1980 KZ650 front brake pad shim...

I get a clicking noise from the front brake when riding, or if I spin the wheel while on the center stand. I understand that there's supposed to be a shim behind the movable brake pad. Any ideas how to to find or make one (what material) or how to otherwise stop the clicking/rattling? Would it help to bevel the pad? The rotors are drilled and I think the pads rattle every time the holes in the rotor go past the pads.
Any help would be much appreciated.
Rick

The shim under the pad is supposed to be attached to the pad itself. It only covers some of the back surface, in an effort to even out wear. I don't have any idea how to stop your rattling, just thought I'd chime in with that info.

T_Dub wrote:

The shim under the pad is supposed to be attached to the pad itself. It only covers some of the back surface, in an effort to even out wear. I don't have any idea how to stop your rattling, just thought I'd chime in with that info.

Hey, thanks for the info. It all helps...
Rick

The shim is there to reduce brake noise. The high pitched sound you hear is actually a high speed vibration and the shim helps reduce or eliminate that by absorbing the vibration. A lot of other products can also be applied to the back of the pad for the same purpose. Try removing your caliper and see if the clicking sound is still there. Might be in your spedo drive also. Process of elimination my brother...

Bluemeanie wrote:

The shim is there to reduce brake noise. The high pitched sound you hear is actually a high speed vibration and the shim helps reduce or eliminate that by absorbing the vibration. A lot of other products can also be applied to the back of the pad for the same purpose. Try removing your caliper and see if the clicking sound is still there. Might be in your spedo drive also. Process of elimination my brother...

It's not the speedo drive. I already did the process of elimination. It's a brake clicking... The pads the previous owner put in look to be very hard. Brass looking. Some kind of metallic material.
Thanks.

rick1117 wrote:

I get a clicking noise from the front brake when riding, or if I spin the wheel while on the center stand. I understand that there's supposed to be a shim behind the movable brake pad. Any ideas how to to find or make one (what material) or how to otherwise stop the clicking/rattling? Would it help to bevel the pad? The rotors are drilled and I think the pads rattle every time the holes in the rotor go past the pads.
Any help would be much appreciated.
Rick

If you're sure it's the pad you might take a file and bevel the edges a tiny amount and see if the noise changes.