Perfectly silent brakes!?
12-09-16, 10:16 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 12
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Perfectly silent brakes!?
My rear rim brakes are completely silent. No idea why or how. I haven't touched them since I got the bike so have no reason to think they're contaminated, but maybe they are!? They seem to work fine, though. I'll be giving the rim an alcohol wipe and the pads a light sand, but before I do I wanted to see with you guys if this might just be normal. Every other rim brake I've had has at least made some sound. This is my fourth bike (if you count my huffy in '85) and none have been this quiet. Should rim brakes on my '16 Roubaix be completely silent?
12-09-16, 10:23 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Roswell, GA
Posts: 8,319
Bikes: '93 Trek 750, '92 Schwinn Crisscross, '93 Mongoose Alta
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1438 Post(s)
Liked 1,092 Times
in
723 Posts
What do you hope to accomplish with this alcohol wipe and sanding? Make them noisy? Never Fix A Running Piece.
12-09-16, 11:08 PM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 3,463
Bikes: Trident Spike 2 recumbent trike w/ e-assist
Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1321 Post(s)
Liked 374 Times
in
288 Posts
My brakes are totally silent unless I ride in or after a rain, and get muck on them. I think silent is a good thing...
12-09-16, 11:12 PM
#4
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 12
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
12-09-16, 11:19 PM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 12,906
Bikes: (2) ti TiCycles, 2007 w/ triple and 2011 fixed, 1979 Peter Mooney, ~1983 Trek 420 now fixed and ~1973 Raleigh Carlton Competition gravel grinder
Mentioned: 129 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4806 Post(s)
Liked 3,929 Times
in
2,554 Posts
Noise doesn't get a lot of attention from brake manufacturers outside of squeal issues. Brakinq quality (including noise) is a balance between several factors; brake geometry and stiffness, rim and pad qualities, cables ans housings, the levers. It is a delicate balance. You like what you have now. Changing the friction properties between the rim and pads may very well upset the balance yhou now have. If it does, there are 4 possible outcomes:
1) No change to braking and noise.
2) A new noise but no change in braking.
3) No change in noise but a change in the braking (less power? More power? Grabby?)
4) A new noise and a change in braking. (...)
1) is good. 3) with more power is good. 2), the rest of three and 4) are all bad.
You have about the same odds at a casino. Want to leave there with money in your pocket? It is actually easy. Don't open your wallet.
Ben
1) No change to braking and noise.
2) A new noise but no change in braking.
3) No change in noise but a change in the braking (less power? More power? Grabby?)
4) A new noise and a change in braking. (...)
1) is good. 3) with more power is good. 2), the rest of three and 4) are all bad.
You have about the same odds at a casino. Want to leave there with money in your pocket? It is actually easy. Don't open your wallet.
Ben
12-11-16, 09:13 AM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: In The Middle Of "Out There" / Downtown "Lost Angels"
Posts: 259
Bikes: 2001 Trek 520 - Hvy Hauler, Epic Adventure Bike / 2011 Fuji Newest 1.0 - Sporty Quick Bike
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 16 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Your brakes are workin' fine? Quiet, with satisfactory stopping power?
As mentioned earlier in post #2 (using different words). "If it ain't broke, fa' gawds sake, Don't 'Fix' it.":
Seems to me, you've got an incipient case of "Cabin Fever"? Or at least too much time and/or energy on your hands. Ride More = OCD Less. Join a Spin Class. sheesh, Get a set of Rollers or an indoor trainer if you have to.
/
As mentioned earlier in post #2 (using different words). "If it ain't broke, fa' gawds sake, Don't 'Fix' it.":
Seems to me, you've got an incipient case of "Cabin Fever"? Or at least too much time and/or energy on your hands. Ride More = OCD Less. Join a Spin Class. sheesh, Get a set of Rollers or an indoor trainer if you have to./
