Bicycle Mechanics - disc brake problems.

i think its a pretty common, but when i hit my brakes (front in paticular) there is a like a scraping sound from the disc itself
i looked into it and did some 'testing' and found that only one of the pads was moving, everynow and then i just put the wheel on a slight angle and that stops the noise, but i realise this probably isnt the best thing either.. any suggestions?!

oh i have a, giant boulder disc, 2006 maybe 2005? model

What brakes are on the bike? Generally, rotors and calipers setup the same way regardless of manufacturer but it may still help to know who made your brakes.

Get your bike in the stand so that you can spin the wheel and listen for any rubbing noise coming from the pads. If your pads are rubbing loosen the caliper, spin the wheel and then stop it with the brake lever, and retighten the caliper bolts without letting go of the brake lever. Spin the wheel again the rubbing noise should be gone but if not repeat the process. If your pads aren't rubbing check for debris embedded in the pads, make sure the pads don't appear to be contaminated with brake fluid or cleaning products, and check that they aren't worn past their service limit. Check that the pistons are moving when you squeeze the brake lever. On your rotors, use a rag and some alcohol to clean away any oily residue that might be there. One thing that I've heard from a number of people now is that some manufacturers have organic pads that wear faster but are quiter so that may be an option for you to try. Finally, brakes are going to make some noise even under the best of conditions. Get them wet, muddy, hot, cold, etc. and they're likely to make a lot of noise. After a few rides you'll come to recognize good noise, bad noise.

Good luck,
Mike

Most cable actuated disc brakes have only one moving pad.

Most cable actuated disc brakes have only one moving pad.
Agreed. If hydraulic though, neither pad should be contacting the disk. Sometimes it's necessary to re-center the rotor between the pads after removing a wheel. Mcoomer's post works for that. Sometimes tightening the skewer quiets my front rotor, too.

Oh and by the way, when working on these things, keep your fingers away from the rotor when the wheel is turning! :eek: Lots of finger-slicing rotational mass going on there. ;)

ok mine are cable, and not hydralauic, so there goes my main observation >.< anyway...
whats the caliper? and also where can i chek the time limit on the pads

i think its a pretty common

I think you answered yourself. Do the brakes stop well? If so, leave it alone. If not, you may need to adjust the cable on your Shimano M415 mechanical brakes.


ok mine are cable, and not hydralauic, so there goes my main observation >.< anyway...
whats the caliper? and also where can i chek the time limit on the pads

On second hand, I think you should take this into your local LBS and let them adjust it for you.

yeah they stop pretty well, sometimes..
but theyre doing alright, i will just leave them, i was just wondering incase thier is anydamage being done :)