77 KZ650 Front Brake Squeak

I recently replaced the original front brake pads with new IBC pads. I've put 250 miles on them and it still squeaks. If I grab the lever hard there's no squeak. If I'm applying a tad of front brake it squeaks REALLY loud. I don't even touch the front brake riding through the neighborhood at night. It's that loud. What is causing the squeak? The rotor is not groved and looks to be in great shape.

Did you use the little snap on clip behind the pad when you replaced the brakes? I see you are in St. Pete, I am just across the bridge, USF area

Here's a photo of the old pad that has what iassume is the clip. The other pad is threaded and has a screw attaching it to the "backing plate"?

So was I suppose to pry this metal piece off and then glue it to the inside of the new pad? That flat thin piece was pressed on top of it.

put some anti squeal brake stuff on the backing plate.

also, there sometimes you can do a brake pad break in procedure. the 30 30 30 trick. Get going up to 30mph and slam on the brakes, wait 30 seconds and do it again approx 30 times.

Im in auto tech and thats what they say to do when new brake pads are squeaky, which is very common. It usally does the trick by removing any of the rotor glazing that was caused by the old pad.

good luck man.
Luke

ozone wrote:

Here's a photo of the old pad that has what iassume is the clip. The other pad is threaded and has a screw attaching it to the "backing plate"?

So was I suppose to pry this metal piece off and then glue it to the inside of the new pad? That flat thin piece was pressed on top of it.

I don't know for sure if it will fix it but I always transfer it to the new ones and have not had a problem. I never had to glue them though. You might check the rotor for any loose bolts which would let it vibrate when braking also.

ozone wrote:

I recently replaced the original front brake pads with new IBC pads. I've put 250 miles on them and it still squeaks. If I grab the lever hard there's no squeak. If I'm applying a tad of front brake it squeaks REALLY loud. I don't even touch the front brake riding through the neighborhood at night. It's that loud. What is causing the squeak?

As you apply pressure, the pad vibrates against the face of the rotor and the rotor acts like a loudspeaker (vibration to sound transducer).

The factory pads on mine have the anti-squeal shims built into them, the aftermarkets don't and they squeal. My cure for squealing brakes was to buy a helmet with better sound insulation....... that and the natural deafness that comes with old age.:laugh:

ozone wrote:

Here's a photo of the old pad that has what iassume is the clip. The other pad is threaded and has a screw attaching it to the "backing plate"?

So was I suppose to pry this metal piece off and then glue it to the inside of the new pad? That flat thin piece was pressed on top of it.

The small metal piece is the anti-squeal shim.

I've been having the same problem on my KZ1000, except the squeak isn't extremely loud like yours. If I just barely squeeze the brake handle, it will squeak every time. I wonder if using some anti-seize behind the brake pad would help?

Are oem pads available for your bikes?
The aftermarket squeal problem has been mentioned before, and others have stated that the fix is to get genuine Kawasaki brake pads.

All aftermarket brakes are garbage. Look on ebay ect and you can get Kawasaki pads for a good price.

Loud brakes save lives.

My 650 squeels too.

It's funny this post is up now, I was just going to make this identical post today myself. Had my pads changed and they squeal when I am slowly apporaching red lights, but not under heavy braking...