rear wheel squeek- HELP!!!!

[l3uddha]

I'm sitting on my bike in my garage walking it forewards and backwards a few feet & there's a squeeking noise  coming from my rear wheel area. It's wierd- it's not squeeking the whole time the rear wheel is turning, just a few quick squeeks through one whole turn (I hope you can understand what I mean). it's not constant. I was guessing it might be the rear brake because that's what it sounds like- you know when your pads are worn in ur car and the metal is grinding? but my bike is an '04 and I dont use the rear brake heavily, so my pads should be fine. and my foot's not anywhere near the brake lever while I hear the squeeking noise.

this is what I'm guessing- I've done the drivechain adjustment myself. could the wheel be out of alignment and the rotor is scraping aginst the pad? it cartainly LOOKS like it's in alignment & I've measured it w/ a tape rather than use those crappy little notches on the swingarm...

also I've noticed a very small tear in the rubber brake line. Nothing serious I think. the rubber is torn a bit, but the inner threads look to still be in tact. while riding the rear brake seems fine. there is no fluid coming out of the (tiny) tear and the fluid level hasn't dropped. the brake pads are compressing fine, but could it be that they aren't fully rebounding when I DEpress the brake lever?

or could it be that I just have some sand or crap built up on the pads... but wouldnt that be grinded off under normal braking? ughhhhh i dont know.... HELP!!!

[Egaeus]

It could also be a warped rotor.  Brakes tend to constantly make light contact with the rotor (or drum).  Nothing that will wear on the pads, but contact nonetheless.  If the rotor's slightly warped, it'll touch in some places but not others.  It would cause it to make a scraping noise intermittently. 

You might check the pads as well.  Make sure they're good.  While you in there, get some anti-squeal and put on the back of the pads. 

I doubt it's serious, but it's always a good idea to check it out when it's what you use to stop.

[l3uddha]

it's wierd.... after I posted this thread I went down & readjusted and realigned my chain. It was aligned before; but I just re did it for the hell of it. I fiddled with the wheel alignment for a while, but it looks really good and dead on. once I tightened the axel bolt enough and put the cotter pin back in the squeaking went away. I took my bike out for a 20 minute ride so I'd be able to check the chain slack again warm. the bike seemed great and ran fine as usual. then I pulled into my garage, flipped off the ignition, and heard it squeaking  intermittently again as I slowly stopped. I didnt stop using the rear brake at all, and I actually cant recall using it AT ALL on my quick test ride.
it probably is the brakes as you suggest... that's just really a pain in the ass