Gimme a Brake (with no squeal)
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Mr. Cellophane
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Gimme a Brake (with no squeal)
I am beginning to think Yorick is haunted. About a year ago I rode him in the rain for the first time. He developed a squawk on the front brake. Over the intervening year EVERYTHING on the front end has been replaced (none because of the squawk) - wheel, fork, brake mechanism, brake pads, even the brake levers. The squawk NEVER changed. I have tried every remedy I could find.
1. Scrub rims vigorously with Simple Green solution.
2. Sand brake pads to deglaze them.
3. Wipe rims vigorously with alcohol.
4. Adjust toe-in, repeatedly.
Today I scrubbed the rims bright with ScotchBrite (suggested by LBS), wiped them down with alcohol, then put on new Kool Stop brake pads. Imagine my disappointment when the squawk actually appeared to be WORSE than with the old pads. Though the brakes did stop better. I'm at a loss. Any suggestions?
Wanting to run silent,
Raymond
1. Scrub rims vigorously with Simple Green solution.
2. Sand brake pads to deglaze them.
3. Wipe rims vigorously with alcohol.
4. Adjust toe-in, repeatedly.
Today I scrubbed the rims bright with ScotchBrite (suggested by LBS), wiped them down with alcohol, then put on new Kool Stop brake pads. Imagine my disappointment when the squawk actually appeared to be WORSE than with the old pads. Though the brakes did stop better. I'm at a loss. Any suggestions?
Wanting to run silent,
Raymond
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I can't find the picture of your bike. What type of brakes are they? (Don't tell me they're Shimano 'parallel-push' V-brakes!)
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Sounds like you've tried everything. maybe harder compound pads might work
If not, earplugs!
If not, earplugs!
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1985 Sandy Gilchrist-Colin Laing built 531c Audax/fast tourer.
1964 Flying Scot Continental (531)
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plus je vois les hommes, plus j'admire les chiens
1985 Sandy Gilchrist-Colin Laing built 531c Audax/fast tourer.
1964 Flying Scot Continental (531)
1995 Cinelli Supercorsa (Columbus SLX)
1980s Holdsworth Mistral fixed (531)
2005 Dahon Speed 6 (folder)
(YES I LIKE STEEL)
2008 Viking Saratoga tandem
2008 Micmo Sirocco Hybrid (aluminium!)
2012 BTwin Rockrider 8.1
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Try some hairspray to clean the rims and pads, strange but true. Spray some on a rag and "go to town".
On some brakes the only way to stop squeal is to TWIST the caliper arms to get enough "toe In". If the caliper arms are not of the hardest alloy you may need a surprising amount of toe in, 2 or 3 mm.
You might double check the play between the arms in the pivot/mounting bolt.
Ride in the quiet
Pat
On some brakes the only way to stop squeal is to TWIST the caliper arms to get enough "toe In". If the caliper arms are not of the hardest alloy you may need a surprising amount of toe in, 2 or 3 mm.
You might double check the play between the arms in the pivot/mounting bolt.
Ride in the quiet
Pat
Last edited by pat5319; 01-23-02 at 02:19 AM.
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Originally posted by pat5319
Try some hairspray to clean the rims and pads, strange but true. Spray some on a rag and "go to town".
Ride in the quiet
Pat
Try some hairspray to clean the rims and pads, strange but true. Spray some on a rag and "go to town".
Ride in the quiet
Pat
Richard
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Sounds like the calipers have too much play, and can vibrate against each other. Can you tighten them up ? Usually you need 2 small spanners.
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Use a credit card! Not for buying new brakes, for adjusting the toe-in.
Here's what I do. I loosen the brake pad and then place a credit card on the rim so the back 1/4" of the brake pad will hit it! Squeeze the brakes slightly enough to hold the credit card in place. You can also use a rubber band around the lever. Then snug-up the nut (or bolt) on the brake pad. This will provide a sufficient amount of toe-in for the pads. Once the pad is snug, grab the lever and squeeze it tightly (not so tight however that you move the brake pad) and finish tightening the nut/bolt.
If this doesn't work, make sure that the bolts/nuts holding the calipers together (side-pulls) or to the frame (canti's/vee) are snug. You make get squeks or chatter if these are loose.
Hope this helps!
L8R
Here's what I do. I loosen the brake pad and then place a credit card on the rim so the back 1/4" of the brake pad will hit it! Squeeze the brakes slightly enough to hold the credit card in place. You can also use a rubber band around the lever. Then snug-up the nut (or bolt) on the brake pad. This will provide a sufficient amount of toe-in for the pads. Once the pad is snug, grab the lever and squeeze it tightly (not so tight however that you move the brake pad) and finish tightening the nut/bolt.
If this doesn't work, make sure that the bolts/nuts holding the calipers together (side-pulls) or to the frame (canti's/vee) are snug. You make get squeks or chatter if these are loose.
Hope this helps!
L8R
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"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, "WOW, What a Ride!" - unknown
"Your Bike Sucks" - Sky Yaeger
#8
Mr. Cellophane
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Hair spray? Really?
This is a 'cross type frame with Surly Crosscheck fork. The brakes are Avid Shorty center pull V-brakes which were installed to work better with STI levers than standard V-brakes. However when the problem started the bike had standard V-brakes.
OK, I'll try more toe in and scrub with with hair spray.
Thanks,
Raymond
This is a 'cross type frame with Surly Crosscheck fork. The brakes are Avid Shorty center pull V-brakes which were installed to work better with STI levers than standard V-brakes. However when the problem started the bike had standard V-brakes.
OK, I'll try more toe in and scrub with with hair spray.
Thanks,
Raymond
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Rainman, I had the same prob with my Avid brakes. The LBS guy just shrugged and said "Yeah, They will do that" Last time I ever went to that shop. I too had cleaned, sanded, and toed. All to no avail. So I just rode and tried not to be too embarrassed when I had to slow down. But in time the squeeling went away. Only thing I can figure is the pads have contoured themselves with the rims.
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Yep! Hair Spray, it does work, I learned the trick from a guy who worked with Albert Eisentraut and who was scared almost to death by the driving of Ernesto Colnago when he might of had a little too much wine.
Ride without squeal
Pat
Ride without squeal
Pat
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Ray , I too have those Avid shorty's on one of my bikes , and also sqealed like a pig in heat .....so I switched to Koolstop dual compound pads ...still sqealed but not as bad , no matter how much I adjusted, nothing could really stop the racket ! , but quite quickly over a period of maybe 3 weeks of use , the noise went away !!!!
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Velosophy#1: It is better to have a bicycle and no money , than money and no bicycle ! Velosophy # 2 : "Winning is simple, but not easy." #3: "Give a man a fish and he shall eat for a day , teach him how to fish and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day"
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Mr. Cellophane
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Buddy and Pat,
I guess I am using regular Kool Stops (second set now), plain black. Next change I will try to get dual compound. Meanwhile I guess it's hairspray.
Thanks,
Raymond
I guess I am using regular Kool Stops (second set now), plain black. Next change I will try to get dual compound. Meanwhile I guess it's hairspray.
Thanks,
Raymond
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I've never had any squealers that wasn't corrected by increasing toe-in; sometimes radically, double the amoumt recommended. Didn't seem to affect stopping power at all.
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Two of the rare desperation fixes is reverse toe, the second is extreme toe.
I have yet to figure out why reverse toe works. The extreme toe works when the tolerences of the brake bushing is too large for the brake stud.
I have yet to figure out why reverse toe works. The extreme toe works when the tolerences of the brake bushing is too large for the brake stud.
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Mr. Cellophane
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Hair spray application question. I sprayed some ScotchBrite, scrubbed the rim lightly, then wiped off the excess. Does this sound OK? Or should I leave the excess on.
Also, will this leave my rims more manageable for that big date?
Also, will this leave my rims more manageable for that big date?
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Rainman,
I would rub of the excess with a clean cloth.
Ride Quietly
Pat
I would rub of the excess with a clean cloth.
Ride Quietly
Pat