Weird brake squealing

Hi all

There's a similar kind of question a thread or so down but didn't want to hijack...

Basically when I got back from my ride yesterday and was pushing my bike into the garage, the front brake was making a very high-pitched squeaking but it seemed to happen once per wheel revolution.

Also when i got her on a paddock stand to oil the chain, the back wheel while i was spinning it seemed to be rubbing on the brake for about 1/2 to 2/3 of a revolution, then the rest of the way there's no metallic brake noise and the wheel spins freely.

The front brake has always made noises since I've had the bike - if I back her into the space in the garage and put full left hand lock on there would be a lower-pitched squealing noise. It's quietened down a bit recently though.

Is this all a sign that the brakes need overhauling or would it be a wheel alignment issue?

Bike is a sv650sk2 curvy

Cheers everyone

[yorkie_chris]

Have you ever done the brakes? Have they been done since new? If not done in last coule of months then it's worth doing them anyway.

I haven't done the brakes before - just reading up about them when I can. I've had the sv for nearly a year now so I need to put new brake fluid in soon anyways. I know that copper grease on the back of the pads can stop squealing but I'm worried about the pads hitting/rubbing on the discs. Is there a way to adjust the pad's position on the disc?

I did get the bike serviced a month or so ago and they took apart and cleaned the rear caliper to clean it as it was squealing a lot then...

[yorkie_chris]

You can't really avoid the pads hitting the disc. Well you could take them out entirely but I think your stopping distance could be affected...

Heh heh but think of the momentum you could get with them free-spinning wheels! As long as there's nothing in the way...

Is that normal then for the pads to only rub on the discs partially?

[yorkie_chris]

You sometimes get an odd rubbing noise, if there's no pulsing when on the brakes, and the wheel still spins freely (not dragging) then there's nothing to worry about IMO

Definitely no lever pulsing - by dragging d'you mean you have to shove the wheel hard to get it to move? There was a bit of resistance when I was moving the back wheel yesterday, not enough to need a shove on it tho...

Been for a ride today and the squeaking noise seems to have gone now from the front brake there's still a bit of noise on full left lock though. I do need to overhaul the brakes soon anyway - the back brake is starting to get a bit spongy. Back to the Haynes then!

[yorkie_chris]

Yeah a resistance to movement, the wheel should spin relatively freely. Obviously the back one a little harder as there's chain resistance and you're spinning the gearbox output shaft around too.