.
For the dealer to tell ya, "That's normal". Ask him why in the world would Harley engineers design the brakes to squeal.
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 355
Likes: 2
From: Aiken, SC
I just traded up for a 07 road king a week ago and I noticed the squeeling sound from the front brake. Not really a squeeling but a noticable rubbing sound that went away with slight pressure on the lever. I took it back to the dealer and they said it was normal. My rotors were replaced when I bought the bike because they were warped. If this is a common problem why are the dealers saying it's normal?
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
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From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
Normal to have a slight metallic "shhhhh" rubbing noise which is reduced when the brake is applied slightly.
if the discs are warped it'll be more apparent
squealing brakes are caused by the pads vibrating when applied.
hard pads are more likely to squeal, but last a long time
soft pads are quieter, shorter life and cause more dirt
squealing is reduced by using an anti squeak paste or rtv silicone to the back side of the pads when they are put on ( this absorbs and dampens vibrations)
collected brake dirt and dust behind the pads and binding pins (on which the discs slide) can also cause noise problems- this needs to be clean and the pins lubed correctly
chamfering the leading edge of the pads 45ş can also help
when replacing pads it is good practice to clean the calipers of dirt and dust and when pushing in the pistons, cracking the bleeder to expel the fluid nearest the caliper as that will be the most degraded.
riders with abs should check the manual for any special procedures
when selecting pads, keep in mind the hard/soft trade offs with either stopping distance should be much the same.
I have had good luck with stock H-D pads on baggers, and also EBC pads on my FXRP.
mike
if the discs are warped it'll be more apparent
squealing brakes are caused by the pads vibrating when applied.
hard pads are more likely to squeal, but last a long time
soft pads are quieter, shorter life and cause more dirt
squealing is reduced by using an anti squeak paste or rtv silicone to the back side of the pads when they are put on ( this absorbs and dampens vibrations)
collected brake dirt and dust behind the pads and binding pins (on which the discs slide) can also cause noise problems- this needs to be clean and the pins lubed correctly
chamfering the leading edge of the pads 45ş can also help
when replacing pads it is good practice to clean the calipers of dirt and dust and when pushing in the pistons, cracking the bleeder to expel the fluid nearest the caliper as that will be the most degraded.
riders with abs should check the manual for any special procedures
when selecting pads, keep in mind the hard/soft trade offs with either stopping distance should be much the same.
I have had good luck with stock H-D pads on baggers, and also EBC pads on my FXRP.
mike
Last edited by mkguitar; Dec 9, 2011 at 02:24 AM.
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