djbowen1

I use Pedros Bike wash from time to time about every 6 weeks or so if my road bike gets pretty bad (riding after it rains), it works fine, i hose it and then blow the water off with the reverse feature of a little shop vac (compressed air is to much i've been told?) and everything is perfect but my brakes squeal so loudly its embarrissing as hell. I have heard to use alcohol on the rims and pads, and to use a light sandpaper on the pads. Does anyone have a good method.

Hunter

Yes on the sandpaper and brake pads. However a Scotch Brite pad withsoap and water is faster than alchhol. Also NEVER hose off your bike. Use a sponge to get it wet but NEVER hose it off.

a2psyklnut

I use Hunter's method of Scotch Brite pads! Get them wet though! The water and soap will help remove the dirt and grime.

I've never heard/thought about the shop vac, but why not vaccuum instead of blowing the water off? Hmmmm, something to consider.

L8R

Trouble

I use a motorcycle spray cleaner and rag to clean the bike, when I clean it. Long ago I stopped being anal about cleaning my motorcycle, MTB and now my road bike.
Anyway, the spray stuff from Honda works great.
I'll remove my tires, spray a rag with brake cleaner and rub the rim until it stops leaving a black film on the rag.
Then I'll lightly buff the pads with some...220 grit?? I forget.
Never squeals.
If you do your own wrenchin, pick up a Park brake tool so you can keep your pads toed in correctly.

Bokkie

dj - obvious thing I'd suggest is this - are the pads toed-in correctly? I'm a disc man myself but I recall pads had to be angled in slightly to prevent just that problem occurring. Maybe you knocked them lil 'ol black things out of line when washing the bike?

moabrider47

Make sure any residue from the cleaner is clear from the pads and the rims after washing. I've had good luck with the rubbing alcohol method, and it dries fast.

-Moab