Squeaky Brakes

[CJFXM]

Hi There,

My bike (WEE650) has developed a squeaky front break both when I'm using it and when I'm coasting- I think one of the front pads may be rubbing but I'm not sure. I've felt the discs after riding down the road and they don't appear to be overly warm. I suspect that the pads may just need a thorough clean as the winter grime has built up. Has anyone had a similar issue/suggestions on how to remedy it?

[CJFXM]

Worth also mentioning that the brake lever feel much stiffer than usual!

[bosnjo]

Important fact is that brake lever feels much stiffer then usual. That is the first sign that you pads are dragging and the brake oil is overheating. Happened to me once. You need to do good cleanup of your callipers, inspect the pads and if they're OK put all back together. It's enough that one of the pistons is not moving freely throught the cylinder. Let's hope just cleaning will help. If not, you need callipers rebuilding.
If you're going to do it yourself, make sure pads go back in the same order the've been removed. You can't swap them over.

[endintears]

Think the only way to get a stiff brake lever on a 650 Strom is if they are starting to seize 
In my experience more likely to be the guide pins rather than the seals.

[CJFXM]

Thanks for your response blokes. I won't be doing the work myself, so with that in mind, do you have a rough idea of how much I'm looking at for a caliper rebuild/repair? I've booked the bike in next week to be looked over.

[mr_diver]

From year round riding on my wee (60k)
The slider pins (bolts), pad retaining pins, pad backs and the piston/seals/seal recesses all need attention.

Don't clean the pads and think that'll sort it.
In for a penny, in for a pound.
Or else you'll be stripping it again very soon.

Get a seal kit from we moto, red rubber grease, brake fluid, and a brake bleeder hose/kit and do the job properly.

I found that the brakes needed to be stripped every spring and a remove and clean of pads and pistons, grease sliders in the autumn ready for winter.

Just be glad you don't have a GSX1400 or k1-3 GSXR1000.
The front calipers are 6 pot (12 pistons) splitting the caliper into halves. It's a pain on the arse and is an annual chore regardless of how you ride, keeping it dry or even never riding it!
500miles last year and it still needed a full strip and new disks.  

[Rookie]

I'm following Me Divers advice as it's spot on time to do mine soon 

[paulja]

Assuming there isn't crap in the pad area\ pads are worn down- Pad is jammed or a piston is stuck, easy to fix either with a clean or push the piston back in to free it up (gently pump the lever with pads out to see which one isn't moving). Does so one caliper at a time.

[bosnjo]

I live in South of Portugal and in my case cleaning job is done every two years as there is no salt on the roads and it rains only 20-30 days a year. I also use copper lube to make tiny film on the back of the pads to avoid squeeking.

[bosnjo]

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