Like new pads, about 1,700 miles since I replaced them, rotor looks and feels good but the pads have in the last couple of days started squealing and are driving me nuts. What can I do to quiet them down?

 

You could try holding them on the side off a chop saw blade or bench sander or any kind of sander really as long as you hold it flat it will make the pads like new again and then take a file and take the sharp edges off. I have done lots of cars and trucks like that as long as the rotors are in good shape it works. If the rotor is messed up it will just keep doing it. You can also just buy new pads but my fix is free.

 

A few years ago we had road construction in our neighborhood. Squeeky rear brake. Oddly enough not the front. I would wash them with a hard stream of water from the hose, then they would squeal again. Took me a while to determine that it was dust from the construction.

Brake squeal can be caused by the pads vibrating. I have not experenced this myself, just heard of it. You can lube the back plate of the pads [not the braking surface] with a product from the auto supplies store. Just what i have heard.

Examine the rotor for flatness.

 

There should be thin (sheedmetal?) "pads" between caliber/piston and brakepad this is there to prevent squealing...
http://www.bikebandit.com/showschematic/m1811sch183381
Part #126 in picture...

 

I went over the pads lightly with a wire wheel and it helped but only for a short time. Now they don't squeal as loud but now they do it everytime you use the brake.
The diagram shows 1979-1981, mine is an '83 would it be the same? I've had both front and rear calipers off and there is nothing like #126 on either end.
Nick it's the same with mine, just the rear brake making noise. I'll ride into Wonderzone afterwhile and see if they have any of that grease.......as soon as the storms move on out of here.

 

79 to 81 uses 43395-80 pads. 82 to 85 uses 44209-82 pads. These are not the same.

 

I understand that the pads are different but do you know if my '83 is supposed to have that thin sheetmetal or shim between the pad and piston also? As it is now the piston pushes directly against the back of the pad. There is nothing between them.

 

Sorry ... you are correct there isn't those sheedmetal in newer calibers, it align pad little "off"
You could make cut 1/8" in to pad against direction of rotation, some pads has that.