Noisy brakes !!!!

twin3

Hi anyone got any advice on how to cure noisy screaming brakes? I think I have contaminated the discs when I last cleaned it!

cooldad

Then clean them. Use isopropyl alcohol

twin3

Will vodka do... Where do you find that? I passed by my local bike shop last Sunday and he just wanted to change the discs but I know they don't need changing. Will I need to strip them or just clean the disc?

cooldad

EBay or Google or a chemist.
Probably not but if the pads are stuffed they may need replacing.
But if they work fine and are just noisy its common.

Anonymous

twin3 wrote:

I passed by my local bike shop last Sunday and he just wanted to change the discs but I know they don't need changing.

Reminds me of the old car dealer when I had the Pug who wanted to change the discs every service, seemingly because the pads were worn so yeah the discs must be too.

Will vodka do... Where do you find that?

local supermarket or offy :P

Pudseyp

Meths will do and some fine wet and dry

gtd.

Meths aint a good idea as it can contain oil based additives and you are using the meths to remove oil, check the MSDS for your particular brand. best to do a mirror test, place a drop of meths on a horizontal mirror and allow to evaporate. if it leaves any residue do not use. Surgial spirit/rubbing alcohol is useless as it contains castor oil.

I use 99.99% lab grade Isopropanol (IPA) I bought a litre bottle from http://stores.ebay.co.uk/BIOSTAIN-ON-E-BAY/IPA-Iso-Propyl-/ last year (Was the cheapest vendor at the time inc p&p) and hardly used any so far. I used to buy 400ml spray cans of servisol IPA which worked out way more expensive.

The Rookie

My rear Juicy5 has just taken to screaming like a Banshee, still works as before so its not contaminated, squealing brakes are caused by a resonance that may (or most likely may not) be caused by contamination, but if they peform just fine then they aren't likely to be contaminated.

Simon

Anonymous

I find when cleaning with just plain water, grit and stuff must get onto the discs or something as the discs will grind away after. Thoroughly rinse and just use water, let dry, spin the wheel and apply the brakes several times and it gets less. Get out on a ride and it's gone fairly soon.

Also doesn't help if the discs are warped and/or you have Juicy's. They'll catch on anything and make a hell of a noise. They can squeal loads or 'ping' regardless of recent cleaning. Quick flick of the brakes often solves this, or otherwise fiddle with pad alignment etc.

If you do a real thorough clean including the discs you'll need to bed them in again a little to coat the disc with some more pad material. Nothing special to do, just ride and be aware the brakes need a few decent uses to get back to efficiency.

BlueAdvocate

I've had severe vibration not just noise from my Elixirs (I'm not alone according to google); as well as cleaning the disks, changing the pads , the one thing that has really help is taking the pads out and cleaning ipa around the pistons. I think it ensures they move freely and that he pads hit the disc correctly.
Seems to have cured the vibration for now, I would expect it to help with other noises; of the brake variety that is.
Don't do it after every ride but I can live with having to do it every few.