Front brakes on my LS?

[Luke D.]

HI everyone, my front brakes squeal when I use them, has anyone else had this problem?  I have cleaned both the rotors and the pads, pads are still good, a few times but they still squeak.   Any help is appreciated.  Thanks

[Barry]

Are the pistons retracting properly as tested by an absence of drag when you rotate the wheel by hand ?  Dragging pads tend to glaze up and squeal.

If the pads are dragging then a caliper overhaul may be needed or you could just try exercising the pistons. Remove the wheel or caliper (doesn't matter which) and compress each piston with a G cramp and then carefully push them out again with the brake lever. Not a bad idea to put something the same thickness as the disc in between the pads so you don't risk pushing them out too far. Also beware one piston is likely to move before the other and may need to be restrained with the G cramp. Exercising the pistons like this a few times may free them up enough that they retract on the seals properly.

[Luke D.]

Thanks Barry for getting back so quick.  My bike is hibernating for the winter but I will take note of your suggestion and try that once winter is done.

[davidpdx]

When I first got my bike the the front pads were new and squealed a lot. After asking around someone suggested just using them hard a few times to break them in. I put them on as hard as I dared on an empty road at a good speed a few times and the squeal is gone and has not come back.

[Luke D.]

Alright, thanks David, I will try that one as well once all of the white crap is off the ground.

[montmil]

Replace those squeakers with organic EBC pads and ride happy n' noise free.

[nhmaf]

IF you do replace the pads, do go with the organic pads if you are using the stock stainless steel rotors.   Sintered/metallic pads are totally incompatible with themf and you'll ruin them in short order if you do.

Once new pads are installed, it is preferable to be able to find some paved back road with little/no traffic on it so you can do bed the pads in properly by accelerating to ~30-40 MPH and then applying the brakes hard.  As soon as the bike is just about to stop, release and accelerate again.  Repeat 8-10 times.  You don't want to give them a long time to cool off in between braking sessions.  This helps the pads to settle into their positions and not glaze with gentle application of the brakes when they are new.
You could also do this  if you have plenty of meat on your existing pads, and just take them off and scuff off any glaze they may have on their surface with some 80 grit sandpaper - then do the rapid stop thing as with new pads.   If none of this solves it, you can try the spray goop (some even just use outdoor paint) to paint the BACK of the pads to help dampen vibrations/reduce squeal.

Make sure that you don't have a traffic cop on the road when you are wearing in the brake pads

[quixotic]

Replace those squeakers with organic EBC pads and ride happy n' noise free.

Are they available for the pre-81 bikes?  bmw2valve.com just seems to have them for the later bikes.  

http://www.bmw2valve.com/motorcycle/B-7/7871098.html

[Bob_Roller]

The pads shown in the picture, are for Brembo calipers .

I think EBC pads for the ATE calipers, are FA57 .

[steve hawkins]

Make sure you have no radial cracks on you rotor/s.  Between the holes.  That will make the brakes 'sing'.  If you find any at all ditch the rotor.

Cheers

Rev Light

[Barry]

I'm using the FA57 EBC pads on Ate calipers and have no squeaks except at very slow speeds when wet.

[Luke D.]

Thanks all for the help.  I think I still have the original pads on there since the bike has few miles on it.  I remember buying new pads because I thought they needed replacing but there is still good meat on them.  My rotors are still in great shape(no warping, cracking).  Once I get my bike out of storage I will try these options and if all else fails I will just get new pads.

[Luca]

Cleaning the pins and anti rattle springs up wouldn't hurt either.  A little brake caliper grease on the backs of the pads could help the noise, but that doesn't "fix" the underlying problem.  My brakes still squeal with EBC organics... perhaps I need to do a good deglazing of the rotors.

[montmil]

...  I think I still have the original pads on there since the bike has few miles on it...

"Thinking"...thirty-two year old OEM brake pads? The OEMs were never anything to write home about. Unless the calipers have been serviced, I'd bet the caliper pistons are also fouled with watery, gunked up hydraulic fluid. From a safety-of-flight issue, your brake system issues should be a Priority One. Not sometime later.

[Barry]

My bike still had the original 28 year old pads when I got it but someone had kindly soaked the whole bike including the pads in some sort of rust proofing fluid so I had no choice but to change them.

Old pads could have deteriorated in other ways too.  I once had the brake pad material shear off the backing plate when I was 200 miles from home  -  on a Sunday.   Using only the rear brake all the way home was fun.