#%#% Brake Noise

[Flash]

My R100S project is almost complete. It looks great and runs great, with one exception, the squeaks, squeals and chirps from bot the front and rear disc brakes.

Each disc seems to have its own sound. The screech also varies in frequency depending on the firmness pf applocation. Sometimes they chirp, even without being applied. In traffic, when rolling up to a stop light, I can create a veritable "squeal" symphony.

Has anyone come up with a definitive cure? EBC pads? EBC rotors? I know, "they all do that." I could stand a small chirp or squeak now and then, but my airhead sounds like Godzilla dragging his nails down a giant chalkboard. I'd love to just here the whirr of smooth (and silent) disc brakes.

[GSTom]

Did you put the special brake pad grease on the back of the brake pads when you installed the new ones? Leaving that off can cause noisy brakes.

[DarrylRi]

My 1985 R80 had really loud front brakes. Nothing I ever could find cured them. So, I just got used to them. In fact, I got to the point where I would try to make them squeal for as long as possible on each stop. With just the right, light application, they'd squeal and ring for hundreds of feet as I slowly came to a stop for a light or a stop sign...

[dlearl476]

This thread seems to be going in two or three places at once.


> With just the right, light application

There lies the rub (NPI), light application of the brakes will "glaze" the pads and cause brake squeal. Don't be SQUEMISH. Take some fine grit wet/dry and rub the discs in a circular pattern on both sides. Go for a ride, do some panic stops. Repeat.
And from now on, try braking 10-20 feet later and 10% harder than you currently do and you won't have noise problems.

[DarrylRi]

Originally posted by dlearl
This thread seems to be going in two or three places at once.


> With just the right, light application

There lies the rub (NPI), light application of the brakes will "glaze" the pads and cause brake squeal. Don't be SQUEMISH. Take some fine grit wet/dry and rub the discs in a circular pattern on both sides. Go for a ride, do some panic stops. Repeat.
And from now on, try braking 10-20 feet later and 10% harder than you currently do and you won't have noise problems. Yes, yes, I did all that. It worked for about 2 days and then it was as squealy as ever. And I didn't want to brake harder in normal riding. I like to ride smoothly, not abruptly. The lever effort necessary to silence the brakes meant stopping very abruptly.

So rather than hate the brakes every time I used them, I decided to fully enjoy their clarion call by extending it as long as possible. I could do that by using an even lighter touch on the brakes than I normally would have.

[Flash]

Originally posted by dlearl
This thread seems to be going in two or three places at once.


> With just the right, light application

There lies the rub (NPI), light application of the brakes will "glaze" the pads and cause brake squeal. Don't be SQUEMISH. Take some fine grit wet/dry and rub the discs in a circular pattern on both sides. Go for a ride, do some panic stops. Repeat.
And from now on, try braking 10-20 feet later and 10% harder than you currently do and you won't have noise problems.

Thanks.

I have tried the brake pad anti-squeal "coatings, that you spray on the back of the pads prior to assembly. I've also tried Squeal Medic (http://www.gunk.com/oe2.asp?pic=M725) both of which worked for 75 miles or so. The Squeal Medic works instantly, but seems to be more for new assemblies.

I understand the harder braking concept. I'd just like to start from silence. The noise is so bad now, nothing short of a tire chirping stop will silence them.

I see EBC offers replacement rotors. Anyone have any experience with them, or even just EBC pads?

[PeoriaMac]

I see EBC offers replacement rotors. Anyone have any experience with them, or even just EBC pads?

I have a new ( 2 months now) rotor on the /7, with EBC pads. There is a squeal, but not annoyingly so. It was worse years ago with the stock rotor and BMW pads.

Mac

[dlearl476]

>I understand the harder braking concept. I'd just like to start from silence. The noise is so bad now, nothing short of a tire chirping stop will silence them.


They won't be "silent" until you get the glazing off. Applying the brakes harder now will help, but the glazing is still there, and will be for a bunch of miles. If you want to speed the process along, sand the discs like I posted and also take the pads out, lay a whole sheet of 220 or 320 wet/dry out on a flat surface and rub the face of the pads in a circular motion. (wet or dry it won't really matter. The paper will last longer if it's wet, the water won't hurt the pad)
Someone once posted on a car forum I visit that part of the squeel is from the "heat treated" metal bits that are the "metal sintered" surface. They won't be quiet until that layer is gone.