Squeaky rear brake?

[Timmy Tucker]

I put new Ferodo Platinum pads on the front and back about 300 miles ago. I just left the rotors alone cause they were in ok shape and I don't have the cash for new ones. Rotors have a some minor grooves in 'em, but they are in spec. The back brake has suddenly started squealing in the last 50-75 miles. Haven't noticed any difference in brake performance, just an embarrassingly loud squeal anytime I used the back brake. And it doesn't seem to vary with speed or with the amount of brake pressure applied. Any ideas?

[Raux]

when mine does that i drag it a bit to clean off the pads (of course in the neighborhood, not out on the open road)

[stopintime]

You can try rolling backwards (be careful) while applying the brake. If you're lucky it solves the problem.
Last time I read about this, I think the consensus was to clean the removed pads and the caliper.
Some have also made a very thin aluminum piece and put it between the pad and caliper pistons (from a soda can).

These are just things I've read here - wait for others with FHE

[Howie]

Try Raux and stopintime's tricks first since the don't require disassembly. If you do find you need to remove the pads, sand and put a slight bevel on the top, bottom and leading edge.  Also clean the rotor with a scotchbrite pad and brake cleaner.  A shim between the brake pad and piston may help, it is all guess work.  The idea of the shim is to change the frequency to one you don't hear.

[Buckethead]

What's a rear brake?

[jerryz]

also put copperslip behind the pads .

[Timmy Tucker]

I tried the rolling backward thing. Got rid of about 90% of it. I'll try it a few more times and if it doesn't get better, I'll try cleaning and scrubbing.

[liquidsmile]

Ducs are known for notorious squeaky brakes here and there, I had to put "Disc Brake quiet" on the back of my pads, to get it to finally stop.  Usually the harder pad compound squeal comes back more often, so I just take care of it with the spray on the back of the pads.  5K since and not a bit of noise. 

[Nomad]

Mine used to sound like a garbage truck stopping every time I applied the rear break.  I now run aluminum shims cut from a soda can in between the pistons and pads on all three calipers.  It is easy to do and you don't even have to take the brakes off, they drop right in (I think).  You don't notice they are there and it significantly reduces the noise with no adverse effect on braking power.

[patrick696]

Are these solutions worth trying on squeaking front brakes too?

Thanks,
Patrick

[Howie]

Are these solutions worth trying on squeaking front brakes too?

Thanks,
Patrick

Yes.