Whats the popular opinion on pads?

[Slantyface]

So after taking my cb550 out for a few rides, I've noticed that when using the front brake it loves to squeal. Like embarrassing. The brake stops me and everything its just nails-on-chalkboard loud. When I was going through the bike I rebuilt the front caliper and put a new seal and piston in, but didn't replace the pads because they were still thick. Best I can tell the pad isn't dragging on the rotor because I can hop off after a long ride and grab the rotor bare handed. Its hardly even warm, much less too hot to touch. It's only at low speed that it's audible. So pulling up next to a car with their windows down has been getting me stared at like I'm a fool. So that brings me to the point of this thread. I was going to replace the pads and see if that might possibly help with the squealing? I was wondering what people thought of the "organic" or "sintered" pads, which one is better, if that matters at all, or if I need to go another route. Its screech is actually obnoxious enough to deter me from riding for the time being, so advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks guys!
-James

 

[mydlyfkryzis]

How old are the Pads?

If not old, deglaze them...Sand them down a little to get a fresh surface.

I would also lightly deglaze the rotor too...

I changed my pads to EBC organic pads and they are quiter and brake much better then the old OEM pads that got hard from age. Alos, I have brake dust accumulating on the rotor, which is something the old hard pads never did. While I don;t like the dust cosmetically, it explains why these new pads brake much better.....

 

[Scruffy]

Yellow pack Emgo, wear a respirator when changing, they are asbestos based.

 

[Slantyface]

The quick sanding might be a quick easy test. Good call there. They did appear glazed (or at least a little shiny) on the braking surface when I looked at them.

 

[Slantyface]

Just an update. I found that the problem was the caliper slide that mounts to the fork was seized up on its hinge. It took two hands worth of force to make the thing move left or right. Took it off, disassembled, cleaned and re-applied grease, and now the thing works beautifully. I'm more than confident that this will fix the problem. Just letting everyone else know in case they run into the same problem!
Thanks all
-James