Cyclocross - Squeaky brakes on Bianchi Axis

I've had my Axis for about 2 years. Ever since I started riding the front brakes squeak something aweful. I changed them out, had them adjusted and that worked for a little bit. It is really bad when they are wet but happens when dry too, mostly when breaking hard when going fast. Any ideas?

mine were doing that really bad too... the fork would also shudder under hard braking. so i toed the shoes out (so they touch in the back first) and fixed some cable friction issues and it fixed both problems. for toe adjustment, i used a credit card on both sides about a quarter of the way into the pad... does that make sense?

Mine do that, too. My only complaint about the bike, really. Not overly impressed w/ the performance of the brakes either. I'll probably end up swapping them out later this year.

what bike? the axis? where in colorado do you live?

would you guys still recommend the bianchi? i was looking at the cross concept.

I would definetly recommend the axis. I love it. But test others. The Lemond was nice but did not feel "right" to me.

Here’s the deal. You have to toe in those AVID shortys. That is you have to set the brakes up so that the front part of the brake pads hit the rim first. Also make sure that the studs are not loose and the brake bolts are tight enough. If you have not done anything to the brakes in a year or two, I’d take them apart and grease the part that slides on the stud.

The brake pads have to hit in the middle of the rim, must be square to the rim and must be toed in about 3mm. that is the front part of the shoe should hit the rim about 3 mm before the back part. I’ve just set up a set of these and the do not squeal unless they are wet.

And read this—
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/canti-trad.html

Yeah, mine did that for a while. I just replaced the pads and tried a few different toe jobs. I'm also not crazy about the brakes on the Axis. The Tektro Cantilevers on my Crosscheck are MUCH better.

I run Avid Shorty 4's They squealed and juddered with the stock pads mounted. I switched them out for Kool-Stop's dual compound "Mountain Pads" and beaking performance has improved greatly. The squealing has been eliminated and the juddering (which is something i experienced on my un-suspended MTB) has been greatly reduced-- almost eliminated. Braking is smooth and progressive-- never grabby.

One note-- Kool-Stop's instructions call for a cleaning of the braking surface. This is a good idea as part of regular maintenance, anyway.

Toe-in is more important on brake pads where the brake shoe is symmetrical-- the post is in the middle of the pad. Kool-Stop's pads are asymmetrical-- the post is closer to the front of the pad.

Even so, the Mountain Pads have a molded in rim "sweeper" at the back of the pad that sets the toe for you.

I can't recommend the Kool-Stop pads highly enough.

(And no-- i don't work for the company.) :)

so is this a bianchi thing or is this an axis thing. i am mulling over the cross concept and i am confused if it is worth the step up from the jake the snake. any guidance?

I've found this to be just typical of canti brakes in general. But i r beej is right, the problem is lessened with asymmetrical pads - kool stop being the best ones.