1olbull
Riding Motor Since 1950
FYI - No squeal from mine - now on second set.
Brake squeal observation
- Thread starter mully95
- Start date
-
- Tags
- brake brake squeal
FYI - No squeal from mine - now on second set.
Nat67
Rockgoblin
The stock pads on mine were grooved !
In my experience , brake squeal is almost always caused by glazing of the pads due to contaminants on the rotor and wet weather riding . The harder the compound of the pad , the more likely they are to glaze .
The rocket is a hugely heavy bike , plus rider , add speed , that is a lot of friction and hell of of a lot of heat ! Would not take many traces of diesel or oil from a wet road to cause a glaze !
In my experience , brake squeal is almost always caused by glazing of the pads due to contaminants on the rotor and wet weather riding . The harder the compound of the pad , the more likely they are to glaze .
The rocket is a hugely heavy bike , plus rider , add speed , that is a lot of friction and hell of of a lot of heat ! Would not take many traces of diesel or oil from a wet road to cause a glaze !
mully95
Living Legend
That's the part I can't figure ... when the squeal started the bike had not been in the rain. I rode on some wet streets for about 10 minutes to get home from work.
We've narrowed it down to contaminants so now trying to figure out where it is coming from.
This is the soap I use: DEEP CRYSTAL
Might need to change to something different.
Not end of the world or anything because now I know how to fix it but interesting to see if others are having the issue. I don't know about you guys but the squeal happens right when I'm fixing to come to a complete stop. You know .... you're at a red light trying to look cool, people got their windows rolled down, your buddies are beside you on their bikes, just about to come to a stop because the red light has turned red..... SQUEAKKKKKKKKK! Your buddies turn at look at you and "WTF was that?" people roll their windows up....
This kind of reminds of a little story that happened to me. I was in a group ride and kept hearing a strange noise. It was like the faster I went the noise would pick up in duration. As we was rolling down the road I would look down and see where the noise was coming from on my bike. Mashed the rear brakes a little bit... nope not that. Mashed the front brakes.... nope not that. Pulled clutch in... nope not that. The group came to a stop and the noise quit. Hmmm.... WTF! Took off same thing. Turns out it was my buddies bike in front of me. His bike is belt driven and the belt was to tight so it made that noise.
Later on in the ride I fell back some in the group. Looked up in front of me and another biker who got behind the noisy belt rider was looking down trying to figure out where that noise was coming from on his bike......
Last edited:
Nat67
Rockgoblin
Ten minutes on a wet road will do it if the pads are new and unbedded . Especially after a dry spell , the roads are covered in grease and rubber . If the wash you use also contains wax , that'll do it !
I find removing the brakes altogether , never stopping for red lights and carrying a large anchor does the trick !
Or alternatively , use a softer pad . You change em more often , which ain't a bad thing coz you get to check things out more regular , and you don't get the squeal !
@olbull s suggestion of a groove lightly cut into the pads works well also , as it channels the contaminants away before they can glass up !
I find removing the brakes altogether , never stopping for red lights and carrying a large anchor does the trick !
Or alternatively , use a softer pad . You change em more often , which ain't a bad thing coz you get to check things out more regular , and you don't get the squeal !
@olbull s suggestion of a groove lightly cut into the pads works well also , as it channels the contaminants away before they can glass up !
EasTexRIII
Living Legend
That could be the problem - I never wash my bike with soap & water - I spray & wipe the painted parts with
And clean all other parts with glass cleaner
That being said, I stay on top of keeping it clean so i don't hafta soap & water it
mully95
Living Legend
That could be the problem - I never wash my bike with soap & water - I spray & wipe the painted parts with
And clean all other parts with glass cleaner
That being said, I stay on top of keeping it clean so i don't hafta soap & water it
Well I have a matte black bike and don't use anything but soap and water on it. Anything that is polish or close to polish is a no no. I see what you're saying however. The more I think about it the more I remember that after a good wash the brakes start to squeal again. Think I might just try dish soap on the wheels and car wash stuff on the paint. Maybe the dish soap will remove the grease and junk off the rotors....???
Nat67
Rockgoblin
I use car shampoo all over my bikes but when dried I spray brake cleaner onto a cloth and give the rotors a once over . You would be surprised at the crap the cloth wipes off !
EasTexRIII
Living Legend
Yea, I was gonna say brake cleaner will do it. foe sho
EasTexRIII
Living Legend
