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Noisy Brakes

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Australia and New Zealand
Published
30 October 2003
Last activity
3 November 2003
Original author
Deep Freud Moors
Posts
16
Discussion status
Public discussion
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  1. DavMen <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Hi all

    Yes noisy brakes. My front ones, on my MB cantilever style, make about
    as much noise as an 18 wheeler Mack truck when pulling up hard. At 5am
    in the morn not winning many freinds in 'hood, as well as looking
    extremely uncool to all the local cats and dogs around at that time.
    Anybody have a remedy for the noise? besides just using the rear...

    OK, first of all let me just say I AM SICK TO FRIGGIN DEATH OF MY SQUEAKY
    FRIGGIN BRAKES.

    Now that I have that out of the way, the idea is to "toe-in" the brake pads
    slightly (angle them so that the tailing edge of the pad hits the rim
    first), and that will stop the squealing. Theoretically. I have done this
    many times now, in conjunction with cleaning the rims, and even changing the
    wheels, but it doesn't seem to last for very long.

    I don't know if this is my riding style that is causing somehow or what, but
    it is very, very annoying. Anyone else got any tips?
    ---
    DFM

  2. Peter Signorini <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:


    "Theo Bekkers" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    "Deep Freud Moors" wrote

    Quoted message said:

    slightly (angle them so that the tailing edge of the pad hits the


    rim

    Quoted message said:

    first), and that will stop the squealing.

    I suggest you try some toe-in on the pads. Toe-in is angling the pads
    so that the leading edge (the toe) contacts first, not the heel.

    Err, some crossed wires here I think. It all depends on your orientation


    re.

    Quoted message said:

    the bike and what is 'leading'. I read DFM as talking about the trailing
    edge in relation to direction of wheel spin.

    Yep...

    Quoted message said:

    Correct toe-in, not nearly so
    critical with the long pads of V-brakes, has the trailing edge (ie. part


    of

    Quoted message said:

    brake shoe closest to the front of your bike) contacting your rim maybe


    1mm

    Quoted message said:

    earlier.

    The main reason for this has to do with flex in the brake calipers under
    load. As they flex the pad will come around to parallel with the rim. If


    you

    Quoted message said:

    begin with parallel pads the flex of the caliper will cause them to


    toe-out,

    Quoted message said:

    which is where a whole lot of harmonics are set up, causing that shriek.

    The issue I have is that they end up wearing parrallel after a few
    days/weeks. Then they start squeaking again. With the rear pads I just flip
    them over when they wear unevenly, but I can't do that with the front ones.
    Oh well, I will try another set of pads I guess, and maybe sand the braking
    surface a little. Maybe just not use them as much...
    ---
    DFM

  3. Hi all

    Yes noisy brakes. My front ones, on my MB cantilever style, make about
    as much noise as an 18 wheeler Mack truck when pulling up hard. At 5am
    in the morn not winning many freinds in 'hood, as well as looking
    extremely uncool to all the local cats and dogs around at that time.
    Anybody have a remedy for the noise? besides just using the rear...

    Thanx in advance.
    DavMen

  4. "DavMen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Hi all

    Yes noisy brakes. My front ones, on my MB cantilever style, make about
    as much noise as an 18 wheeler Mack truck when pulling up hard. At 5am
    in the morn not winning many freinds in 'hood, as well as looking
    extremely uncool to all the local cats and dogs around at that time.
    Anybody have a remedy for the noise? besides just using the rear...

    Make sure the rims and pads are free of oil and grime - if this isn't the
    problem, possibly look at new pads?

    Tim

  5. "DavMen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Yes noisy brakes. My front ones, on my MB cantilever style, make about
    as much noise as an 18 wheeler Mack truck when pulling up hard. At 5am
    in the morn not winning many freinds in 'hood, as well as looking
    extremely uncool to all the local cats and dogs around at that time.
    Anybody have a remedy for the noise? besides just using the rear...

    I have exactly the same "problem". I think it is due to the
    combo of dirty rims and old, hard brake pads.

    I haven't put new pads on yet because the screechy noise
    is good for scaring.. err.. warning pedestrians ;-)

    Try some new pads and adjust their position, perhaps with
    a little more toe-in (I think that's the standard cure).

    Otherwise spray your rims with WD40.. quiet as a sleeping pup.

    What the hell are you doing riding around at 5am anyway?! :-P

    hippy
    - No, DON'T spray WD40 on your rims.. that was a joke.

  6. DavMen said:

    Hi all

    Quoted message said:

    Yes noisy brakes. My front ones, on my MB cantilever style, make about
    as much noise as an 18 wheeler Mack truck when pulling up hard. At 5am
    in the morn not winning many freinds in 'hood, as well as looking
    extremely uncool to all the local cats and dogs around at that time.
    Anybody have a remedy for the noise? besides just using the rear...

    All the tips so far, and try taking your pads out and rubbing them on a
    brick wall. Then sand your rims lightly. Adjust the angle the pads hit
    (toe-in a little, as everyone says) and make sure they can't vibrate too
    easily (change the length of pad stem which is out of the clamp).

    --
    *--------------------------------------------------------*
    | ^Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool^ |
    | Heath Raftery, HRSoftWorks _\|/_ |
    *______________________________________m_('.'😉_m_________*

  7. "DavMen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Hi all

    Yes noisy brakes. My front ones, on my MB cantilever style, make about
    as much noise as an 18 wheeler Mack truck when pulling up hard. At 5am
    in the morn not winning many freinds in 'hood, as well as looking
    extremely uncool to all the local cats and dogs around at that time.
    Anybody have a remedy for the noise? besides just using the rear...

    A little sandpaper around the rim fixed mine. Not sure that this is a good
    long term solution tho..

  8. Don't have any answers or tips, other than check to see if the brakes
    haven't wore down to metal and clean built-up crud from rims. From
    personal experience, old chrome steel rims are absolutely terrible in
    the sort of weather I'm looking at present (3.53pm, Melb.Daylight Saving
    Time) Like a vise when dry, like a pair of greased eels when wet. Modern
    technology good...alloy rims, better still, disc brakes.

    --
    life ain't much but there's nothing else to do

    life ain't much but there's nothing else to do

    Quoted message said:

    --------------------------<


    Posted via cyclingforums.com
    http://www.cyclingforums.com

  9. "Bristan" <daed> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    A little sandpaper around the rim fixed mine. Not sure that this is a


    good

    Quoted message said:

    long term solution tho..

    I use that green "scotch brite" scourer stuff from
    the kitchen for less rim wear and similar cleaning
    effect.

    hippy

  10. "Deep Freud Moors" wrote

    Quoted message said:

    OK, first of all let me just say I AM SICK TO FRIGGIN DEATH OF MY


    SQUEAKY

    Quoted message said:

    FRIGGIN BRAKES.

    Now that I have that out of the way, the idea is to "toe-in" the


    brake pads

    Quoted message said:

    slightly (angle them so that the tailing edge of the pad hits the


    rim

    Quoted message said:

    first), and that will stop the squealing.

    I suggest you try some toe-in on the pads. Toe-in is angling the pads
    so that the leading edge (the toe) contacts first, not the heel.

    Has worked for me for forty years.

    Cheers

    Theo

  11. When you say "toe-in" is achieved by angling the leading edge of the pads
    towards the rim, do you mean leading as in the end towards the front of the
    bike, or leading as in the end that the rim passes through first (ie towards
    the back of the bike)??

    Also, wouldn't achieving toe-in eventually wear your brake pads down at an
    angle so that to achieve toe-in again, you would have to angle them
    further....etc,etc??

    Finally, I have actually tried adjusting my brakes to toe-in with the end of
    the pads at the front of the bike being the toes, and I found that although
    my squeaky brakes were now fixed, I seemed to lose a fair deal of "feel" in
    the lever. It sorta felt like it was either on or off and provided less
    modulation (think thats what they call it) for situations requiring anything
    less than full braking power.

    Anyone help me on this??

    Gags

  12. "Theo Bekkers" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    "Deep Freud Moors" wrote

    Quoted message said:

    slightly (angle them so that the tailing edge of the pad hits the


    rim

    Quoted message said:

    first), and that will stop the squealing.

    I suggest you try some toe-in on the pads. Toe-in is angling the pads
    so that the leading edge (the toe) contacts first, not the heel.

    Err, some crossed wires here I think. It all depends on your orientation re.
    the bike and what is 'leading'. I read DFM as talking about the trailing
    edge in relation to direction of wheel spin. Correct toe-in, not nearly so
    critical with the long pads of V-brakes, has the trailing edge (ie. part of
    brake shoe closest to the front of your bike) contacting your rim maybe 1mm
    earlier.

    The main reason for this has to do with flex in the brake calipers under
    load. As they flex the pad will come around to parallel with the rim. If you
    begin with parallel pads the flex of the caliper will cause them to toe-out,
    which is where a whole lot of harmonics are set up, causing that shriek.

    Cheers
    Peter

  13. "Gags" <drgagnon@nospam_ozemail.com.au> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:


    When you say "toe-in" is achieved by angling the leading edge of the pads
    towards the rim, do you mean leading as in the end towards the front of


    the

    Quoted message said:

    bike, or leading as in the end that the rim passes through first (ie


    towards

    Quoted message said:

    the back of the bike)??

    Leading in relation to the front of bike, or rather trailing re rim motion

    Quoted message said:


    Also, wouldn't achieving toe-in eventually wear your brake pads down at an
    angle so that to achieve toe-in again, you would have to angle them
    further....etc,etc??

    It shouldn't be a problem. Don't toe-in to much - 1mm. Flex of the brake
    mech should leave your pads flat faced under load.

    Quoted message said:


    Finally, I have actually tried adjusting my brakes to toe-in with the end


    of

    Quoted message said:

    the pads at the front of the bike being the toes,

    Correct

    Quoted message said:

    and I found that although
    my squeaky brakes were now fixed, I seemed to lose a fair deal of "feel"


    in

    Quoted message said:

    the lever. It sorta felt like it was either on or off and provided less
    modulation (think thats what they call it) for situations requiring


    anything

    Quoted message said:

    less than full braking power.

    Not sure about this. Maybe by getting your pads flat faced on your rim you
    are getting more stopping power?

    Cheers
    Peter

  14. Peter Signorini:

    Quoted message said:


    "Gags" <drgagnon@nospam_ozemail.com.au> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    Also, wouldn't achieving toe-in eventually wear your brake pads down at an
    angle so that to achieve toe-in again, you would have to angle them
    further....etc,etc??

    It shouldn't be a problem. Don't toe-in to much - 1mm. Flex of the brake
    mech should leave your pads flat faced under load.

    The pads still wear out unevenly, the trailing edge of the pad more so
    than the leading edge by sole virtue of it coming into contact with the
    rim first. There will eventually be a need to re-adjust the pads for
    appropriate toe-in, but at that stage the squealing might likely have
    gone away due to erosion of the rim/pads.

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    and I found that although
    my squeaky brakes were now fixed, I seemed to lose a fair deal of "feel"
    in the lever. It sorta felt like it was either on or off and provided less
    modulation (think thats what they call it) for situations requiring
    anything less than full braking power.

    Not sure about this. Maybe by getting your pads flat faced on your rim you
    are getting more stopping power?

    The situation being experienced is due to the toed-in brake pads now
    having to either rotate slightly at the caliper arms, or the pads
    bending along their lengths, as they are pressed against the rim. The
    latter is most observable on thin V-brake pads such as Koolstop mountain
    pads; with the built-in plow tip at the leading edge, it makes for an
    uneven pad surface to start with, and repeated loading against the rim
    can bend the whole pad such that the contact area with the rim involves
    the plow tip and the trailing half of the pad only.

  15. Heh, i've had my bike for less than a month, and already the rims are
    noticably thinner where the brake pads hit them 🙁

    hippy said:

    "Bristan" <daed> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    A little sandpaper around the rim fixed mine. Not sure that this is a


    good

    Quoted message said:

    long term solution tho..

    I use that green "scotch brite" scourer stuff from
    the kitchen for less rim wear and similar cleaning
    effect.

    hippy

  16. Hi All

    The secret must be in clean Rims:

    All noise ceased after some heavy continuous braking during the Gong ride.

    Thanx, will keep all your tips in mind should prob arise again.

    Dav Men

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