Bicycle Mechanics - New rim squeaking

Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.



PDA

View Full Version : New rim squeaking

JasonJ
08-07-05, 09:33 AM
Is it normal for virgin rims to squeak and squeal for a little while? I've toe'd in the brakes front and rear, but it still sounds frickin' horrible. Should I sand the pads down a touch? Clean the braking surfaces with rubbing alcohol? Buy new pads (I'm running red Kool-Stops)?

I went for a short ride this morning and it was so bad I came back early. Very embarrassing! :eek:

Jason
Toronto

Totoro
08-07-05, 09:45 AM
Don't worry about it. The loud squeak the brakes make is perfectly normal.
JasonJ
08-07-05, 02:55 PM
Don't worry about it. The loud squeak the brakes make is perfectly normal.

If I was running cantis I might be inclined to just live with it, but these are V-brakes. The only time my old rims squealed like this was when they were wet.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Jason

-titanium-
08-08-05, 04:12 AM
if they are squecking when you brake i guess you could change the pads, but just be glad its only a squeak, my hope mini mono disck brakes when wet, sound like an air horn! even when i only apply a little pressure.
tlupfer
08-08-05, 06:34 AM
salmon koolstops are known to squeak with certain rims... I believe the dual compound (half salmon/half black) were designed to combat this problem, so yeah, you might want to try some different pads.
JasonJ
08-08-05, 08:33 AM
Bugger. I've gone from el-cheapo Zac-19s, which only squealed in the rain, to super nice Velocity Aeroheats, which squeal like crazy. I'll sand down the pads at lunch and check (again) for anything embedded in them. Thanks for the tips!

Jason
JasonJ
08-09-05, 12:29 PM
Bugger. I've gone from el-cheapo Zac-19s, which only squealed in the rain, to super nice Velocity Aeroheats, which squeal like crazy. I'll sand down the pads at lunch and check (again) for anything embedded in them. Thanks for the tips!

So I pulled off the front pads and sanded them down to fresh rubber, and the brakes are even louder than before! They're so bad people turn to look 100 m away. I've decided to not use my front brakes until I get this figured out.

On the bright side, though, the back pads aren't squealing at all, so go figure. I'll swap them front-to-back tonight and see if that makes any difference. I'll also tighten down all the bolts, too, in case they've somehow loosened up.

Jason