brake problems
08-01-09 | 07:08 PM
#1
Thread Starter
bicyclebikes
Joined: Jul 2009
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brake problems
i think that I may need to clean the brakes on my bike. they have been making a weird hissing noise whenever I try using the brakes. I looked at them the other day and they were just filled with junk. Does anyone have any tips on how I would go about taking off and cleaning my brakes? I want to make sure that I don't take them off wrong. Any advice would be great.
08-01-09 | 07:51 PM
#2
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Waterloo, ONT
Bikes: Road: Trek 1.5 (2007). Mountain: Santa Cruz Chameleon (2008). Beater: Peugeot Recorde du Monde (1850)
these are rim brakes, not disc brakes?
you can't really mess up rim brakes.
use rubbing alcohol as a cleaner... or just plain water should do it, really. i'd clean the rims too while you're at it.
you can't really mess up rim brakes.
use rubbing alcohol as a cleaner... or just plain water should do it, really. i'd clean the rims too while you're at it.
08-01-09 | 09:39 PM
#3
My bike's better than me!
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,333
Likes: 559
From: Northern Colorado
Bikes: Moots Vamoots, 'Dale T2000, DB Response Comp, '98 G. Fisher HKEK, '89 Panasonic DX-6000, '88 Fisher Montare XT, '83 Nishiki Int'l, '72 MB GR, '75 MB GJ, '77 MB LC, '85 Centurion Ironman, '82 Miyata 710
Presuming these ARE rim brakes (not discs), then you don't need to take them off to solve this....
You can use sandpaper on a sanding block, or a "mill bastard file."
If you have grit stuck IN the brake blocks (the rubber stuff that -- pressed against the rim's braking surface -- stops you), you can use a pick, a toothpick, the end of a file, an awl, or anything similar to remove the foreign stuff.
But ... if possible ... can you post pics of the brake pads so we can see for sure what you've got going on??
You can use sandpaper on a sanding block, or a "mill bastard file."
If you have grit stuck IN the brake blocks (the rubber stuff that -- pressed against the rim's braking surface -- stops you), you can use a pick, a toothpick, the end of a file, an awl, or anything similar to remove the foreign stuff.
But ... if possible ... can you post pics of the brake pads so we can see for sure what you've got going on??
08-02-09 | 06:19 AM
#5
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 30,225
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From: St Peters, Missouri
Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.
08-02-09 | 08:02 AM
#6
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,369
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From: Reston, VA
Bikes: 2003 Giant OCR2
One thing to stay on top of is checking for pieces of metal stuck in the pad. That can gouge rims really quickly. Make sure you get all those metal bits out. You can usually tell from the sound it makes when braking.
Some pads are worse than others about chewing up rims. +1 to the suggestion for Koolstops.
Some pads are worse than others about chewing up rims. +1 to the suggestion for Koolstops.
08-02-09 | 10:08 AM
#11
My bike's better than me!
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,333
Likes: 559
From: Northern Colorado
Bikes: Moots Vamoots, 'Dale T2000, DB Response Comp, '98 G. Fisher HKEK, '89 Panasonic DX-6000, '88 Fisher Montare XT, '83 Nishiki Int'l, '72 MB GR, '75 MB GJ, '77 MB LC, '85 Centurion Ironman, '82 Miyata 710
Have you googled them?
Should be easy to find....
Should be easy to find....
