why do my breaks squeal?

[Guest]

why is it that my brakes squeal only when I roll the bike backwards? 1979 850G

[BassCliff]

Hi,

Only backwards? Hmmm.



Normally, you will use a little brake/caliper grease between the shim pad (#3) and the brake pad (#2) so that it dampens (or changes) the vibrations to make them inaudible to human ears.

But I don't know why this happens to you only backwards.



Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[Agemax]

dont go backwards!!! forwards is much more fun

[BassCliff]

dont go backwards!!! forwards is much more fun

LOL!


I agree!



Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[bobthebiker88]

I'm goin with worn pads. check the condition of them, replace as needed.

[Steve]

There is a shim missing in BassCliff's picture. It goes between the pad and the caliper (or piston) and on the trailing edge. This puts a wedge of effort on the pad. By going backwards, the wedge is on the leading edge, leading to chatter. Considering the ratio of how much time you spend going backwards compared to going forward, I would not worry about it.

.

[BassCliff]

Steve, do you mean this 'spring pad'?



I hope I'm not missing anything and that it just wasn't in the picture.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[Adler]

I wouldnt dare second guess Steve but that looks ok for the front caliper... the rear on the other hand has that directional shim


(part 13)

[BassCliff]

I wouldnt dare second guess Steve but that looks ok for the front caliper... the rear on the other hand has that directional shim

Now that I think about it, Mr. doug g never mentioned if it was the front or the back. Either way:

Front Brake Pad Replacement

Rear Brake Pad Replacement

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[Steve]

I wouldnt dare second guess Steve but that looks ok for the front caliper... the rear on the other hand has that directional shim.

Oh, you're not "second guessing", you're just flat-out catching me in a rare mistake.

The last bike brakes I worked on were rears, so that's what stuck in my mind.

I had also changed the front pads on my son's car, and they had the c-shaped shims, too.

Yep, that c-shaped shim is only on the rear brake on the GS.

.

[azr]

You sure the sound is from the brakes? could be bearings. Just a thought.

[duaneage]

Doug,

Did you go to the calipers and rotors I gave you last year?

[doug g]

Steve, do you mean this 'spring pad'?



I hope I'm not missing anything and that it just wasn't in the picture.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

I have the old style calipers still on my bike. Duanage got me some newer style calipers but life has been so crazy I have not had the opportunity or cash to rebuild them and install on my bike yet.

[doug g]

Doug,

Did you go to the calipers and rotors I gave you last year?

not yet. Life and cash has been an issue.

[doug g]

Oh, you're not "second guessing", you're just flat-out catching me in a rare mistake.

The last bike brakes I worked on were rears, so that's what stuck in my mind.

I had also changed the front pads on my son's car, and they had the c-shaped shims, too.

Yep, that c-shaped shim is only on the rear brake on the GS.

.

front old style calipers with the round disc style pads.
Pads are fairly new and they used to squeal when going forward and backwards and now with the new pads it happens only backwards.