are disc bakes supposed to squeak
#3
No they shouldn't. I have probably the lowest end disc brake arrangement you can get on my $150 Huffy and they don't squeal. The problem is that not many people, those working as bike mechanics included, do not know how to adjust them properly.
#4
Still learning

Joined: May 2012
Posts: 11,529
Likes: 87
From: North of Canada, Adirondacks
Bikes: Still a garage full
I've never baked a disc, low or high end, so I don't know if it will squeak.
But I've baked chickens, cakes, souffles, cookies, and bread, and none of them squeak!
But I've baked chickens, cakes, souffles, cookies, and bread, and none of them squeak!
#5
Thread Starter
Banned.
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 643
Likes: 7
From: baned from foo so for sure im not there .
Bikes: Felt nine flow
They stop very very good. first time i used em i about wrecked had one had one bars and other and carrying something and i was used to my old bike and the same force almost made me go over the bars now im used to them they stop fast and easly
#6
windhchaser: what bike/disc system? Lower end brakes with only an inner pad adjust can be more difficult to set up properly,and as a result can be noisier. Mismatching the rotor to pad material can also cause noise,but if your bike is stock this shouldn't be the case. And define 'squeak'. Does it make a 'zhing-zhing-zhing' sound when the wheel turns,or a squeal when applying the brake? Manny systems are noisy when they get wet(dirty) but quiet down after the brakes are applied firmly.
__________________

C'dale BBU('05 and '09)/Super Six/Hooligan8and 3,Kona Dew Deluxe,Novara Buzz/Safari,Surly Big Dummy,Marin Pt Reyes,Giant Defy 1,Schwinn DBX SuperSport,Brompton S6L/S2E-X/M6L-X/S12 T Line


C'dale BBU('05 and '09)/Super Six/Hooligan8and 3,Kona Dew Deluxe,Novara Buzz/Safari,Surly Big Dummy,Marin Pt Reyes,Giant Defy 1,Schwinn DBX SuperSport,Brompton S6L/S2E-X/M6L-X/S12 T Line

#7
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,267
Likes: 7
From: NA
Bikes: NA
they often squeak -- especially when new. bike shops often contaminate the rotor or the pads with grease. if so, you can either just deal with it until it burns off or try cleaning the pads and rotor with rubbing alcohol. sintered or metal pads are worse but even organic pads can take some time to bed in.
#8
Thread Starter
Banned.
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 643
Likes: 7
From: baned from foo so for sure im not there .
Bikes: Felt nine flow
They are Tektro Novella mechanical disc brake .first time i took it in the guy put dawn dish washing soap on them .this guy who did this no longer works there
#9
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 2,835
Likes: 1
From: Incheon, South Korea
Bikes: Nothing amazing... cheap old 21 speed mtb
If wet.. yes. Even high end hydros are noisy. I do find this an advantage on the MUP when you want people to get out of the way.
In general however, if they are centered right and clean they should be almost silent.
In general however, if they are centered right and clean they should be almost silent.
#10
Commander, UFO Bike
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,438
Likes: 23
From: Subject to change
Bikes: Giant, Trek
#11
I hated the Tektro brakes that came with my bike with a passion, about a month ago the rear brake failed completely just about when a SUV made a right turn in front of me. I had to make a closed turn along with the driver, thankfully he wasn't rude, or I would have ended squashed. I was literally just two blocks away from an area with bike shops, had them upgraded to Shimano right then.
The disc on the back wheel had been squealing badly, just yesterday I went to the shop near home to have that checked, it was Sunday so the place was packed, but the mechanic still spent a GOOD amount of time checking it out. Unfortunately a guy at the counter said something before like 'you're scratching the disc you have to change the break pads right away'.. Well it wasn't the pads, the disc was crooked, and it took the mechanic a long time to straighten it up properly.
I still ended up buying break pads I didn't really need
Not sure if the disc became that way from some bump, or if it happened just out of 'normal' wear.
The disc on the back wheel had been squealing badly, just yesterday I went to the shop near home to have that checked, it was Sunday so the place was packed, but the mechanic still spent a GOOD amount of time checking it out. Unfortunately a guy at the counter said something before like 'you're scratching the disc you have to change the break pads right away'.. Well it wasn't the pads, the disc was crooked, and it took the mechanic a long time to straighten it up properly.
I still ended up buying break pads I didn't really need

Not sure if the disc became that way from some bump, or if it happened just out of 'normal' wear.
#13
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 292
Likes: 0
From: Ottawa, ON, Canada
Bikes: Diamondback Copperhead (hardtail, winter bike), 2014 Giant Rapid 2, 2015 Kona Big Rove ST
#14
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 180
Likes: 0
From: New York
this is how to kep them from squeeking and will spin silently with no energy loss.
1. loosen the two screws on the rotor thing a bit
2. squeeze the brake of whichever brake is making the noise
3. while squeezing said brake, screw the screws back in
4. it should be silent now
1. loosen the two screws on the rotor thing a bit
2. squeeze the brake of whichever brake is making the noise
3. while squeezing said brake, screw the screws back in
4. it should be silent now
#16
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 438
Likes: 0
From: Sequim, Washington on the Olympic Peninsula
Bikes: Co-Motion Mocha, Fuji touring, Trex hybrid, Bike Friday Tandem Traveler
There are some good Youtube videos on how to adjust disc brakes. Once I watched one of them a couple of times, I was easily able to adjust my Avid BB7's.
#18
I have to say this has been a huge disappointment with my disc brakes. So many folks on these forums raved about their wet weather performance, yet for some reason I never got the impression that they squealed. Maybe I just missed it.
Yeah, mine squeal when wet or contaminated, which is a lot of the time in the winter. I heard organic pads helped but not really, not in my case anyway.
If you want silent wet weather performance roller brakes fit the bill but they don't have the stopping power of discs. They also drag quite a bit in cold weather. They're super easy to adjust though. If I lived in a wet but mild climate like the PNW they'd be hard to beat, at least for a rear brake.
Yeah, mine squeal when wet or contaminated, which is a lot of the time in the winter. I heard organic pads helped but not really, not in my case anyway.
If you want silent wet weather performance roller brakes fit the bill but they don't have the stopping power of discs. They also drag quite a bit in cold weather. They're super easy to adjust though. If I lived in a wet but mild climate like the PNW they'd be hard to beat, at least for a rear brake.
#19
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 240
Likes: 7
Bikes: 2020 Trek Roscoe 8, 2016 Trek 520 Disc, 2013 Trek 7.2 FX, 2010 Trek 4300 Disc
I never had a squeak issue with the discs on my Trek 4300 (wet or dry) until..... I replaced the pads. I was sure I contaminated the pads and repeatedly cleaned them to no avail. (They did not squeak when braking though.) Then I realized I needed to back off the inner pad with the hex adjustment. Problem solved. Not sure what your set up is, but that cured my noise issue.
#21
Banned
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 43,586
Likes: 1,380
From: NW,Oregon Coast
Bikes: 8
objects have no intentions so they are only, suppositions that people apply to them. .
Mine: in the raining wet, only the front squeeks. not on streets wet but not raining at the moment.
Mine: in the raining wet, only the front squeeks. not on streets wet but not raining at the moment.
Last edited by fietsbob; 02-19-13 at 11:39 AM.
#23
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,454
Likes: 0
From: Virginia/DC
Bikes: quite a few







