GS front brakes squeal...

[MaxxSpeed1964]

My front brakes (R1200) have always squealed when at low speed (IE coming to a stop). I've lightly sanded the pads and cleaned up the rotors which only solved the issue for about ten miles. I also tried the anti-squeal stuff that you put on the backing on the pads. Noise came right back. My dealer won't help because brakes are not covered in the warranty (eventhough they made noise on the day of delivery - my bad for accepting the bike). :banghead
Suggestions...

[SHAG]

After 15k miles! Mine still squeal ! I only notice it when I don't have earplugs in!
Does the same as yours! Coming to a stop at slow speeds! I haven't heard of a remedy yet!

[PacWestGS]

:wave Hi Maxxspeed, welcome to the MOA. To bad your first post has to be a complaint but then again, you will find out here that not only each BMW bike is unique but so are the people who ride them. :laugh

Sorry to hear about your brakes, I recently read of another member complaining of the same problem and said it was specific to R12GSs. That I don't know, I've had plenty of bikes with squeally brakes. Some ideas:

-Change brake pads: After market EBC or others. Or buy new BMW OEM pads and try an easier break-in period, no super hard stops or attempted stoppies for the first 50-200 miles. Usually any time during the mating process (up to 200 miles) if the pads get too 'cooked' they will harden/glaze and not only will they provide less braking grip but they will squeal for a very very long time.

-If it is super annoying you could change the rotors as well or at least rotate them from one side to other and see if that helps. Replacing them this early could seem expensive, but if it sounds like you're sitting in the Dentists chair or someone is scraping a chalkboard every time you stop I could see spending the $$$.

-I was going to suggest one more chemical cleaning and but I can’t remember the product right now, it’s available in Auto parts stores for cleaning brakes and is supposed to help with squeaky brakes, it’s not the goo stuff you tried (Don’t use that on MC calipers), but more of a solvent spray. JUST DON’T GET IT ON YOUR WHEELS use a rag and spin the rotors through your hand.


I have to ask though how many miles do you have on the bike and did you brake hard and often during the first few miles of use?

(EDIT: Or if you have the prerequsit 200 mile pad break in period covered you could try the 'Bigger Hammer' theory. Go out find a nice road and practice muliple back to back ABS checks from say 60-0-MPH. if that doesn't get your rotors and pads in an uproar and settle them down, :banghead well go back to plans A & B above.) :dunno just rying to help :thumb

[MaxxSpeed1964]

SF Doc,
Thanks, I'm glad to be a member. At least now I'll have another place to seek advice on GS stuff. And these two issues are part of the reason for me becoming a member in the first place.
My GS has just about 4k miles on it (after a 1500 mile long weekend trek from LA to SF and back via mostly county roads). Actually, when my sales person brought my bike out from service for me to take delivery, we noted that there was a brake noise but I figured they'd take care of it during the first service. So I don't know if they did a faulty break-in with the brakes or not?
I did use "brake clean" which also gave a temporary solution. I have tried a couple of really hard braking sessions to try to run through/use up the tainted section of the pads - without success. I will try flipping the rotors and see if that helps. Also, new pads might be a good next step.
I have put in a request with a regional BMW guy who helps with after the sales issues. We'll see what happens...
Thanks for your kind response.
- Jim
PS. My wife is a "LA Doc" :)

[kbasa]

Where do you live, Jim?

[MaxxSpeed1964]

KBasa,
Born in SF but now live in the LA area called Palos Verdes (So bay). Why do you ask?...

[PacWestGS]

PS. My wife is a "LA Doc" :)

Jim,

My SF is not for a city but a specialized organization in the military. Still good to meet ya. :thumb

[MaxxSpeed1964]

Understood - is it the obvious SF (Special Forces) or something else (you don't have to tell me either way)?
Same here!
Thanks, Jim

[PacWestGS]

:brow Understood - is it the obvious SF (Special Forces) or something else (you don't have to tell me either way)?
Same here!
Thanks, Jim

Yeah, but then if I told ya, I'd have to kill ya, so we better leave it at Science Fiction and call it done. :brow

:ha3

[MaxxSpeed1964]

:laugh
Thanks, Jim

[karasek]

If your front brakes squeal on your 1200GS then take it to a dealer. BMW is addressing that problem with rubber thrust washers. There is a service bulletin on the issue, came out this summer some time.

[MaxxSpeed1964]

karasek,
Thanks for the info. Not sure why the service department at my dealership has been giving me the run-around (at least 6 months worth)? I've been in there three times without any attempt or cooperation on their behalf (at all) to resolve this issue. I thought they were not the best :hungover - guess I was right. I'll give another/different dealership a try. I've heard good things about Irv Seaver...
Thanks again.
- Jim

[SHAG]

If your front brakes squeal on your 1200GS then take it to a dealer. BMW is addressing that problem with rubber thrust washers. There is a service bulletin on the issue, came out this summer some time.

Do you know what is causing the squeal ? I don't get to a dealer very often!
Nearest dealer 160 miles North or South & it's Winter here!
I should've asked Kbasa at Lima why my brakes squeal . ;)

[kbasa]

I should've asked Kbasa at Lima why my brakes squeal . ;)

:dunno

Mine are fine.

[R4RandR]

I've heard one way to get rid of the squeal is to get out in an empty parking lot and perform about 10 HARD stops - heavy on the front brake (if you don't have the linked ABS). That resolution didn't really work for me, but it did show me the impressive braking abilities of this bike. My roadster has made the noise from time to time (seems more noticeable after a good washing) but earplugs/radio seems to fix it. :wow

It is kind of embarrasing when you come up to a traffic light making lots of noise and people are watching you - doesn't give a great impression for BMW bikes to the 'public'. :violin

[cjack]

Do you know what is causing the squeal ? I don't get to a dealer very often!
Nearest dealer 160 miles North or South & it's Winter here!
I should've asked Kbasa at Lima why my brakes squeal . ;)

I don't know but I have seen the rubber coated washer thing done on a couple of wheels and it seems to work. There are two inexpensive kits of washers per wheel. I guess our S bikes are candidates also, but they don't squeek so IINB,DFI.

[PUDGYPAINTGUY]

Mine had a squeal for a little while after buying it. IOn mine I found that when I took the pins out of the caliper to remove the pads that the pins had corroded and the oxidation was not allowing the pads to slide freely across them to release from the rotor.

I used a worn out piece of P1000 paper and cleaned the oxidation and used some brake grease very lightly to smear over and prevent reoccurrence, and it seems to have worked on mine. Not sure if you have the same thing or maybe i was just lucky.

[karasek]

Not sure exactly on what would cause them to squeal. Must be vibration related if the rubber washers are fixing things. BMW plans on having these rubber thrust washers on the 2006 models.

[1bayside1]

I rented an 05 gs over the weekend and noticed the brake sound when approaching a stop sign. Thought it was just a rental bike thing.

-Mike

[PUDGYPAINTGUY]

Did anyone try the brake grease on the back of the pads and on the spindles yet? Just curious if anyone tried to fix theirs yet...

[R4RandR]

I thought they ALL do that?