Squealing Disc Brakes

Kintarō Hattori

Hey Chaps and Chapettes,

From time to time my disc brakes are prone to squealing like a pig caught by the tail. Last night for example I was cycling to the train station to meet my good lady from the train and I felt I couldn't use the rear brake as each time I pulled the lever it let out the loudest squeal which I'm sure plenty of people in the surrounding apartments could hear.

So what are the likely causes for disc brakes to be so noisy and what can I do to fix the matter? The bike is a Cube Acid 2011.

Many thanks for any and all replies.

uberwolf

thread was only started to advertise he has a GF. :eek:

Icyseanfitz

put some chain oil on them

(thats a joke btw)

kenmc

I've been fighting this same problem for a year. Last year dug the mtb out to go up leadmines with some mates and the brakes were squealing like a stuck pig. No stopping power either, couldn't even pull a back skid ffs!
Removed rotors and cleaned with brake cleaner and replaced pads - no improvement.
Bled lines - no improvement.
Replaced rotors and pads and fluid a couple of weeks ago and were super - no noise and could stop on a dime. Problem sorted. I thought. One week later they're squealing away again just as before. Dunno what to attempt next

Holyboy

99% of the time when disc brakes make alot of noise its because the pads are contaminated with something whether it be oil or whatever,there really isnt anything you can do about it except replace the pads for new ones making sure you clean your rotors before using the new pads,im sure some people are going to suggest various things like putting the pads in the oven or in a gas flame to try to burn off the contaminant but ive never known anything like that to work!what I would say is maybe give the pad a little bit of a sand to get rid of the existing surface,if what ever its contaminated with is only on the surface it could work,it has for me in the past anyway.

Icyseanfitz

disk brakes can be a right pain in the arse all right, try recalibrating them first anyway and see if that does anything, then clean the rotors with some good degreaser and dry (will be some immediate squealing that should wear off after a couple of hard brakes), change pads, maybe a sticky piston in the caliper?

theres so many things it could be :rolleyes: i know as my brakes (elixer 5's) still arnt 100% and ive done just about everything to them, best of luck with them anyway lads

uberwolf

they don't know it yet, but OCTuning are getting my bike next week, this amongst the issues.

Icyseanfitz

the problem with disks is that one minute you (and the shop) will think everything is A ok with them and then after one or two spins they are acting up again, really annoys me sometimes

Rein-in

This squealing can be caused by the pads vibrating on the pistons under pressure. If you can do this yourself, it's worth the couple of minutes that it takes:

-: Take the brake pads out of the calipers.
-: Smear a thin film of Copper Ease (http://www.commaoil.com/productsguide/view/6/220) on the back of the pad. NOT the braking surface!
-: Replace the pads in the caliper.
-: Ride.

If you are going to do it, please make sure that none of this stuff gets on the braking surface of the pads or on the brake disk rotor.

I got a tube of this in the motor section of Halfords, but any motor factor will have it and it's only a couple of quid.

Chris.

Kintarō Hattori

Icyseanfitz wrote: »

disk brakes can be a right pain in the arse all right, try recalibrating them first anyway and see if that does anything, then clean the rotors with some good degreaser and dry (will be some immediate squealing that should wear off after a couple of hard brakes), change pads, maybe a sticky piston in the caliper?....

I went down to the station again this evening and tried a coupe of hard brakes (after having done nothing else with the bike) and that seems to have cured the problem..... at least for the moment.

Thanks for all the advice and should the problem persist in the future I'll revisit this thread and follow the advice given.

Icyseanfitz

Kintarō Hattori wrote: »

I went down to the station again this evening and tried a coupe of hard brakes (after having done nothing else with the bike) and that seems to have cured the problem..... at least for the moment.

Thanks for all the advice and should the problem persist in the future I'll revisit this thread and follow the advice given.

id say that could be a temporary fix but heres hoping its not