Brakes squeak

[stanky]

My front brakes have been squeaky (under any kind of braking pressure) since I got the bike. Recently I replaced the, apparently original, brake pads and the squeak is still there. Could it be the rotors causing the issue? I wasn't able to replace the hardware, as none of the brake pad kit options I found had new hardware included. Any help would be appreciated.

Also the squeak is not constant, it seems to only happen in certain spots on the rotor.

[rphillips]

Hardware, if you're talking about those thin shims that go behind the pads, they're available from ebay appx. $8 ea. There was a thread around here last wk. about them. That being said, an auto parts store will have some stuff to apply to the back of the pads that is supposed to stop the squeaks. Not a clue if it works.

[Rob S.]

Copper grease, I think it's called.

[stanky]

Awesome, thanks for the info. Will update if that fixes the squeak.

[stanky]

Also for clarification, I was speaking about the small V-shaped piece of steel that provides tension for the brake pads to keep them from being slack when off the brake pads. I do not know what these pieces are called.

[rphillips]

Rob, you mentioned copper grease in that other thread and I thought you was just pull'n my leg, I had no clue it was really a thing. Sorry I doubted you. stank, there is a real thin "L" shaped shim that goes between the back of the pad and the piston, the way I understand to stop the squeaks, probably what you're talking about. Available from ebay appx. $8 ea.

[Suzukian]

The shims work better with the Copper Grease. If your brakes float, make sure the pins are clean and greased.I just looked at a pic of your brakes, they float on pins. Make sure you service those too.

[LAB3]

Agreed, shim AND grease. The problem causing the squeaking is the brake dust made by the semi-metallic brake pads wearing on the rotor. Grease and shims will do for a bit but here's the next option to try.

Take a hacksaw and cut a groove in your brake pads lengthwise right down to the backing plate, it'll allow the dust to escape and you'll never hear the squeaking again!

[stanky]

I cleaned and greased the pins during the pad replacement, also cleaned up any surfaces I could find. I will say that one side of my brakes (right side) didn't have a shim in between the piston and the pad, the other side did. It sounds like I need to get a shim and see if that helps.

Also LAB3, thanks for the heads up on the groove. The apparently OEM pads had a groove in them already, but the new pads I put on did not.

[salty_monk]

The spray on stuff available at the autoparts stores also works. I've done it that way or with copper grease. Copper Grease is not so common here in Cali as in the UK... maybe it's because we don't have to worry about everything seizing quite so much!