I just got a pair of Kool Stop brake pads for the first time and put them on. The rear pair is screeching like a couple of pigs raping each other every time I brake. Any idea why this could be? It's just the back, not the front, and the pads were all put on at the same time.

Mine were doing that when it got wet and when it dried up it didnt do it anymore.

It could be the setup.The leading edge should be a bit closer than the trailing edge,stops `em squealing.

+1

loosen nuts holding pads very slightly. Insert thin card between pad and rim at rear of pad, then re-tighten. Leading edge of pad will now touch rim first.

Alternatively, log on to Sheldon Brown's website for more details

Yup...called toe in adjustment. On my Raleighs I actually have to bend the brakes arms a bit to get toe in set. I still get the occasional squeal on steel rims on a long downhill but that is it.

Aaron

I've had Kool-Stop salmon color pads that could not be de-squeaked, no matter what the adjustment. It happened on newer, less-worn rims. The only solution was to replace them with Kool-Stop black pads, run them for a while to bed in the rim, then switch back to salmons.

It's why people call them Loud Stops. bk

To quiet squealing brakes my first approach is to dress up the face of the pads with a fingernail emery board. That, by itself, works probably 75% of the time. My second shot is to give the pads a touch of toe in. That brings me up into the high 90's. The last increment requires a variety of tricks and the use of words that only bike mechanics are allowed to say.