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are disc bakes supposed to squeak

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Old 02-18-13 | 05:22 PM
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are disc bakes supposed to squeak

Mine do i took bike back to lbs and they said the lower end ones squeak is this true?
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Old 02-18-13 | 05:26 PM
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Originally Posted by windhchaser
Mine do i took bike back to lbs and they said the lower end ones squeak is this true?
Apparently so, yours do.
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Old 02-18-13 | 05:29 PM
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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.
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Old 02-18-13 | 05:29 PM
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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!
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Old 02-18-13 | 05:46 PM
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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
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Old 02-18-13 | 05:50 PM
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Originally Posted by BassNotBass
The problem is that not many people, those working as bike mechanics included, do not know how to adjust them properly.
This is surprisingly true. I've purchased at least 4 disc bikes from new that needed adjusting after I got the bike home;one didn't even have the front caliper mounted straight!

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.
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Old 02-18-13 | 05:58 PM
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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.
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Old 02-18-13 | 06:04 PM
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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
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Old 02-18-13 | 06:51 PM
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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.
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Old 02-18-13 | 07:52 PM
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Originally Posted by krobinson103
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.

^ What He Said ^
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Old 02-18-13 | 09:18 PM
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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.
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Old 02-18-13 | 10:19 PM
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My new TRP Parabox squeals a tiny bit at certain speeds and brake forces. But it is silent 90+% of the time.
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Old 02-18-13 | 10:23 PM
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Originally Posted by krobinson103
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.
+2
Mine also only squeak when wet.
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Old 02-18-13 | 10:37 PM
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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
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Old 02-18-13 | 10:51 PM
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I have tektro novela mech brakes and they're quiet until they get wet.
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Old 02-19-13 | 12:12 AM
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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.
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Old 02-19-13 | 12:36 AM
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Originally Posted by DJ Shaun
+2
Mine also only squeak when wet.
+3 Hayes Stroker Disc here and they squeal like a banshee when wet
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Old 02-19-13 | 09:03 AM
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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.
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Old 02-19-13 | 09:14 AM
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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.
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Old 02-19-13 | 10:14 AM
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Avid BB7's on my commuter.

Changing from metallic to organic pads made a huge difference on wet weather noise. They make a little noise but they no longer squeal when wet.
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Old 02-19-13 | 11:13 AM
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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.

Last edited by fietsbob; 02-19-13 at 11:39 AM.
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Old 02-19-13 | 11:25 AM
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ty for all the help everyone. i may just keep em to the pads wear out then upgrade
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Old 02-19-13 | 11:35 AM
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Originally Posted by krobinson103
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.
+4

The good thing is you won't need a bell.
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Old 02-19-13 | 11:42 AM
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Do the wearing in properly.. I have popped out the pads and used metal compatible* sand paper
to re face and remove glazing.

* not wood sandpaper..
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Old 02-19-13 | 11:46 AM
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My tektros squealed under heavy wet braking. I haven't tried my new BB5's yet to know.
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