- Posts: 476
- Thank you received: 1
Squeaky brakes - what to try next?
- savedrider
- Topic Author
- Offline
- User
- 1975 Z1-B 900
I've tried sanding the pads, beveling the pads, cutting a vertical line across the pads, and using the orange stop squeak goop on the back of the pads. Still get a harsh screech when braking.
Get right or get left! <*{{{><
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- pstrbrc
- Offline
- User
- '81 GPz 1100 project
- Posts: 355
- Thank you received: 9
Seriously, have you just tried a new set of pads? Tightened the disk retaining bolts? Caliper bolts?
\'81 GPz 1100 project
Elkhart, Kansas USA
\"Man does not control his own fate. The women in his life do that for him.\" Groucho Marx
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Patton
- Offline
- KZr Legend
- Posts: 18640
- Thank you received: 2098
Concur 100% with the earlier remarks about throughly clean calipers and new pads.
When recently having this same screeching and squealing problem (just plain embassassing) dispite pristine calipers and new pads, the orange colored pad stickum stuff from AutoZone proved useless and seemed like a watery form of silicon that never really dried. After getting all that guk removed, liberally applied some of the high temp copper color Permatex (also from AutoZone) to the backsides of the pads and reinstalled them (please be careful and don't get any of this stuff or anything else on the business side of the pads). Allowed to set up and dry well before operating the bike -- and then -- the moment of truth -- the suspense -- ahhhh -- nothing quite like the serenity of a quiet peaceful Paradise broken only by pleasing exhaust backdown roar while coming to a halt. Worked for me. Sure hope it works for you. Happy trails.
1973 Z1
KZ900 LTD
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- RonKZ650
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 3703
- Thank you received: 240
If you went non-kawasaki, the squeeling side is the side that's working normal, better move to the other one and see why it's not working.
Honestly though, in the past when I tried non factory pads, one set may work ok, the next set even though the same brand may squeel to beat Hell, and as far as I'm concerned there is no fix as I've tried them all. Yes all 512 known fixes were tried, 512 failed. Only fix is earplugs.
321,000 miles on KZ's that I can remember. Not going to see any more.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- pstrbrc
- Offline
- User
- '81 GPz 1100 project
- Posts: 355
- Thank you received: 9
Did you try the ViceGrips on the brake line????as far as I'm concerned there is no fix as I've tried them all. Yes all 512 known fixes were tried, 512 failed. Only fix is earplugs
\'81 GPz 1100 project
Elkhart, Kansas USA
\"Man does not control his own fate. The women in his life do that for him.\" Groucho Marx
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Patton
- Offline
- KZr Legend
- Posts: 18640
- Thank you received: 2098
1973 Z1
KZ900 LTD
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Patton
- Offline
- KZr Legend
- Posts: 18640
- Thank you received: 2098
1973 Z1
KZ900 LTD
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- savedrider
- Topic Author
- Offline
- User
- 1975 Z1-B 900
- Posts: 476
- Thank you received: 1
Almost comical, the squeal pitch would change depending on hand lever pressure, and with enough speed and enough road, believe I could have played Dixie.
Haha, that's funny I got a giggle out of that! :laugh:
Anyhow, here's an update...
I pulled them one more time after finding an old post in the archives about using high temp caliper grease on the back of the pads. So I cleaned them up real good. Spread out some 320 grit sandpaper on a flat surface and deglazed the pads slightly in a circular motion. Took some of the red high temp caliper grease and smeared a thin layer all over the backs of both pads. Reinstalled and waiting for the squeal...actually I tried something a little different here too. Instead of using them like normal I very slowly started applying minimal brake pressure. To my surprise, no squeaks. Now before I was getting squeals even when not using the brakes and just rolling slowly. It's not making a peep now. I have about 60 miles on them and I did some hard braking last night. Still quiet. I'm happy!
Get right or get left! <*{{{><
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- RetroRiceRocketRider
- Offline
- User
- ...bring in the machine that goes PING!
- Posts: 1641
- Thank you received: 29
Addendum -- the squeeling pads were of the sintered metal variety, top of the line, and still looked plenty thick, so they were just re-used (after a light clean-up sanding on the business sides).
The stainless steel rotors on our old KZ's weren't designed to run sintered pads (they weren't even available back in the 70's).
From what I've been told, they greatly accelerate the wear on the rotor(s) = $$$ :pinch:
YMMV.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- RonKZ650
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 3703
- Thank you received: 240
321,000 miles on KZ's that I can remember. Not going to see any more.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Patton
- Offline
- KZr Legend
- Posts: 18640
- Thank you received: 2098
On re-examination, mine appear to be semi-metallic (brown color with lighter color imbedded metal bits). The light sanding was mostly for clean-up but easily created brown dust. Seems logical that light sanding of an sintered pad (all metal) would not create much if any dust at all. Don't recall ever knowing the disk was stainless steel and am glad to learn this. My '73 Z1 disk is drilled, so it could be modified OEM or aftermarket by the previous owner. It has never showed any signs of rust, but is magnetic. There's nothing in the official shop manual about the OEM disk being stainless steel. My vague limited understanding about stainless steel recalls a "marine grade" (more refined and non-magnetic) and a lesser refined industrial grade (maybe somewhat magnetic??). Also checked my OEM '76 KZ900 LTD dual front disks which I have owned since new and never showed any signs of rust whatever, but are magnetic. Same for the rear disk on the LTD. (Nothing in the LTD shop manual either about disk being stainless steel). Am still just a little uncertain due to the magnetic aspect. Hope you might be able to elaborate and add further insight on the subject. Incidentally, I agree 100% about accelerated disk wear with sintered pads and am guessing same applies to a lesser extent when using semi-metallic pads. Sorry about the espistle -- but really enjoy learning about this stuff.
Happy Trails.
1973 Z1
KZ900 LTD
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- savedrider
- Topic Author
- Offline
- User
- 1975 Z1-B 900
- Posts: 476
- Thank you received: 1
Get right or get left! <*{{{><
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.