Been experiencing a weird howling type brake noise on my 14 sgs. Started doing it randomly at first and now happening pretty often. Weirdest part is it happens when I am approaching a stop using just the front brake but the howling/screeching noise is clearly coming from the rear, right under the seat area. Any ideas what I may need to check? Checked all the bolts on the rear caliper and everything is tight. Just weird how it only happens when I am using the front brake but the noise is coming from the rear

 

Your perception of where the sound is coming from is skewed while riding on top of the bike. Can you provide a little more information. How many miles on your bike?? Did you do or have someone else do any maintenance prior to this happening?? Did you add any accessories before this started??

With all that being said, remember our brakes are electronically linked so your rear brake could very well be making that noise when applying the front brake.

 

Little over 10,000 miles. Dealer did 1st service and I have done the last couple fluid changes. Have not added any accessories lately and bike has been untouched by anyone other than me. Need to get it to the dealer soon for a couple recalls so probably just have them look it over

 

If it's still under warranty, I'd let them deal with. Please keep the board posted with what they found.

 

Will do

 

You have a 14 SGS which I think has ABS Linked Breaking. If you start braking at speeds over 20 - 25 mph then the linked braking will activate the rear brake when you grab the front brake lever. The linked braking will remain active until the brake lever is released even at speeds lower than 20 mph. As for the howling from the rear all I can say is that I have experienced a groan/vibration type noise from the rear brake usually while applying the rear brake very gently while braking at slow speeds such as when traveling thru a parking lot or in stop and go traffic. I've had this occur with 3 different sets of stock HD brake pads although I haven't heard the noise in the last 7,000 miles since my last brake pad change. I've only used the HD pads and I have applied the anti-noise paste that comes in the rear brake pad kit. If you do a search there is at least one more thread about this.

 

Whe I hit the brakes on my '03 Fatboy, they sounded like an elephant with a toothache.
A little shot of Brakleen quieted it down for a few days.

 

Mine did that sometime within the first year I had it. I don't remember the mileage exactly, but it may have been fairly close to 10,000 or so. I pulled the pads and put a thin coat of Versachem Synthetic Caliper Grease and Brake Quiet on the back of each. It worked well for me when I was a car mechanic when doing brake work, so I figured i would give it a try. Rolled over 25,000 last week and so far, so good.

 

Thanks for the tips, gonna try pulling the back caliper and put some grease on the back of the pads before a trip to the dealer and hopefully that takes care of it

 

Mine started this same noise when I replaced the front rotors with a new wheel. I think the pads are still getting seated in with the rotors causing an unusual noise. Elephant with a toothache is pretty accurate!