Canti's sqeeking really loud, how can I fix them?
09-12-09, 09:06 PM
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Canti's sqeeking really loud, how can I fix them?
My wife has a older Trek 800 that she uses for a path bike. The brakes are canti's. Both the front and back now squeal so loud when she hits her brakes it hurts our ears. I have tried to adjust them, clean the rims with rubbing alcohol, I don't know what else to do. From what i can see the pads have tons of life left in them, but maby I am wrong. Any other suggestions, before I take it to a shop?
09-12-09, 09:19 PM
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If pad material is superhard or surface is glazed, I'd just change them for something like Koolstops. If there is any adjustability available, slightly toeing them in seems to help.
09-12-09, 09:25 PM
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Toe them in a nickels worth, if they are really loud.
09-12-09, 10:14 PM
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ps (and w) make good suggestions. Since you come from an area where it rains, you might try the "salmon-colored" version of Kool-stops.
09-12-09, 10:15 PM
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Ill try that tomorrow. The bike is a 97 model, and I think the pads are original, that was one of the possible answers I was looking for, as to whether they go bad with age?
09-12-09, 11:13 PM
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This problem is driving me nuts, to the point where I am determined to figure it out. I just got done lightly sanding the rim's and the brake pads to make sure there was no build up or glazing. That did not work. I think I am going to buy at least one set of new pads, try them on the front and see if that fixes the problem.
09-13-09, 12:42 PM
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I know this is counterintuitive, but have you checked the headset for looseness? I fixed the squeaky canti's on my cyclocross/touring bike with a good toe-in and headset adjustment.
I would also just keep scuffing/de-glazing the pads rather than replacing. "Bike path" bikes rarely wear down their pads to the point where they need replacement.
I would also just keep scuffing/de-glazing the pads rather than replacing. "Bike path" bikes rarely wear down their pads to the point where they need replacement.
Last edited by MCODave; 09-13-09 at 03:14 PM.
09-13-09, 01:01 PM
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If trying all of the above doesn't affect the squeal, then you could have flex at the forks that can be fixed by a brake booster.
I'd try all of the others -- including checking for headset play -- first, but keep this in mind. It has solved canti squeal issues where nothing else worked.
I'd try all of the others -- including checking for headset play -- first, but keep this in mind. It has solved canti squeal issues where nothing else worked.
09-16-09, 08:59 PM
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Don't ride with her anymore.....
Or sand the pads usually helps. But if they're old, buy new ones. Lots of the compounds nowadays work much better and don't squeal.
Or sand the pads usually helps. But if they're old, buy new ones. Lots of the compounds nowadays work much better and don't squeal.
09-17-09, 04:45 AM
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12 to ??? year old (who knows how long they sat in a warehouse before being installed) brake pads would be rock hard, replace them and go from there. Wrap a rubberband around the front tip of the pads to set toe-in, you only need 1-2mm normally, if at all.
Last edited by MilitantPotato; 09-17-09 at 04:48 AM.
