amgarcia

I haven't had near the problems others have had with my CC and stock pads/Tektro Oryx brakes. Guess I'm lucky! (or they're unlucky)

Re-Cycle

Although a carbon fork and disk brake setup is probably an upgrade to most people I would hate to have to buy a fork, caliper, disk and wheel because of brake chatter.

For what it's worth I got a 2009 cross check used which made terrible noises from the front brake. I switched out the pads with some basic jagwire ones, set them up properly and the problem went away. I know you've changed pads multiple times so no need to go through that again. If it hasn't been done yet I would pull the brake arms and coat the posts in grease, re-install them, check toe-in and retry.

Is it possible that a slightly loose headset would cause this? That hasn't been my experience but I wonder.

lc911t

Have you tried changing the length of the straddle wire?

Andy_K 

If mini-V's don't fix the problem I'd blame the rims. I don't know about squeal, but carbon forks generally have worse problems with brake shudder than steel/aluminum forks, so I don't think that's likely to fix your problem.

I've got a Cross Check. With Tektro CR-720's in front I was able to set it up with the brake powerful enough to make the fork shudder, but I was also able to adjust it so that it worked well and didn't shudder. I've since switched it over to an Avid SD-7 V-brake with Travel Agent in front, which works well without my having to think about the setup. The brakes squeal sometimes in either of these configurations when I get lazy about maintenance, but just the usual V-brake squeal that can easily be eliminated with proper toe-in and/or rim cleaning. It's never been loud for me and never a chronic problem.

Leebo

I use avid shorty 4 brakes on the front with an aluminum hanger that's on the stem, good results.

Sixty Fiver

Some brakes are more prone to squealing like a cat in heat... the old model of the Avid Shorty 4 was notorious as are the Oryx cantis while other models do not seem to experience the same problems and if they do, they can be rectified.

I had the Avid S4's on one of my bikes and they have been sitting on the shelf ever since I could not stand them any more and did switch them between several bikes and the squealing was constant... and I know how to set up cantis.

With that being said, my brother in law runs Oryx cantis on his LHT and I got a little low pressure squeal from them which is acceptable.

Seems like the OP has done everything except change out the cantis he has so this is probably the way to go.

HillRider

I could have written the above myself as it is exactly my experience.

My Cross Check was originally fitted with Shimano BR-R550 cantis and squealed like mad from the front brake. Replacing the R550s with Avid SD7's and Tektro RL-520 levers improved the braking but but didn't eliminate the noise problem.

However, the rims were badly worn and new wheels reduced the problem to a very low level or no noise at all if I keep the rims and pads clean and pay attention to their toe adjustment.

michaelnel

I built my Soma Doublecross (very similar to the Surly Crosscheck) up from a bare frame and selected BR-R550s. They squealed with the stock pads, but I get ZERO squeal with KoolStop salmon pads. Better stopping power too.

HillRider

Funny. I also built my Cross Check up from a bare frame and selected the BR-R550s as they seemed easy to set up, and they were. Mine were relatively quiet with the stock pads and never got really loud until I installed Kool Stop salmon pads. I guess each of these things are unique.

I do have Kool Stop salmons on the Avid SD7's that replaced the Shimanos and they are reasonably quiet if I do my part. I think it was the new wheels that really made the difference.

dave s

I built up a Redline Conquest pro frame for my winter road bike. Since I had to buy brakes, I went the MIni V path. Could not be happier, no noise, great stopping power and (surprisingly good) modulation

xB_Nutt

Tektro CR-720s, pads toed in slightly, fork mounted cable stop. No shudder or squeal. Fork very similar to a Cross Check. Notice how short the cable is between the stop and the hanger.