Squeaky and hard to pull 700X brake handle

Recently I notice when I squeeze the front brakes hard I hear a squeaking like crickets when I squeeze the MC handle. Sure enough, it's there every time I squeeze. The brakes work really well but I have to use more force than with either of my other two bikes to pull the handle in. And now there's this chattering sound which though it does... sound like a cricket, only deeper, is surely more of a metal against metal chattering sound. It's coming from the brake lever/MC area. Thought it was the pivot for the brake that was needing oil but it is plenty loose.

The MC is isolated at the outer end by a circular rubber dam with a metal circle in the center where the handle presses it when squeezed. Not sure what to do at this point, It seems like something is binding in there & maybe some lubrication will resolve the issue? If so, how to best get it in there and what to use? When I replaced the pads & filled the lines/calipers with fluid last month I checked the spooge hole and it was clean. I sure don't recall any kind of binding when I'd pull at that time and the lever pulled in smoothly. So this is new.

Surely the difficult pulling the lever in and the chattery crickety sound are related.

What to do at this point?

 

Did you remove the lever from the perch and clean/lube the lever itself, the pivot bolt and the slot in the perch?

What to do?

Disassemble, clean thoroughly, inspect, replace any worn parts, lubricate.