jonathdo

How do fix squeaking brakes. Bike is 2 weeks olds. Did ride it after a rain so rims did get wet. Help.

stapfam

Wd 40.

btom

Toe the brake pads.

kniprm

the squeaking means they're working.

not2blu

I replaced my pads a month after I got my bike.
Even with a nice group set like my SRAM Force, the pads were worthless.

Pads are cheap- get some new ones.
I highly recommend Kool Stop Dura-Type pads.
They're $7 at bikes direct or go to your LBS.

dark13star

+1 the shop should have done this when they built the bike.

triplebutted

Make them squek so you will annoy the guys in front of you. It says "pedal faster slowpokes! I have to constantly hit my brakes from hitting you!"

celerystalksme

+1

i had to do this with my cx bike to get rid of squeeling and shuddering recently because the LBS did not...

ericm979

Are they squeaking, or is it more of a grinding noise? The grinding noise happens when you get bits of grit or aluminum stuck in the pads. It happens often after riding in the wet. You can take off the wheels and pick the chunks out of the pads with an awl or small screwdriver.

If they're squeaking, then the pads may need to be toed in. But be sure to set the pads up to be square with the rim first, then toed in. I use a piece of cable tie that's about 1mm high to space the leading edge of the pad away from the rim while keeping the pad square to the rim. Make sure that the pads are lined up with the rim and don't get too close to the tire... if a pad hits a tire it can chew through the sidewall.

Dirt and road gunk on the rims can affect braking too. I wipe the rims off with a clean rag. Don't use any solvent- most will leave a residue. And of course don't use WD40. If you did use a solvent, or got chain lube on the rim, clean that off with rubbing alcohol or acetone.

bigtea

Simple Green works well to clean your brake pads. And toe them in (so the front edge touches the rim first.)

Kai Winters

This is my normal method for cleaning my rims and brake pads. Prevents squeaking and the brakes work better in my opinion.
I spray Windex...or similar cleaner...on a clean rag, enough to wet it fairly well but not dripping, and wipe off the brake surface of the rims. I actually clean the entire wheel, tire, hub, etc.
Using the same cloth I scrub the brake pads to remove all grit, dirt and residue. I then use a piece of 200 grit sand paper to lightly scuff the brake pad surfaces to remove the glazing caused by wet braking. Final wipe down of the pads with same wet rag.
If my wheels and brakes need this attention the rest of my bike does as well. I wipe down my frame with another clean rag wet with Windex, spray wd40 on my chain and drive train, remove all wd40 from chain and drive train, lubricate with a good lubricant, polish frame with a bit of Lemon Pledge...lol it works great and is cheap, reassemble and done til the next time.

rOOster14

what kind of brakes are they?
my rival brakes squeaked for the first probably 200 miles or so, since then its totally gone.
ride them a while...if you are able to toe them, then do that...if not, just make sure they are hitting the rim correctly and ride em.

Copperhed51

My SRAM Force brakes squealed and chattered after about a week of riding on them. I took them off, toed them in better and also did the sand paper thing to clean up the pads. Worked like a charm and they haven't squeaked or chattered since.

jonathdo

They are Sram Force brakes. I will try the sand paper...see how it works

Val23708

SRAM's pads are actually quite good. I still would score them with a knife or sandpaper though and maybe toe them.