Squeeky Brakes

Hey guys,
I put on new brake pads (and new lines, and a new MC thanks to Chacal).

Now there is a squeek/squeal. I got some "brake grease." Now I'm wondering where I put it. Does it go directly on the rotor? Does it go BEHIND the brake pads. Help me out.

 

Alright,

Looking at it now, I realize that the idea of putting it on the rotors is dumb. But, still not sure where it all should go.

 

Go ride a little and wear them in. Because they are flat and your rotor is not (grooved), there may be some squeak until they match better.

 

The brake goop goes behind the pad. It helps to absorb the tiny vibrations that can cause the high pitched squeal.

 

Thanks all.

 

also a good idea to to use some light sand paper 400-600 grit on the rotor surface. do both sides in little circular motion to remove the glazin on the rotor. Then to bed the new pads get up to about 35mph and let the front brake drag for a little while about a 1/4 mile or so this will bed the new pads to the rotor.

 

Actually, ...

The problem is the Brake Pads!
The sharp right angles on the Brake Pads cause the Pads to vibrate at a High Frequency when they contact the moving Rotor.

The Solution to Brake Squeal:
CHAMFER THE PADS !!!

"Chamfer" ... Round-off ... the edged of the Pads.
Sand the Pad so that there is a rounded-off edge on the Leading Edges.
With the Edges >> CHAMFERED << The Brakes won't squeal.

 

I'll second Rick's suggestion.

I put new pads on the rear a month or so ago and fora couple of weeks I had not so much high pitched squeeling but more a middle frequency vibration and almost grinding sound when the rear brake was applied with any force. On some occasions when the brakes have been really cold (winter here nearly) it almost made the occupants of cars next to me as I pulled up at the lights turn around and check out what the noise was.

A quick extraction of each pad, some light filing and sanding of the edges and good as new. Or, better than new actually. No squealing/grinding/vibration.

And the satisfaction of another problem solved through my own resources...

How sweet it is...

 

This sounds like a solution.
A couple of questions:
1. Isn't there a danger of inhaling Asbestos?!
2. What grit of file/sandpaper should I use?

 

Re asbestos...it's such a small job with minimal filing/sanding but if it's a concern than maybe a face mask might alleviate the concern. Although i hear in some parts of the US and Mexico they're a hot item at the moment.

Can't remember paper grade but I reckon around a 400 for starters and see how it goes. I actually gave my pads a bit of a filing first to get the chamfer going and then finished it off with the sanding.

 

If the Pads you bought were made by kidnapped children shackled to work benches in a Country that is hard to pronounce and Retailed for $11.95 a set; I'd wear a protective mask.

If they are of any quality they are probably a metallic and will resist being sanded.

Wear the Mask ... anyway.

What Grit: 320 Don't baby them.

(If you have "The Touch" ... you can do all four inside a minute if you lock the Handle of an Angle Grinder in the Vice!)
A Dremel Tool will make the job perfect and give it that "Look of Customized Genus"

 

Thanks guys. Will do this on Friday when I have the day off.

 

I thought they quit using asbestos in brake pads a loooong time ago?

 

Not that long ago. Asbestos use in products was never actually banned, it just became to expensive to use due to the medical liability. U.S. manufacturers of brake pads still used asbestos in the mid 90's

Many of the XJ's you'll find still have the original rear shoes, which did contain asbestos. And if you buy pads from an overseas manufacturer in a certain part of the world you can pretty well assume that they contain asbestos.

 

There is no watch dog on what material is used in brake pads. You could sell two blocks of wood as brake pads and no one could stop you.

 

And remember, in this case, the 'leading edge' is not the front........ The leading edge is the BACK where the rotor ENTERS the pads. that BACK DGE OF EACH PAD IS WHAT YOU WANT TO FILE BACK. I'd recommend about a 45 degree angle with an angle lip of about 1/8' wide on each pad.

Wait......you mean the blocks of wood on my bike aren't the correct ones?

 

I've had cheap pads that seemed like that, too.