How to fix squeaky breakes?

Day03
Day03 Posts: 18
edited April 2008 in MTB workshop & tech
Sometimes my rear disc brake squeaks, not all the time, it happens when it's clean and dry and also after some mud gets on it and then dries out. What can I do to fix this squeaking?

Comments

  • dave_hill
    dave_hill Posts: 3,877
    Day03 wrote:
    Sometimes my rear disc brake squeaks, not all the time, it happens when it's clean and dry and also after some mud gets on it and then dries out. What can I do to fix this squeaking?

    Try taking your pads out and smearing a bit of copper grease on the back of the pads (NOT the braking surface obviously... :roll: ) before putting them back in.

    This is done as a matter of course when fitting new pads to a car or motorbike for the precise purpose of preventing them from squealing.
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  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,673
    the problem with copper grease is that the grease part can work its way through the holes that makers have in the back plates.

    have a read of this lot http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=20020
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
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  • Pippen33
    Pippen33 Posts: 235
    I used Finish Line degreaser :!: , it did affect performance at first, if felt like I was breaking them in, but they no longer squeak when wet and they no longer grind when dry.
    spammer
  • Marjory Stewart BAxtor
    Marjory Stewart BAxtor Posts: 508
    what you need to do is slap a LOT of bearing grease on the rotor/rim
    Train hard, ride easy
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,666
    dave_hill wrote:
    Day03 wrote:
    Sometimes my rear disc brake squeaks, not all the time, it happens when it's clean and dry and also after some mud gets on it and then dries out. What can I do to fix this squeaking?

    Try taking your pads out and smearing a bit of copper grease on the back of the pads (NOT the braking surface obviously... :roll: ) before putting them back in.

    This is done as a matter of course when fitting new pads to a car or motorbike for the precise purpose of preventing them from squealing.

    Exactly, although knowing why they are squealing is a good idea, as well. This is caused because the pad and the plate it is attached to are vibrating. Any type of goo or smear-able suppressor will stop this activity. As Dave said, "the precise purpose." When pads have nothing to restrict their squeaky movement (vibration,) they ride free without any damping, causing them to resonate, which is heard as a squeak.
  • uk_mr_brownstone
    uk_mr_brownstone Posts: 343
    take out the pads and rub the braking surface with a bit of kitchen roll then carefully rub it with fine 'wet and dry' paper. Repeat until the kitchen roll only shows a little pad dust, no other manky stuff.

    Use some form of brake disc cleaner. I've always used isopropyl alcohol as I had a bottle of it for cleaning CD's (not sure if it should be used for CD's to be honest! or disc brakes! but it does get rid of grease / oil).

    Un-clean rotors and pads seem to be the main culprits
  • jejv
    jejv Posts: 566
    If the brakes appear to be otherwise working to your satisfaction, there may be nothing to worry about.

    Some motorcycle disc brakes were known for their squeaks !

    John.
  • red eye
    red eye Posts: 264
    you could take a bit of the corners off the braking material.
    like the pads on the left and right
    Brake-Pad.jpg

    you could also make some anti squeel shims out of thin metal sheet

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