Chattering disc brake?
#1
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Chattering disc brake?
I know that cars, when the rotors are worn, will have brake chatter. Can bike disc brakes?
I thought it was a loose headset and it was a bit loose (there was a clicking when I put on the front brakes or even at a standstill) which I fixed yesterday (Thanks Bicycle Mechanics forum!). However, there is still a chatter so I'm suspecting the front rotor.
Is it possible to see or, with my hands, feel changes in the rotor?
I thought it was a loose headset and it was a bit loose (there was a clicking when I put on the front brakes or even at a standstill) which I fixed yesterday (Thanks Bicycle Mechanics forum!). However, there is still a chatter so I'm suspecting the front rotor.
Is it possible to see or, with my hands, feel changes in the rotor?
#2
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the screaming sound when you are wet braking is a high frequency audible version..
It's not possible for ME to see, from Oregon, I can say that much .. make an LBS visit.
inspect pad surface , sand off glazing , clean off disc , Hold brake on and while gripping the disc , loosen and retighten the post mount bolts .
the frame tab to ISO adapter should be tight .
It's not possible for ME to see, from Oregon, I can say that much .. make an LBS visit.
inspect pad surface , sand off glazing , clean off disc , Hold brake on and while gripping the disc , loosen and retighten the post mount bolts .
the frame tab to ISO adapter should be tight .
Last edited by fietsbob; 04-10-14 at 11:53 AM.
#3
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OK, I'll do/check those things.
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Define 'chatter'. What does it sound like? Does is make it all the time,or intermittently?
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#5
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Maybe chatter isn't the right word as it implies a sound but there really isn't a sound, just a vibration in the front fork when I engage the brakes. It happens every time I engage the front brakes, but not at any other time. The rear brakes are smooth.
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Yesterday on my dry commute home, I had the same brake shudder/judder/vibration for the first time on my fork from the BB7 front brake. I have had shudder on my cantilever brake of my Surly LHT before, but after I changed out the stock pads I haven't noticed anything. I would really like to get some feedback on this as well.
#7
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Oil on pads can cause something like this.
Getting oil out of pads, well, that's the bad news. Not likely... swap pads, wear gloves, and keep the oil off.
Getting oil out of pads, well, that's the bad news. Not likely... swap pads, wear gloves, and keep the oil off.
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My BB7s were doing that about a year ago. Pads weren't that old, -just one winter's worth of use. Replacing them solved the problem.
I must say that as a relatively new user of disc brakes, they aren't as great as you all had lead me to believe.
They stop well enough but I've had the above problem along with horrible squealing when wet. The rotors have needed some truing and initial adjustment (on install) was a pain to get right. Why wasn't I informed?
I must say that as a relatively new user of disc brakes, they aren't as great as you all had lead me to believe.
They stop well enough but I've had the above problem along with horrible squealing when wet. The rotors have needed some truing and initial adjustment (on install) was a pain to get right. Why wasn't I informed?
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Is this a common issue? Mine are silent when braking in the wet. Is this issue more common with certain rotors or pads?
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Depends on the pad/rotor combo. My M495's with Shimano pads are silent unless they get really cruddy,then pne good stop shuts them up. My BB7's only squeal at first when wet,then they scrape themselves clean and quiet down. I converted my Pt Reyes to BB7's but left the stock Hayes rotors on. They squeal a little even when dry,it just isn't bad enough for me to bother with swapping the rotors or pads.
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My BB7s were doing that about a year ago. Pads weren't that old, -just one winter's worth of use. Replacing them solved the problem.
I must say that as a relatively new user of disc brakes, they aren't as great as you all had lead me to believe.
They stop well enough but I've had the above problem along with horrible squealing when wet. The rotors have needed some truing and initial adjustment (on install) was a pain to get right. Why wasn't I informed?
I must say that as a relatively new user of disc brakes, they aren't as great as you all had lead me to believe.
They stop well enough but I've had the above problem along with horrible squealing when wet. The rotors have needed some truing and initial adjustment (on install) was a pain to get right. Why wasn't I informed?
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Did you break in your pads by braking hard a few times? I usually remember to do this, but forgot on my new bike (BB7s) and got the chatter. I was able to fix the problem by braking hard 2-3 times after the problem appeared.
Don't give up on the discs, tjspiel. Remember what a pain it was to adjust caliper brakes with only two hands. You'll appreciate them when you have to do a panic stop with a lot of weight on board.
Don't give up on the discs, tjspiel. Remember what a pain it was to adjust caliper brakes with only two hands. You'll appreciate them when you have to do a panic stop with a lot of weight on board.
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I must say that as a relatively new user of disc brakes, they aren't as great as you all had lead me to believe.
They stop well enough but I've had the above problem along with horrible squealing when wet. The rotors have needed some truing and initial adjustment (on install) was a pain to get right. Why wasn't I informed?
And, having just done a bleed job and looking at having to do the seals on a brake lever, I find nothing redeeming about hydraulics. I can repair anything on a bike and I have done everything you can do to a bike short of welding but I would seriously consider paying a mechanic to do a bleed and/or rebuild job.
No local co-op that I know of would refuse any parts. My local co-op will take any bicycle part made from 1870 to present. I also find a "free/cheap parts box full of them" hard to believe. I live in a bicycle crazy area that has a huge of mountain bike riders and my local co-op sees very few used disc units of any kind. Any that do show up are quickly snatch up...even your hated BB7s. If anything, a BB7 will be snatched up faster than anything else.
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Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
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Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Last edited by cyccommute; 04-15-14 at 06:30 AM.
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I've been trying to inform people about discs since I signed up with the Bike Forums in 2004. I get barbecued every time I bring disc brake shortcomings. I can hear the wood being gathered right now. I've had discs since 2001 and I have yet to find anything superior about them.
And, having just done a bleed job and looking at having to do the seals on a brake lever, I find nothing redeeming about hydraulics. I can repair anything on a bike and I have done everything you can do to a bike short of welding but I would seriously consider paying a mechanic to do a bleed and/or rebuild job.
No local co-op that I know of would refuse any parts. My local co-op will take any bicycle part made from 1870 to present. I also find a "free/cheap parts box full of them" hard to believe. I live in a bicycle crazy area that has a huge of mountain bike riders and my local co-op sees very few used disc units of any kind. Any that do show up are quickly snatch up...even your hated BB7s. If anything, a BB7 will be snatched up faster than anything else.
And, having just done a bleed job and looking at having to do the seals on a brake lever, I find nothing redeeming about hydraulics. I can repair anything on a bike and I have done everything you can do to a bike short of welding but I would seriously consider paying a mechanic to do a bleed and/or rebuild job.
No local co-op that I know of would refuse any parts. My local co-op will take any bicycle part made from 1870 to present. I also find a "free/cheap parts box full of them" hard to believe. I live in a bicycle crazy area that has a huge of mountain bike riders and my local co-op sees very few used disc units of any kind. Any that do show up are quickly snatch up...even your hated BB7s. If anything, a BB7 will be snatched up faster than anything else.
They simply said they did not need them. And as proof they brought a huge box full of disk brakes including multiple bb7s that were in better condition (mine were quite scuffed and worn). There is a bias against disk brakes in PDX and this shop even removes disk brakes when reconditioning the bikes they sell/give. This co-op also also suggests (requires) a "donation" of $25 for giving them a perfectly function bike...Portlandia at its finest!
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Did you break in your pads by braking hard a few times? I usually remember to do this, but forgot on my new bike (BB7s) and got the chatter. I was able to fix the problem by braking hard 2-3 times after the problem appeared.
Don't give up on the discs, tjspiel. Remember what a pain it was to adjust caliper brakes with only two hands. You'll appreciate them when you have to do a panic stop with a lot of weight on board.
Don't give up on the discs, tjspiel. Remember what a pain it was to adjust caliper brakes with only two hands. You'll appreciate them when you have to do a panic stop with a lot of weight on board.
The chatter came after a few months of use, - winter use. I wasn't too happy because the pads were basically new and I made sure to get organics after hearing they squealed less. It didn't happen this year so maybe I just got a bad set of pads.
I've been trying to inform people about discs since I signed up with the Bike Forums in 2004. I get barbecued every time I bring disc brake shortcomings. I can hear the wood being gathered right now. I've had discs since 2001 and I have yet to find anything superior about them.
And, having just done a bleed job and looking at having to do the seals on a brake lever, I find nothing redeeming about hydraulics. I can repair anything on a bike and I have done everything you can do to a bike short of welding but I would seriously consider paying a mechanic to do a bleed and/or rebuild job.
And, having just done a bleed job and looking at having to do the seals on a brake lever, I find nothing redeeming about hydraulics. I can repair anything on a bike and I have done everything you can do to a bike short of welding but I would seriously consider paying a mechanic to do a bleed and/or rebuild job.
I'm now scared of hydros in extreme cold because of what happened to SRAM. Many folks have said there is a night and day difference between hydros and mechanicals but I doubt hyrdos squeal any less. Plus there was supposed to be a night and day difference between discs and rim brakes and I haven't really seen that either. They are better in wet weather and that is important enough to me that I'll be holding on to them. I'll just grit my teeth through the squealing.
Last edited by tjspiel; 04-15-14 at 10:00 AM.
#17
Banned
Put new Disc pads , Kool Stop, organic type , cleaned the discs an the calipers , and put them back together ,
(bike friday Pocket llama 20" wheels, 160 discs) and the BB7 brakes have been working fine , since..
(bike friday Pocket llama 20" wheels, 160 discs) and the BB7 brakes have been working fine , since..
#18
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I'm now scared of hydros in extreme cold because of what happened to SRAM. Many folks have said there is a night and day difference between hydros and mechanicals but I doubt hyrdos squeal any less. Plus there was supposed to be a night and day difference between discs and rim brakes and I haven't really seen that either. They are better in wet weather and that is important enough to me that I'll be holding on to them.
By winter, I mean temps lower than -30C/-22F.
Last edited by jrickards; 04-15-14 at 10:14 AM.
#19
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Did you break in your pads by braking hard a few times?
I rode my bike with hydraulic BB7s
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people have been racing hydraulics in winter downhill for a long time:
Glacierbike Downhill, March 2015 - Saas Fee - Saastal
Last edited by spare_wheel; 04-15-14 at 02:33 PM.
#22
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Maybe I lucked out, but I have several years now of trouble free, squeal free (except when wet, and initially only) and maintenance free (other than new pads) SLX hyrdaulic disc brakes. I'm no master mechanic by any stretch. Maybe SRAM and Avid disc brakes are inferior. I regularly swap out wheels without any adjustment. Not sure why some folks seem to have no issues, and others just can't seem get them to work. And they do provide superior braking performance in all conditions.
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That's because your experiences are yours and not other people's,but you refuse to acknowledge this. You complain about how easily rotors get bent,but this hasn't been my experience at all. You've also talked about how rim wear isn't a big issue,yet other posters have stated that for them it's been a real problem. You need to understand that your experiences are not universal constants.
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ime, having two hydraulic pistons (often designed with set back) definitely provides better clearance and power.
people have been racing hydraulics in winter downhill for a long time:
Glacierbike Downhill, March 2015 - Saas Fee - Saastal
people have been racing hydraulics in winter downhill for a long time:
Glacierbike Downhill, March 2015 - Saas Fee - Saastal
A downhill race in relatively mild temps doesn't do much to reassure me but Jrickards post did. I don't want any air getting into the system because the seals aren't flexible enough to deal with extreme cold.
What's disappointing is that I had the impression that BB7s were the Cadillac choice. Now I'm hearing that they're basically junk and that hyrdos are the real McCoy. Frankly I'm a little skeptical. If I had to guess, I'd say they're probably better, but still not a panacea.
Last edited by tjspiel; 04-15-14 at 05:42 PM.
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That's because your experiences are yours and not other people's,but you refuse to acknowledge this. You complain about how easily rotors get bent,but this hasn't been my experience at all. You've also talked about how rim wear isn't a big issue,yet other posters have stated that for them it's been a real problem. You need to understand that your experiences are not universal constants.
Power isn't really the problem. It's the squealing and sometimes the alignment/rotor trueness.
A downhill race in relatively mild temps doesn't do much to reassure me but Jrickards post did. I don't want any air getting into the system because the seals aren't flexible enough to deal with extreme cold.
What's disappointing is that I had the impression that BB7s were the Cadillac choice. Now I'm hearing that they're basically junk and that hyrdos are the real McCoy. Frankly I'm a little skeptical. If I had to guess, I'd say they're probably better, but still not a panacea.
A downhill race in relatively mild temps doesn't do much to reassure me but Jrickards post did. I don't want any air getting into the system because the seals aren't flexible enough to deal with extreme cold.
What's disappointing is that I had the impression that BB7s were the Cadillac choice. Now I'm hearing that they're basically junk and that hyrdos are the real McCoy. Frankly I'm a little skeptical. If I had to guess, I'd say they're probably better, but still not a panacea.
Hydraulics have their own quirks. Cold temperatures are always a problem with elastomer seals because the polymer stiffens with temperature. There are seals that might do well in cold temperatures but they are expensive.
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Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!