Disc brakes making noise

[starrider1946]

I put the Empi disc brake kit on my Roadhawk a few weeks ago. Mounted the calipers on top of the axle. The brakes make a noise when I slowly push the brake pedal. If I get on them a little hard it doesn't happen. Every now and then they squeak a little. Other than the noise they work fine. I remember years ago I had a truck that the disc brakes squeaked on. Seems like I used some kind of spray. Can't really remember. Any suggestions.

[Jack Klarich]

Clean all the mating surfaces lube all sliding pins

Sand the friction surface of pads, do not use brake cleaner

Lube the contact areas of the back of the pads with

Noise is most often a harmonic from pad rattle

[LarryA]

sometimes there are anti rattle spring clips on the pads, some pads have a plastic backing sheet,which may be a lube of sorts. "but I have read".....sometimes more aggressive or some metallic pads can be noisy, so some folks have changed to cheaper pads and noise gone. just a thought.....definitly try the lube first!

[rhino 2]

I put the Empi disc brake kit on my Roadhawk a few weeks ago. Mounted the calipers on top of the axle. The brakes make a noise when I slowly push the brake pedal. If I get on them a little hard it doesn't happen. Every now and then they squeak a little. Other than the noise they work fine. I remember years ago I had a truck that the disc brakes squeaked on. Seems like I used some kind of spray. Can't really remember. Any suggestions.

CRC, De Squeak......I used that when i had a CanAm Spyder ...

..

[starrider1946]

Wanted to add to my post. I found someone that described almost to the tee of what I have. " The problem starts when your are just about stopped, still rolling a few mph, with your foot just lightly on the pedal. Then a low pitched drone sound sets up very loud. They also said it is a wooowoooowoooowoooowooo noise not a woooooooooooo noise if that makes sense. Suggested everything from the caliper not centered on the rotor to the rotor being crooked on the rotor. If I get on the brakes a little harder than usual it doesn't make a sound. I know the rotors are warped a little. The company I bought the kit from said the pads would adjust tot he rotor. I may have to have them turned to get them true. I don't know. The brakes work great though. Any more suggestions.

[/COLOR]

CRC, De Squeak......I used that when i had a CanAm Spyder ...

..

[LarryA]

maybe you do have a slight caliper alignment problem....on my atv, when backing up the disc brakes snag and release making a shuddering banging sound,this is without even applying the brakes.....no noise when stopping in the forward direction. I have never tried to fix it... getting back to your problem, a warped rotor should be felt by a pulsating brake pedal. don't think it is the problem. check with feeler gages to see if pads and calipers are square with the rotors, if they are, then try pads with a different composition. softer pads may wear in quicker and may not be so grabby I'm thinking grabbing/releasing is the source of your noise. my .02

[peteg59]

Sometimes it takes a few miles to get all of the brand new parts working together in perfect harmony.

If they're working fine right now, I'm not sure I'd worry too much about a random squeak here or there.

I'd at least ride it awhile before I tore into it again...

[starrider1946]

Thanks Larry and Pete. I will check the clearance on the pads. And I probably need to put some more miles on it and see what happens. I know the rotors are warped a little but I don't think it pulsates just makes the noise. It stops good. I may need to get it out on the road and make a few good hard stops and see if that helps. Good advice. I will post what happens.

[Jack Klarich]

If you have too much run out in the rotors the pads will wear cock eyed and almost always give you noise

Anyone telling you other wise is flat out wrong

Too much run out will most often lead to pulsation

If you can measure the run out first then you may find a GOOD brake tech to machine it out

If you DO NOT measure it first you may add to the problem when the rotors are set up on a lathe

Good Luck with your project

PS, if you do machine the rotors you want to make sure your pads are square ( no high or low spots on the face)

If not they will wear in wrong and continue to make noise

[starrider1946]

I should have done some more research before buying the kit. From what I have read it is probably junk.I have never had any rotors turned. In other words they can't turn the rotors until the run out is gone. I need to put my indicator on them and see how bad they are. I will check into it some more. Thanks for the suggestions.If I get to aggravated I'll put the drum brakes back on. Like I said I do have much better brakes except for the noise. Thanks

If you have too much run out in the rotors the pads will wear cock eyed and almost always give you noise

Anyone telling you other wise is flat out wrong

Too much run out will most often lead to pulsation

If you can measure the run out first then you may find a GOOD brake tech to machine it out

If you DO NOT measure it first you may add to the problem when the rotors are set up on a lathe

Good Luck with your project

PS, if you do machine the rotors you want to make sure your pads are square ( no high or low spots on the face)

If not they will wear in wrong and continue to make noise

[starrider1946]

I looked at my brakes a little closer a little while ago. The right side rotor pads are contacting the rotor good. The pads contact the rotor from the inside all the way to the edge on the inside and out. The left side on the outside of the rotor looks good. The pad is contacting the rotor from the inside all the way to the edge.The inside pad is not contacting the rotor all the way to the edge. It lacks about 3/8" at the outer edge. On the left caliper I have a thin and a thick washer as the spacing of the caliper to the bracket. On the right side I didn't use any washers. Caliper bolted directly to bracket. I did this to center the caliper on the rotor. I may take out the thin washer on the left side to see if it will make the pads contact the rotor more. Don't know if this will do any good or not. That is what I found. Thanks again for the advice.,

I should have done some more research before buying the kit. From what I have read it is probably junk.I have never had any rotors turned. In other words they can't turn the rotors until the run out is gone. I need to put my indicator on them and see how bad they are. I will check into it some more. Thanks for the suggestions.If I get to aggravated I'll put the drum brakes back on. Like I said I do have much better brakes except for the noise. Thanks