New Front Brakes Squeak

[Mau]

Hi all, I purchased my new Monster 1100 EVO 3 months ago.  After only a couple hundred miles on it I noticed the front brakes squeak load every time I did a hard stop. Note this is the ABS version, but the squeak happens without the ABS kicking in.

I contacted the dealer and they told me that the pads needed to break in, so I kept driving. After 1500 miles the problem continues, I took it to the dealer and they serviced it, cleaned the pads and put anti-squeak grease....after that the problem continued and when contacting the dealer, they mentioned that was all they could do for free!
After contacting Ducati NA, and explaining the issue, they contacted the dealer and he called me back saying they will replace the pads for free.   for Ducati NA.

The dealer, however, pushed hard for not for replacing the pads with OEMs but instead with EBC pads.  He argued that those were much better.  Nevertheless, from a previous conversation he suggested using a different coumpond pads which will reduce the stopping power but will not squeak.  I insisted on OEM pads so he is ordering them now since he does not carry them in stock.

Could you guys advisel me on the following:

1) What could be the problem?? A guy from Brembo told me it could be an allignment problem....
2) Are the OEM pads better than the EBC or viceversa?
3) the dealer said that even if replaced with new OEM pads they might squeak again.  Does this make any sense? I do not want my bike to make noise every time I brake.  Is that too much to ask?

Thank you in advance!

[ducpainter]

Hi all, I purchased my new Monster 1100 EVO 3 months ago.  After only a couple hundred miles on it I noticed the front breaks squeak load every time I did a hard stop. Note this is the ABS version, but the squeak happens without the ABS kicking in.

I contacted the dealer and they told me that the pads needed to break in, so I kept driving. After 1500 miles the problem continues, I took it to the dealer and they serviced it, cleaned the pads and put anti-squeak grease....after that the problem continued and when contacting the dealer, they mentioned that was all they could do for free!
After contacting Ducati NA, and explaining the issue, they contacted the dealer and he called me back saying they will replace the pads for free.   for Ducati NA.

The dealer, however, pushed hard for not for replacing the pads with OEMs but instead with EBC pads.  He argued that those were much better.  Nevertheless, from a previous conversation he suggested using a different coumpond pads which will reduce the stopping power but will not squeak.  I insisted on OEM pads so he is ordering them now since he does not carry them in stock.

Could you guys advisel me on the following:

1) What could be the problem?? A guy from Brembo told me it could be an allignment problem....
2) Are the OEM pads better than the EBC or viceversa?
3) the dealer said that even if replaced with new OEM pads they might squeak again.  Does this make any sense? I do not want my bike to make noise every time I break.  Is that too much to ask?

Thank you in advance!

My 2 cents...

The front brakes squeak from getting glazed from light use.

Aftermarket pads are typically better for stopping power, but don't last as long as OEM IMO. I suppose there are pads that are worse for performance.

If you use the brakes harder they probably won't squeak.

[Ddan]

http://www.stoptech.com/tech_info/wp_bedintheory.shtml

http://www.stoptech.com/tech_info/wp_bedinstock.shtml

http://www.stoptech.com/tech_info/wp_bedinperformance.shtml

[Mau]

Thank you!
Great info....I will try these steps once I get my new pads.

[stopintime]

I did the stoptech routine and found it to be way too agressive for used parts.
My intention was to mate rotors and pads which hadn't been used together.
This was used rotors and used pads, so not really what the instructions are for.

Somewhat similar to your situation though, because you already have a layer on your rotors and don't need to go through the layer deposit routine again.

If you have glazing, it will be gone with new pads.

Again, not for your application, but FWIW my email to Brembo about new rotors + new pads got this answer:

in order to bed in the pads, please remember that the pad needs time to transfer the first layer of material on the disc;

for this reason the first kilometers done with the new system has to be done gently on the brakes.

Brake a little bit before than the normal with less pressure than the normal, in order to increase gradually the temperature and avoiding to cook the pad surface;

Regards.

Claudio.

[Mau]

Thanks for the info Claudio.  I am somewhat confused now because, what Brembo told you to do is exactly what I did with this new pads. I actually used my brand new breaks very gently during the initial break-in period (about 600miles) but they squeaked anyway.

Now, I am not sure again what is the proper way to break in my next set of new pads.  I sure hope they will not squeak again.

I also wonder if this could be related to something else.....I heard that bad alignment can cause squeaky breaks too.  However, I am not sure what they are referring to....is it wheel alignment? or calipers? or Pads?

[Ddan]

I've used the Stop Tech method, or a variation of it, several times and it works.  If I were trying to refresh used pads and rotors, I'd clean the old deposited pad material off the rotors with some very light sanding and brake cleaner, then de-glaze the pads with some coarse sand paper and cleaner, and then go through the hard stop routine until I could smell the pads getting hot, probably 5-6 repetitions.  Ride for a few miles with no brakes to let things cool off and you should be good.  If I had new pads on old rotors I'd clean the rotors and go through the full procedure they described.

[stopintime]

Thanks for the info Claudio.  I am somewhat confused now because, what Brembo told you to do is exactly what I did with this new pads. I actually used my brand new breaks very gently during the initial break-in period (about 600miles) but they squeaked anyway.

Now, I am not sure again what is the proper way to break in my next set of new pads.  I sure hope they will not squeak again.

I also wonder if this could be related to something else.....I heard that bad alignment can cause squeaky breaks too.  However, I am not sure what they are referring to....is it wheel alignment? or calipers? or Pads?

Claudio is the Brembo guy who answered me

Two important things:
the layer needs to be applied evenly (soft on and off the brakes, without stopping)
the layer needs heat, progressively (softest breaking in the beginning)

You may have missed the 'heat' part - some or all of it, by braking too softly.
If you did - glazing might have occurred.

Next time, be more aggressive after the first 40-60 soft miles.
It's important that the heat builds up - sequentially braking cycles without cooling down much in between.

If a better procedure doesn't fix it, then you can start questioning alignment a.s.o.

Good luck (not needed really, it's going to be easy and successful

[Howie]

Gently does not mean  very light application.  Until the pads bed in they are not making complete contact with the rotor.  The high spots will overheat and cause squeal.  What they mean by gentle is avoid hard (panic type) braking and riding the brakes downhill.  The Stop Tech method is the best way to bed in brakes, but pretty hard to accomplish safely in an urban environment, which might be why Brembo doesn;t recommend it.

[pyrocpu]

Agree w/ others on the StopTech method of bedding brakes. I've done it every time on my cars after a pad change (or a pad swap, as I often do before a track day). Works well.

Not to hijack the OP... my 1100 Evo makes a "farting"/shuddering sound at a medium braking effort. Not annoying or anything, but a bit amusing. 

[ducpainter]

The StopTech method did not work well on my wife's Focus.

I warped the rotors.

It is not a high performance braking system.

[Mau]

I just performed the StopTech method to the letter....It did not fixed the problem.
Since I am getting new break pads anyway, I will follow SBK's advice and wait until the new ones are in and I will follow the instructions (after cleaning the rotors with a light sanding and break cleaner.

Thanks!

[Mau]

***UPDATE***

I got the new pads installed today (original Brembo pads). I am breaking the pads in as described in many websites.  Few gentle miles and the series of 60 to 10 stops following cooling and repeating.

However, the noise is still there. I will give it a few more miles to break in, however, I really wonder if it is something else causing the noise.  Could it be a caliper or rotor problem?

Furthermore, is there any place specialized on motorcycle brakes.  somewhere I can go and actually get my problem fixed?

Thanks!

[stopintime]

If this was older brake components, which it isn't, the caliper pistons could be returning too slowly or not at all. Taking them apart for cleaning seems to help.

The buttons connecting the rotor and carrier could be stuck because of dust, dirt and water. Then the discs wouldn't center themselves after braking, pads dragging on the discs.

The dealer should be able to perform the necessary no-brainer fixes for you.
The dealer should be willing to do so, with a smile, under warranty.

Don't give up - it's not supposed to be like this.

[Mau]

Thanks for the advice Stopintime.  I agree, I wouldn't have bought this brand new motorcycle if they were to tell me by the way it will squeak bad every time you come to a stop.

I am bringing the bike for another issue now....as of last night the DTC broke down and the bike does not work unless it turn it off. The dealer will take another look at the breaks this time too.

Not very happy right now...