[glenlivet]

This is irritating. On my 800 trail my front brakes squeak when I'm traveling at low speeds. This is when no pedal is applied, any application and they shut right up. I have had them apart and examined minutely and everything looks store bought perfect, turn the spindles and no sound at all is heard. Button them all up again and there it is, cheek cheek cheek...
Any help forums I can find all speak to brake squeal when brakes are applied, not when brakes are full off.
Anyone had this experience? Think it's just an artifact of the hard pads? It's at 600 kilometers now.

[NMKawierider]

Seems to be a rash of these lately. Before replacement mine would take both feet on the peddle to stop and would sometimes squeak. After the new EBC pads it's much better and no squeak..but I suddenly started getting a squeak from the hand brake when completely backed-off. Pressure washed it and reset it and so far so good.

Well, lets talk about your issue. Brakes squeak or squeal because the two surfaces are causing oscillations that sound like a squeak or a squealing. This can be under any or no pressure depending on the surface condition. Contact angle can also play a part in all this so..if it were me..and I HATE squeaking..I would do a couple of things. 1. I would pull the pads and lay them flat of some 80G sand paper and in a rotary action sand the smooth surface off of each. Then sand a slight bevel on the leading and trailing edge of both pads. Then-2, I would with an orbital sander or DA, sand both sides of the rotor taking the shine off of them. Then 3, I would make damn sure the caliper sliders are working correctly and are greased. Then 4- use some automotive anti-squeak blue adhesive..or the grease on the pads when reassembling them. Then 5- when done, remove and reinstall the caps on the master cylinder to ensure no pressure exists that could keep pressure on the caliper. All that should stop it...for quite a while I would think. Or..you could just go with a set of EBC pads

   

[glenlivet]

All sound advice. Thanks nmK

[ctdls]

I will add a little to this, braking ability or lack there of started to surface this spring on a couple of rides. Just as NWK described a lack of stopping power, being that we are in mountains engine brake & wheel brakes are kinda important. This was with 2016 MY ZF.

Ordered some sintered pads, EBC was out stock so I went another similar materiel brand. They are still sitting on my bench.

Now I'm told a new brake pad material was introduced for 2017 models with improved stopping power, I've not verified this.

I've a 2017 ZF 800 trail owner that has managed approx 500 miles this riding season. He was concerned about stopping power initially & since commented they bedded no issue. Picking his up Saturday I will quiz him about the noise.

Two more comments:

Can Am went thru the noise vs stopping over a decade ago, they went with braking power. The reason was they wanted stopping power in all conditions, wet etc. That was the trade off.

Due to fire hazzard in BC I've "not" been out for a ride since the end of May. The brake issue went from on the radar to zero as result. I'm even getting concerned the back country ban may remain thru hunting season......no rain in the forecast.

That's what I know about the brake situation, hopefully I can go spin this fall & re visist.

[glenlivet]

Mine's 2017, they might have gone to a better pad, I read NMKawie's earlier reports and I expected the Z force to have high pedal pressure brakes at least at first, and I'm happy to say that while they're not awe inspiring brakes like there was power assist, I never had the feeling that I ought to sneak the other foot over and help with the pedal force. They are adequate brakes. They just squeak at low speeds while released.

ps. I'm lucky that the closed ORV area is to the east of me, cutting off most of the areas I enjoy but not leaving me completely without ORV options. C'mon, just ONE day of good soaking rain!

[NMKawierider]

C'mon, just ONE day of good soaking rain!

Hard to believe you guys are in need of rain up there..also hard to believe we...have had one of the wettest summers I can remember down here. Still pretty dry here, but at least not in a drought like usual.

[glenlivet]

I applied some red squeal suppressing gumption onto the backing plates of the front pads, reassembled, and the squeal is healed.

[ctdls]

Good news! How many K's have you driven since the gumption application?

[glenlivet]

@150 k. Some other ATV riders got dust disk brake squeak that I could hear, but I didn't.