Hi all .... please can someone help me here... l have a 2005 Rocket l bought new and have covered 19,000+ miles.... but a month ago the front brakes started sqealing... just as you come to halt... so about 10 or 15 mph down to complete standstill.. It still had the original pads (about two thirds worn) and discs in perfect condition. Now you may think me a little 'anal' here , but every two or three months l clean the calipers (on every bike l have owned for the last twenty years) with hot soapy water, around the pistons , and clean the pads , and wet n dry the pin smooth , then copperslip it and also the back of the pads... l just like to think l will be able to stop if l need to !!!!!!!!!!! but its making a real bad noise.. ln desperation l fitted new genuine Triumph pads , did my usual caliper clean-up , chamfered the leading edge of the pads and changed the brake fluid... and it makes more noise than ever... so l cleaned the pads and discs in brake cleaner.... it just made no difference... IT'S DRIVING ME MAD !!!!! any ideas , or known problems that l'm not aware of ???

thanku in anticipation
Blacklll

BIII...... I've also got your year and around 14K my front brakes started doing the same thing at the same speed. Because I've worn out more rear brakes than I'd like to admit, I try to use the front ones as often as possible.....except turning corners.

When I had the beast into the shop I asked them about that problem and was told....."Your front brakes are fine so we'll just use some compressed air to blow off anything on them and it'll be fine". Well, they still squeak like before so back to the dealership with some more answers and hopefully solutions.

If I find out anything, I'll send you a PM.

Dave

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I used to compete in sports a lot, but then I realized that you can buy trophies......So now I'm good at everything.

I also have a 05 standard rocket with just under 12000 miles I believe the brakes are original. They squeal but just barely. They do seem a bit loud though.

By the way Blacklll you're more than welcome to stop by the house every 2 to 3 months!

My 1st bike didn't squeal but this one does for some reason. I think I remember awhile back someone said that the disc should free float and his didn't which caused it to squeal. I checked mine and they are pretty firm. I'm not that concerned about the noise as long as it stops good and it does.

It's an easy fix. Remove the pads and apply some anti-squeal to the backing plates. You can get it at Pep-Boys, Murrays, Autozone or wherever. The stuff I have is yellow. Works great.

I've heard that a bit of red (high temperature) RTV smeared on the backing plates works too, but I use the anti-squeal.

You are getting a harmonic vibration between the backing plate and the pucks.

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Pursuing the never ending quest for cheaper bling.......

There are at least two types of EBC pads and then there're the OEMs. One has a higher tendency to squeal with a higher metallic content, I believe that's the case. The cost of those that are said not to squeal are about $10 more. Must be the cost of walnut shells The suffix is -2H (on the better EBC pads) or something similar. Mine, at 19k, have a wee bit of squeal and they're original. The rotors are perfect with about 2/3rd wear on the pads. The rears were eaten up to less than a 1/5 at 13k. I've since gained more confidence in the fronts to do most all the stopping.
These FA209/2HH sound like the right P/N but they too have a metallic content. Perhaps it's not the metal particles.

I've run Titanium metallics on severel cagers with drilled and slotted rotors and the stopping power is phenomenal. I've found on a light weight Sebring the pads don't brake in well, at all; when traversing the slots. But the stopping powers is like none others. It has to be: The better half drives like a cotton tail bunny darting between stop lights.

I've used a purple goop that worked on my Intruder. Might I suspect correctly that worn pads, spacing and hardness, develops eventually a squeal. Mine had zero squeal up until about the 15k frame.

And now that I think about it: I changed the rears at about 13k and began far greater reliance on the front. I may have turned the heat up on them??? Perhaps I toasted and glazed the OEM wal-nuts.

Welcome to the forum CAPTain BlackIII. Was this meant to be your Hi, how are ya'll Introduction.
Have you perhaps had occasions to heavy-braking early on?? You at 19k with a squeal and I when I then was at about 15k have a squeal development. Sounds like time to change But I'm still thinking I glazed some nuts at some point. I think a good set can be had for $35. It's a small price to pay; before you loose sight of the rotor wear and the cost skyrockets.

Hi BlackIII!

Asking tech questions in the intro forum?? This will go on your permanent record. I'll have to put you on level two probation

That old Flipper is a pretty fart smeller. Squealing is caused by the pads vibrating so to kill the squeal you need to stop the vibration. As Flip said, one way to do this is to apply some sort of anti squeal stuff to the back of the pads. Depending on what you buy, this could end up being something sticky or it could possibly be some sort of high temp grease. You should be able to hit your local auto parts store in England and talk to the parts guy and he should have something.

There is also something that you can apply directly to the pad surface. It's simply called "anti squeal" and its made by B&G, but I have no clue if B&G sells in England. Here in the states B&G only sells to shops. There may be others who make something similar so you might ask.

You can also grease the carriers, ie the brackets that the pads ride in. CAREFULLY apply a little high temp grease to these and then re install the pads without getting any of the grease on the pad surfaces.(You want to grease the grooves that the pads actually sit in so that if the pads vibrate the carriers don't experience any friction and add to the problem).

Another trick is to make your own brake pad backing dampener by gluing some sort of material directly to the back of the pads. Something like your Harley Davidson mouse pad would work just fine, the material just needs to be something that will soak up vibration and not fall apart because of the heat or moisture.

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