Squeeking Back Brake.... Ahhhhh!!!!

[TOMIMOTO]

Squeeking brakes has to be my bigest pet peeve with vehicles. Yah people know your coming and can hear you from a mile away but it really bothers me. For some reason my 04 GS's back brakes squeek really loud and it's so embarassing stopping at lights that I usually just use my front brakes. Is there anything I can do to make them stop that? Different pads? Something I can spray on the rotor? Go around slamming on the rear brake until the squeek goes away? I don't know. I need help. Thanks.

[Kerry]

[...] my 04 GS's back brakes squeek really loud [...]  Is there anything I can do to make them stop that? Different pads? Something I can spray on the rotor?

Start by reading the Brake Squeaky? message thread.  Different pads are discussed and "anti-squeal" compounds such as copper grease are mentioned.

Here is part of what the Haynes manual tells you to do when you replace the rear brake pads:

Smear the backs of the pads and the shank of each pad pin with copper-based grease, making sure that none gets on the front or sides of the pads.

Here is a diagram from the Haynes manual that should help you visualize the relationship of the brake pads to the anti-chatter shims, as well as the position of the "pad pins":

[proudlom]

I know exactly what you're talking about; my bike does the same thing and it bugs me just as much.  It seems like it squeaks more if I just use the rear break, but that's probably just cause I'd need to push harder.

[TOMIMOTO]

The harder i push on the back brake the louder the squeal gets. It sucks. I'm riding a brand new bike and everyone stares at me like its broken.

[jake42]

i used antiseize on the backs of the pads and pins last time I had the back wheel off and it worked for awhile, but the squeak is back now.  

Jake

[gsJack]

Try reversing the shims?

My Honda front disk brakes all use to start squealing at about 30k miles and got louder and louder with the miles.  I tried all the tricks, sanding the linings, breaking the glaze on the disc, anti squeal compounds from auto parts store on back of pads, and any improvement was very short lived at best.  I tried different types of linings and the Ebc Kevlar linings that were advertised to stop squealing worked best.  Squealing was elimanated or reduced to unobjectional levels in all cases.

My 97 GS500 rear disc started squealing as soon as the pads were beded in and got worse and worse.  I switched to the EBC Black (Kevlar) pads and got rid of the squeak as same with the Honda front brakes.

The rear brake pads on my 2002 never squealed until I changed the worn pads to the EBC blacks this spring.  Soon as they were beded in, they started to squeal louder and louder. What the heck?  Can't be I said.  I took them apart and saw nothing wrong so I tried reversing the shims so the opening in the shim contacting the piston was towards the front instead of the back and that fixed it.  Or was it the other way, towards the back instead of the front?  Not sure, gotta write it down next time.   :lol:   The squeal was gone and after several thousand miles only squealed again lightly one very damp morning.  Worth trying if your brakes are squealing.   Swap shims from side to side to reverse opening.

[JamesG]

I hate to state the obvious, but check the pads and make sure you haven't worn them down to the back plate.
<lecture>
The rear brake IS NOT your primary brake. You should use it rarely and only if you need extra stopping power. You may have noticed that its relatively small compared to the front. If you've been using it alot, it is very easy to wear out.

The MSF dudes say that you get 80% of your stopping power from the front brake. Break (hehe) yourself of the habit of using the rear regularly, and get comfortable using the front.
</lecture>

[Richard UK]

Could be that the anti-squeal shims are missing.  It's easy to forget them when changing the pads.  It won't stop the brakes working, just makes them squeal.

[Rema1000]

The rear brake IS NOT your primary brake. You should use it rarely

Mine squeaks, and it reminds me not to use the rear brake so much .  In my last two panic-stops, I locked the rear tire (even though the rear tire was new and the front was worn).  
I bet I'm not getting 25% of the braking power I should (due to misapplying the brakes).

I've been working on hitting both breaks simultanesouly so the bike lowers on its springs, but then releasing the rear brake and braking the rest of the way with the front.  In practice, this means that the rear just gets an initial kick, and the front break does the rest.

I'm sure that I _should_ be using a little rear brake through the the whole braking process, but I need to get comfortable with laying into the front first.  Once I get near the safe limits on the front, I'll try adding a little back brake in.

[robo]

I have a 04 GS500F as well and i noticed my brakes squeek as well (i think its my front).
It being a brand new bike I dont see how it can be wearing down unless i've been riding with my brakes engaged for the 1000kms.
I am going for my first service tommorrow and I will tell them about it and see if they can do anything.

[mp183]

[/quote]
I'm sure that I _should_ be using a little rear brake through the the whole braking process, but I need to get comfortable with laying into the front first.  Once I get near the safe limits on the front, I'll try adding a little back brake in.[/quote]

You should use both brakes.  Apply the back just slightly ahead of the front.   You have to regulate the pressure so the back does not lock.  If you use only the front in a panic stop you will be in trouble.  The back is going to slide left or right and you won't be able to keep a straight line.  Also, the front is responsible for probably 75% of your stopping power and the back for 25%.   So if you don't use the back you will loose 25% of your stopping ability.

[briandtw]

My back brake squeaks all the time too.  I'll try some of the advice here.  It definitely isn't because of wear.  It started at 400 miles and I seldom use the back brake unless I'm stopping from 40 mph plus (which isn't really that often around here I'm sorry to say).

[airbrush]

yup mine does it too on the rear....very annoying....havent tried any antisqueel compound yet but definitely thinkin about it

[TOMIMOTO]

I use both brakes all the time. My dad and everyone else told me to use both while stopping. I can just use the front and that's what I've been doing since the back squeals so much when I use both. Also my bike only has 350 miles on it so I'm pretty sure I didn't wear the pads down.

[robo]

Got my first service today.
And to correct myself earlier it was my back brake squeeking.
The dealer said it is normal since it doesnt happen often. It only happens under hard braking.
But I guess my definition of hard braking differs from others.

[Kerry]

my bike only has 350 miles on it so I'm pretty sure I didn't wear the pads down.

Naw.  I got 16,000 miles out of my stock rear pads and 17,000+ out of my fronts.