Disk brake issues.

ImThatGuy

I'm wondering if anyone has faced a similar issues to me and how they may have fixed it. I've two bikes, a road bike and an older MTB I tend to use the road bike most days and the MTB for a few days every month or so. It's kept indoors and generally quite clean.

If I leave the bike sitting for a length of time, say a month plus, the brakes start making horrible squealing noises, the stopping power also reduces, they're resin pads but I'm not sure if that makes any difference.

The only solution is to replace the pads and then it's fine but as soon as I leave the bike parked up for a while it happens again. Does anyone else have this issue? Is there a correct way to 'preserve' pads or something?

Lemming

Squeal is typically caused by contamination of the rotor and/or pads. In this case might be a slight caliper leak that is simply building up over time as the bike sits unused. Or it could just be a simple case of dust accummulating. In either case, give the rotors a wipe down and perhaps remove/check the pads for dust as well.

ImThatGuy

Lemming wrote: »

Squeal is typically caused by contamination of the rotor and/or pads. In this case might be a slight caliper leak that is simply building up over time as the bike sits unused. Or it could just be a simple case of dust accummulating. In either case, give the rotors a wipe down and perhaps remove/check the pads for dust as well.

Thanks Lemming, I cleaned the bike a few weeks ago so will check the rotors again but I think they're pretty clean. Is a caliper leak something that's repairable or does it just mean a replacement?

Lemming

ImThatGuy wrote: »

Thanks Lemming, I cleaned the bike a few weeks ago so will check the rotors again but I think they're pretty clean. Is a caliper leak something that's repairable or does it just mean a replacement?

First off, to answer your question; I don't know. It might not even be a caliper leak and just a simple case of dust & grime collecting on the pads & rotor from lack of use.

You say you've had a go over the rotors; I'd consider removing & inspecting the pads as well. From what I've read elsewhere of people having the same issue as yourself, some did say they cleaned off the dust/dirt and eventually (as in half way through a ride) the stopping-power/bite started to kick back in on the brakes.

Civilian_Target

There's usually a thin coating of pad material that transfers to the rotors when the brake are first broken in. If this comes off, they may start to squeal as you ride around.
If the rotors are clean, you may be able to fix this by simply breaking in the pads again, just make 15-20 fairly hard stops on the noisy brake.

ImThatGuy

Thanks for both answers, gave the rotors a good clean yesterday and the squealing has gone. Thanks for the help!