New bike's brakes dont stop well and squeak tremendously

[Nick12481632]

I got a new bike recently, and it is working great, except the brakes. When i brake somewhat hard, they squeak so loud that Im sure everyone on my road can hear it. Not only is it extremely embracing, but they dont stop very well. I read online that many people that got my bike model have this problem, and some say they just change the brake pads, and the problem stopped. Does anyone know if this will work, and if so, what kind of brake pads should I get?

[RonH]

What bike do you have? What brakes? What pads?
Try toeing the brake pads to get rid of the squealing.
If you have cantilever brakes change the pad to Kool-Stop salmon.

[Wanderer]

+++++ on toeing in, and the Kool Stop salmon colored pads.....

[Nick12481632]

Iv got a diomondback insight 1, and im not shure whta brakes I have, but I think they are v-type. Im not realy shure about pads, they are the ones that came with the bike. does it matter what kind everything is?

[Panthers007]

Yes it does. This is so we can figure out what type of brake-pads would suit your brakes the best. And Kool Stop brake-pads are among the very best there are. As well as to help you get rid of the noise.

[common man]

i'd take it to the lbs i recently purchased the new bike from and let them take care of it. just a few days ago i had a flat. instead of doing it myself i said it's less than 30 days so i took it to the lbs for the flat + tune up (for new bikes). lbs realized it was a manufacturing defect so it was fixed without issue but more importantly that defect was resolved for me trouble / time / cost free.

[CCrew]

i'd take it to the lbs i recently purchased the new bike from and let them take care of it. just a few days ago i had a flat. instead of doing it myself i said it's less than 30 days so i took it to the lbs for the flat + tune up (for new bikes). lbs realized it was a manufacturing defect so it was fixed without issue but more importantly that defect was resolved for me trouble / time / cost free.

At best he'd get new versions of the same pads on it. For the most part the factory pads are crap.

[Nick12481632]

I didnt buy the bike from my LBS, i ordered online and it got sent and assembled at a lbs someplace else. Driving there again isnt an option. Do most bike stores do this kind of thing, and how much do you think it would cost to have them do it? Ill look at the brakes today and figure out what they are.

[Sixty Fiver]

Questions like this are best put in the mechanics forum as one will usually get better information on components and solutions.

Kool Stops are not a universal solution for squealing brakes... anyone who has run Avid Shorty's can back me up on that. In most cases, Kool Stop pads will solve squealing issues with most brakes or at least, change the audible squeal into one that only dogs can hear.

The brakes on the Insight are Avid SD3's which get nearly universally good reviews... after the stock Rim Wrangler pads are swapped out.

[CCrew]

FWIW, bike has generic V brakes on it.

[Sixty Fiver]

Was checking specs here...

http://www.thebikedr.com/Commuter-Bi...k-insight.html

[Panthers007]

The brakes on the Insight are Avid SD3's which get nearly universally good reviews... after the stock Rim Wrangler pads are swapped out.

Now hold your tire-levers there: I am amongst a numbers of people who had Avid SD 3's and found them horrible! Going out of adjustment by themselves, howling and squealing, the list goes on. Some people get lucky and they work fine. But others wouldn't touch them again with a 10-foot pole.

[Nick12481632]

Now hold your tire-levers there: I am amongst a numbers of people who had Avid SD 3's and found them horrible! Going out of adjustment by themselves, howling and squealing, the list goes on. Some people get lucky and they work fine. But others wouldn't touch them again with a 10-foot pole.

So are you suggesting i get a completely new brake system, or just pads?

[Panthers007]

I'm not suggesting. You should exhaust every possible avenue of approach before you do something drastic - like getting a better brake-set. But I had a set of the Avid SD 3's that came stock on my Trek 7.5 FX. And they drove me knutz. I tried everything I could think of.

Now I have Avid SD 7's. Not a problem. Silent and stays in alignment. Stops me on a dime. And the SD 7's do get rave reviews.

[Luddite]

My brakes squealed like a teenaged girl at a shoe sale when I first got my bike. They required adjustment at the shop I bought it at. Hasn't squeaked since. I have a "cheap" bike that cost $320.00.

[CCrew]

Was checking specs here...

http://www.thebikedr.com/Commuter-Bi...k-insight.html

That looks to be the Insight 2, which does come with Avids. The Insight 1 the OP has is discontinued, and just specs "linear pull" so I imagine generic Tektro's or the like.

[dynaryder]

In order:

1) Clean your rims.
2) Make sure pads are toed-in properly.
3) Make sure rims are true.
4) Replace pads.