Bicycle Mechanics - Squeeking Brakes!?!

Hello,

First of all I wanted to let you know I am very new to ths cycling phenomenon.

I just bought a GT Agressor 3.0, I like the bike but everything on it seems crappy, so basically I just like the way the bike looks Anyways, I have a very bad squeeking problem with both sets of brakes, and it never stops, I tried rubbing off the streaks left by the brakes, that didn't work. Now where do I turn?

Besides that, does anyone have any suggestions for a beginning mtb cyclist, and what I can do to help out the aggressor?

Regarding the brakes, have a look at this thread:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6812&highlight=brakes

Richard

You Rock!

I will try the tips out tomorrow morning!

Cleaning rims/brakes probably won't help much. You need to adjust the pads properly as described in the aforementioned thread (toed (sp?)). I've set up scores of bikes ranging from high end to K-mart specials (actually pays really well), and all can be adjusted to minimize squeaing. Keep working with them and don't hesitate to ask questions.

OK, I'm confused here. The march thread says make the ends of the shoes facing the FRONT of the bike closer to the rim for "toe-in". Isn't that "toe-out"? I understood that the "toe-in" has the end of the pads that face the approaching rim touch first. This also cleans off anything on the rim. if the back end of the pad (the end facing the front of the bike) touches first, grit and crud get trapped under the pad and score the rim. since the top of the tire moves rear to front, the front of the pad is facing the rear of the bike. Do I have this really screwed-up?

Goatbiker

Well I toe mine in so that the front of the pad touches the rim first and it seems to work...

Richard