I recently bought a '93 GS500E (my first one).  The previous owner had new rear brake pads installed last season by a Suzuki repair shop.  Since I've owned the bike the rear brake squeaks under light to medium braking.  I removed the pad and switched sides.  I had the pads "filed" and they still squeak.  Do I need new pads/rotor.  Please help it drives me crazy.

CRC does make a silicon type goo that goes on the back of the pads. I have used it on cars/bikes whenever there has been a squeek and it has worked great. It is just like a silicon gasket goo so you may even want to give that a go first.

I never use my rear brake. But mine squeaks a bit too. I don`t care and it isn`t bad, it`s only annoying for others (and maybe for you too). But I wouldn`t spend money on buying a new rotor and pads only to get rid of the squeaky noise. That`s pretty expensive. Good luck!

The squeek is a good thing. It lets you know that your brakes are working.

What is it that causes the squeak?  And how goes greasing the back side of the pad help?

Thanks
SS

The grease absorbs the vibration, and reduces the frequency of the noise, thus dampening the squeeking.

I've had a squeeky rear brake as well.  It really sucks since the pads are brand new.  Seeing as though I will now be tooling around campus at tremendous speeds of 20MPH, and braking frequently, the squeek has to go.  So i buy some brake noise reducer stuff, and the darned thing still squeeks.  I don't know what to do... any suggestions?

When I got my new '04 500F, the rear break squeaking really got to me. I thought after I used the breaks a lot it would go away. I've since put on over 6000 km and it still squeaks.  :dunno:

Could be just the anti-squeal shims are missing - thin sheets of metal that go between the back of the pads and the pistons.

A lot of times, the squeak/squeal is caused by the back of the pad moving against the caliper as you brake.  Anti-squeal on the backs of the pads reduces that squeak.

I've got the same problem with my '96.  I checked for the rear brake shims but they aren't there.  Where can I get some, or can I make my own?  I have tin snips and a dremel.  I already have the brake grease or whatever, but I don't know if I should smear it on the back of the pads without shims.

Quote from: xtalmanI checked for the rear brake shims but they aren't there. Where can I get some, or can I make my own? I have tin snips and a dremel.

Ron Ayers sells the shims (items 13 & 14) for $6.30 each.    YOW!

As far as making your own, I seem to remember them being very thin.  If you want a photo and some measurements, I'm getting ready to replace my rear rotor and pads ... maybe even tonight?

[quote="Kerry"
Ron Ayers sells the shims (items 13 & 14) for $6.30 each.    YOW!

As far as making your own, I seem to remember them being very thin.  If you want a photo and some measurements, I'm getting ready to replace my rear rotor and pads ... maybe even tonight?[/quote]

Thanks Kerry, that would be excellent!  Although now that I look at that parts diagram, it's hard to imagine they do anything at all.  Well, I'll try making a couple anyway and see what happens.

Here you go...

With 1/4"-square graph paper and an inch scale:


With 5mm-square graph paper and a metric scale:


I measured the shim thickness at .015", which is pretty darn close to both 1/64" and .04mm.

Allow 5mm of material at the top - for the 4mm width that I measured to the edge, and an extra mm for the bend itself.

One last note: The diagram from the Haynes manual seems to indicate that the shims were pretty much square at some point.  ALL models of the GS500 use the same rear brake pad, so I imagine Suzuki went to the skimpy shim for a good reason.

But still, why not make a pair of "square" shims, install them, and see how they work?  You can always trim 'em down later.  If you DO trim them down, the frail-looking part at the bottom points toward the rear of the bike.  (Corollary: Square shims could be identical twins, but trimmed shims would need to be mirror images pf each other.  In other words ... identical but with the top "margins" bent in opposite directions.)

Is there any conflicting advice out there?  If so, let's hear it!  

I have the shims, and have smeared the silicone-like brake noise reducer on the pads and shims to no avail.  Any suggestions on how to fix, or what you've done in the past to reduce the noise?

Quote from: RatboyI have the shims, and have smeared the silicone-like brake noise reducer on the pads and shims to no avail.  Any suggestions on how to fix, or what you've done in the past to reduce the noise?

Earplugs?

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

The rear brake pads on my 2002 never squealed until I changed the worn OEM 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.  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.

Thanks for all the help guys.  I'm going to try and make square shims this weekend.  I'll report back what the results are.

Super retro bump from 2004!!

7 years later and my 2009 squeeks like crazy

Has anything changed since 2004?  Is there any new revolutionary trick (other than what is already mentioned which seems pretty inconclusive) that magically fixes that damned noise?


Thanks in advance

-Lucky

Nope.

Mine rear brake squeaked, but i try to use it 50-50 at slow speeds, and, it stopped squeaking.

So, dono.

Use it more?