brakes

Mary said:

Do bike brakes have whistles like car brakes to let you know they need to be
replaced? I know it is an odd question but yesterday in the middle of a
ride my front brakes started to make an odd sound. They look ok and nothing
is on the rim that may make a scratching noise. The temperature was about
40 F. This is a new bike with only 1400 miles on it. This is the first
cool weather riding I have done with this bike.

http://draco.acs.uci.edu/rbfaq/FAQ/8f.16.html

The FAQ addresses the subject thouroughly.

Sometimes cleaning the rim sidewalls and pads helps. Adjust the
brakes to have "toe in", if they need it.
--
zk

Zoot Katz said:

Mary said:

Do bike brakes have whistles like car brakes to let you know they need to be
replaced? I know it is an odd question but yesterday in the middle of a
ride my front brakes started to make an odd sound.

The only "warning" sound the brakes will make is when the pad is entirely
worn through to the metal parts that are holding it on. They will then
make very nasty noises as they grind away on your rim. But of course this
warning is a bit too late.

What you have is a brake squeal. Usually, riding through a mud puddle and
applying the brake immediately afterward will help -- as long as you don't
find out that the mud puddle formed over a big pothole.... Usually brake
squeals are not serious. Try cleaning off the rim first, then worry about
cleaning up/replacing the pads.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | Deserves death! I daresay he does. Many that live deserve
_`\(,_ | death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to
(_)/ (_) | them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement.
-- J. R. R. Tolkein