Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Bicycle Mechanics
Reload this Page >

Rear brake squeal

Search
Notices
Bicycle Mechanics Broken bottom bracket? Tacoed wheel? If you're having problems with your bicycle, or just need help fixing a flat, drop in here for the latest on bicycle mechanics & bicycle maintenance.

Rear brake squeal

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 06-09-14 | 09:15 PM
  #1  
Thread Starter
Full Member
 
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 339
Likes: 1
From: Atlanta, GA

Bikes: Dave Kirk Custom, Clockwork Bikes Custom, Batavus Course Specialized HardRock x2 Trek 700 MultiTrack 1991 Trek 950 SingleTrack. Miyata Three Ten

Rear brake squeal

I know this one has been posted a gazillion times, and I've researched it, but nonetheless, I still have problems with the rear cantis squealing like crazy. The rims are clean, I took off the pads and sanded them to an even finish. They are toed in, but yet they still sqeal really loud. The front are no problem. The front rim is a higher quality Sun Ringle double wall while the rear is an off the rack wheel from PB that has a wear indicator groove (which also deforms the brake pads as they wear). The only other difference is that the front canties get 'pulled' since they are in front of the fork, while the rear ones get 'pushed' being behind the seat stays. I guess the next step is to take some steel wool to the rear rim and try to scruff it up a bit.
Do higher quality rims have less tendency to squeal?
Thanks!
Jon
byrd48 is offline  
Reply
Old 06-09-14 | 09:42 PM
  #2  
Senior Member
Titanium Club Membership
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 39,897
Likes: 3,865
From: New Rochelle, NY

Bikes: too many bikes from 1967 10s (5x2)Frejus to a Sumitomo Ti/Chorus aluminum 10s (10x2), plus one non-susp mtn bike I use as my commuter

Newly installed shoes with fresh surfaces will have a tendency to squeal, the same way new chalks screeches on a chalkboard. You can fool with the toe-in, but if you just live with it a short while it'll resolve itself most of the time.
__________________
FB
Chain-L site

An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.

Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.

“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN

WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
FBinNY is offline  
Reply
Old 06-10-14 | 07:03 AM
  #3  
Andrew R Stewart's Avatar
Senior Member
Titanium Club Membership
10 Anniversary
 
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 19,381
Likes: 5,527
From: Rochester, NY

Bikes: Stewart S&S coupled sport tourer, Stewart Sunday light, Stewart Commuting, Stewart Touring, Co Motion Tandem, Stewart 3-Spd, Stewart Track, Fuji Finest, Mongoose Tomac ATB, GT Bravado ATB, JCP Folder, Stewart 650B ATB

We were just talking about this yesterday at work. We all agreed that new and clean made the tendencies to squeal worse (along with moisture and oils/lubes on the rims).

I mentioned my technique of placing a bit of garden mulch (as in bark) between the rim and pad then riding around the parking lot to help silence the offensive brake. Andy.
Andrew R Stewart is offline  
Reply
Old 06-10-14 | 07:25 AM
  #4  
cyccommute's Avatar
Mad bike riding scientist
Titanium Club Membership
20 Anniversary
Community Builder
Community Influencer
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 29,209
Likes: 6,286
From: Denver, CO

Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones

Originally Posted by byrd48
I know this one has been posted a gazillion times, and I've researched it, but nonetheless, I still have problems with the rear cantis squealing like crazy. The rims are clean, I took off the pads and sanded them to an even finish. They are toed in, but yet they still sqeal really loud. The front are no problem. The front rim is a higher quality Sun Ringle double wall while the rear is an off the rack wheel from PB that has a wear indicator groove (which also deforms the brake pads as they wear). The only other difference is that the front canties get 'pulled' since they are in front of the fork, while the rear ones get 'pushed' being behind the seat stays. I guess the next step is to take some steel wool to the rear rim and try to scruff it up a bit.
Do higher quality rims have less tendency to squeal?
Thanks!
Jon
What brake is it? Some brakes arm will just squeal. Avid Shorty 4s come to mind but there are others.

Another cause may be the frame. If the frame is too light in the brake area, the seat stay can twist which causes the toe of the brake to lift off the rim and chatter. This is a fairly rare problem, however, compared to the caliper itself.
__________________
Stuart Black
Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!





cyccommute is offline  
Reply
Old 06-10-14 | 09:22 PM
  #5  
Thread Starter
Full Member
 
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 339
Likes: 1
From: Atlanta, GA

Bikes: Dave Kirk Custom, Clockwork Bikes Custom, Batavus Course Specialized HardRock x2 Trek 700 MultiTrack 1991 Trek 950 SingleTrack. Miyata Three Ten

They are the Shimano CX-50's and have maybe 500 miles on them. I stopped by the lbs on the way home tonight and he made some adjustments and tightened up the spring by moving it to the top hole in the canti boss mounts. He pretty much got the squeal out. He mentioned that the long arms can contribute to the squeal. The brakes comes with 3 different barrels that determine the distance between the brake pad and the mount on the bosses. I went with the longest ones because that is what the yoke seemed to fit. If I went with one of the shorter options, I think I would lose mechanical advantage or possibly need a new yoke.
byrd48 is offline  
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Biketouringhobo
Touring
29
05-02-16 07:11 AM
Mr. Flibble
Bicycle Mechanics
45
05-20-14 03:55 PM
ilushka
Bicycle Mechanics
7
11-17-11 10:53 AM
Fallingwater
Bicycle Mechanics
4
10-08-10 04:43 PM
GetHerned
Bicycle Mechanics
5
08-27-10 06:22 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.