Horrid squeel from new rear brake pads

NEWHD74FAN

FYI, another thing you could have done with the pads, 1) on a flat surface lightly sand them with 600 grit wet/dry sandpaper in a circular motion to remove any manufacturing marks/uneveness and contaminants off the new pads, handling them only by the backing plate, 2) over disposable rags use Brakekleen (non-chlorinated) to flush all the grit and powder off. This allows the new pads to "bed-in" with 3) your slightly roughened up rotors (which you did do to take the glaze off and with slightly circular motion for a random satin finish; and then the Brakekleen thing on them too, flushing the old road grime, rust, and oil off). 4) Use BrakeKleen to clean all the old hardware and lube the pins & other parts as directed in your manual. 5) an old racer's trick is to put a center groove on your pads (if they do not have it) and use a hacksaw blade evenly across to 1/32 of the backing, perpendicular to the pad rotation, this allows mud and debris to clear the pad, improves braking in the wet (as well as a easily seen visual pad wear indicator).

Marks-Sportster

Yep, cheers. I agree with eveything you have said and I think I may still pull it all down and do it including the brake rotor. It was an on-the-spot decision to have the dealer replace them and they clearly threw the new pads in without any consideration to any of your points as well as greasing the pins. I like the idea of a wear line indicator also!!

NEWHD74FAN

Not a problem, just visiting this site and working w/ Glider, Smitty & Hobbit & the HDT gang has refreshed my automotive days and the good feeling it brings when you take the time to do things yourself and now apply them to my u-h-m-m- "new association with my HD Sporty"...of what is it...3 weeks or so now (old age slip)?...what a concept!