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

[VLJ_imp]

I took my '17 EX in today for a warranty-repair service for the front brakes, which squeal every time I come to a slow, gradual stop. Unfortunately, it was pouring down rain this morning, so the dealership said there was nothing they could do today since they can't ride it in the rain. Also, with the pads and rotors and everything being so wet, they wouldn't be able to see anything anyway.

He offered to clean the pads and rotors, no charge.

The first rather ominous sign that this might turn into a long, drawn-out saga is when he presented a repair order showing a $109 charge, which he explained wouldn't come into play today, but could come into play whenever they can get a dry day and a proper look into the problem. He said, "Honda doesn't warranty noises, which they consider to be a symptom of normal wear and tear. There has to be a manufacturer's defect in the parts or construction before Honda will cover something under warranty."

Uhhh, no. "Noises" that shouldn't be there are generally good indicators that something is amiss, and a case of squealing brakes a week or two into a bike's life (which is when my brakes started squealing) is definitely not an example of "normal wear and tear."

He also wondered whether the original dealership failed to clean off the Cosmoline from the rotors during the Pre-Delivery Inspection process. He had no reason to suspect this, he admitted. He was simply offering up possible causes.

Checking the weather, it shows the possibility of rain every day for the next couple of weeks, so we won't be able to address this issue again for a decent while. During the ride home the front brakes were still squealing. Cleaning the pads and rotors didn't fix the problem.

[Inhouse Bob]

Sorry you are having an issue. Mine have always squeaked a bit when using the breaks lightly. It goes away when I brake a bit more aggressively. Mine is a 13 with about 11k on it. Original pads still have a lot of life left.

[johnf514_imp]

VLJ, I think you're doing the right thing here. I know some folks might not think this is a major issue, but if the squealing is as significant as you describe, it could be indicative of an ongoing issue with the bike. And your ride is brand new, so there is no reason for this.

Honda makes quality products, and their service should follow suit. You just may have to lean on them a bit.

[Acrobat_imp]

That is disappointing VLJ. First I thought you arranged this service with the dealer you've bought the bike but even so what an unprofessional way to deal with a customer..
They said ok, this first attempt will be free, but make no mistake, if you want us deal with it and solve your problem, you'll have to pay.
Also , what is this cosmoline thing you mentioned?
There is always an anticorrosion agent applied on break disks before delivery, but you don't have to wash it of as far as I know.
Honda don't warranted noises. I liked that. I'll try to contact my friends here at Honda to check their reactions.

Like you said, a saga in the making...

[emptysea]

I think your dealer was, at best, over-simplifying Honda's warranty provisions if he said "Honda doesn't warranty noises, which they consider to be a symptom of normal wear and tear. There has to be a manufacturer's defect in the parts or construction before Honda will cover something under warranty." Honda doesn't warranty "symptoms". They warranty mechanical failures and defects. Yes, they exclude wear/tear items so your brake pads are not covered -- unless they wore due to a defect. As you and John already stated, squeaky breaks are not normal on a new bike and could be indicative of a problem that IS covered by warranty. Weather has conspired against you in getting to the bottom of this, but I think you will have to push your guy a little harder on the issue of warranty, maybe even find your copy of it and read it carefully so you can explain to him what his obligations are. I suspect that if they can't make the brake issue go away over the next 200-300 miles, that some tech guy from Honda (not the dealership) will need to look at the bike.

In the meantime, as long as your bike performs safely for you, push those earplugs in deep and keep riding!

[VLJ_imp]

johnf514, I wouldn't really describe the squealing as all that significant. I've certainly heard worse. On my bike it only does it a little, and only at the very conclusion of a gradual stop. The brakes work just fine.

Still, the brakes shouldn't squeal, period, and there is no way for Honda to shift the blame for this issue onto the customer, not on a two-week-old bike.

Acrobat, Cosmoline is a greasy anti-corrosive product applied by the manufacturers to most new bikes. Cosmoline is the source of the "new-bike smell" that everyone loves. It's also the source of the fine smoke you see coming off of a running motor on new bikes.

EmptySea, while Honda might claim that squeaky brakes aren't a problem, and the parts aren't defective, the fact that they're squealing is a clear indication of a fault somewhere in the system, even if it's just a mismatch between the pad compound and the rotor. It can be the result of any number of things, really.

The new Triumph T120 suffered from the same issue, until Triumph addressed it for the 2018 model with the addition of this rubber spacer placed behind the rotor...





Here is the previous model year, sans the new rubber damper...

[dbarkdoll_imp]

FWIW (prob nothing) my rear brake squeaks just a tad every so often under normal braking. Not enough to cause major concern for me. If it were my front brakes which I use much more frequently, it might though.

[VLJ_imp]

It doesn't cause me major concern, but it is a major irritant. It's the only flaw in an otherwise perfect bike.

[Obleo]

2013 standard here front brakes have squealed since I bought it with 4500 miles on the clock. Don't much care for it,but think it's the nature of the beast. Maybe Honda purposely built them like this so you know your brakes are working.

[Chunk_imp]

VLJ, Thank you for sharing the Triumph pics. Interesting "solution". That has to mean that shims on the pads didn't do the trick.
I am experiencing the same condition and have been waiting for someone here who has the time, a decent dealer, inside connection, whatever to get Honda to address and fix this issue. Please folks, this squeal is not dirty pads or rotors, nor should I have to change the way I brake.
IF Honda ever does come through I hope to God that it does not involve rubber spacers. Man that is ugly.