Front brakes squeal...this feels like a saga in the making

[pdedse]

An old hat by now, but as I think I found a (temporary) solution to the problem, I thought I lay it out for you, so you can test it yourself. It works for me, may be it works for you.
I had kept asking mechanics and other Honda people about my squealing brakes. Got all the answers we have been discussing here above, or no answers at all. Brakes kept squealing and driving me nuts (on some days). Finally, a few days ago, I stop at my Honda dealer for some unrelated issue, while it's may be 5 minutes before their closure for the day. Outside works the last guy who's got to bring all all cycles back into the shop, or behind the fence for the night. When he sees me he stops doing what he does and he walks over to me bike asking with a big smile "nice bike, anything I can do for you ?". Had never seen him before, so I smile, and explain the problem with my brakes, and how little I like to scare grand-mothers at the traffic lights when I come to a stop. I go on telling him that the problem was gone for a few days after the winter pause (when I don't ride), and he asks "how do you clean your brake assembly. And I say, I don't. He smiles, and I tell him that my dealer/mechanic has proposed to disassemble everything, how to work the pads, and G knows what.
And he says, here is what I propose to do. Take the pressure cleaner, keep the nozzle at a healthy distance (like 20 inches or so) and clean your front brake assembly with clean water from all possible angles. Watch what comes out, then go riding and test your brakes carefully. I say, and that's it ? and he says that's it.
No, it's not gone, and yes, it will probably come back. But the last 3 days all I hear is a tiny little squeak at the very last moment before she comes to a stop - like on the last 10 inches roling. For me this is a solid 90% improvement over past concerts. Will tell you'll if it lasts in a few weeks.

Ok, I gave it a whirl. After spraying and drying both front calipers, I went for a ride. Initially, no grabbing-pig-by-tail-screech, but sometimes that happens anyway just when starting out. But after 15 minutes I really did notice a big improvement--barely audible squeak right before coming to a stop and particularly if brake was lightly applied. Brake harder and squeak was gone. But after several stops to do this and that, the sqeak came back--but at no point was it as bad as it was prior to water spray cleaning. For me, about a 60% improvement.

Ok, I gave it a whirl. After spraying and drying both front calipers, I went for a ride. Initially, no grabbing-pig-by-tail-screech, but sometimes that happens anyway just when starting out. But after 15 minutes I really did notice a big improvement--barely audible squeak right before coming to a stop and particularly if brake was lightly applied. Brake harder and squeak was gone. But after several stops to do this and that, the sqeak came back--but at no point was it as bad as it was prior to water spray cleaning. For me, about a 60% improvement. Forgive me for asking, but have you greased up the pins and the backs of the brake pads?

'14 CB1100 STD 5 speed

No, I haven't tried this yet. VLJ started this thread and had tried a number of things, I think including grease on backs of brake pads, but to no avail. So I was going to just live with it...but a water flush was too simple not to try.

And this is my suspicion as well:

My 2017MY EX has screeched from my ownership which spans 9K to 11K km. That is with the OEM pads and the new Brembo pads. I shall be trying a little high temp brake paste on the back of the pads to see if it makes any difference. I am not a fan of too much brake paste anywhere on the pads and the noise doesn't overly concern me, it does just seem to be a low-speed thing. A bit of resonance kicking in somewhere perhaps that might be hard to engineer out?

If I had to sell the bike, it might be hard to convince a new buyer that such a squeal is "normal" and not caused by anything harmful as Honda dealerships have told a couple of forum members.

But I'm not selling so I don't mind it too much. But when the time comes for new pads, maybe I'll try the grease thing too to see if it helps at all.