Cannondale Scalpel SI 1 2018 - squealing brakes

[Heunes]

Hi fellow riders

 

Hoping you can help with some advice on my brand new Cannondale Scalpel SI 1 2018. Fitted with original Sram Lever TLM brakes, organic Sram brake pads and Sram rotor. The brakes, especially the front has been squealing heavy since day 1 - more so on downhill tracks and hardly a sound on tarmac. Together with that I did not have much of a back brake and fully understand the tech and difference between Sram and Shimano. Pads and rotor has been replaced in case of contamination with the same parts. Brakes feel a whole lot better in that I can actually slow down more efficiently with the squealing in the front has not stopped. I have tried to bleed them in as advised but that doesn't seem to have helped. 

Hopefully someone here has the same bike and give advise but any advise will do. It is horrible riding such a top class bike with this problem not ending.  

[fanievb]

did you properly bed the pads?

https://www.bikeradar.com/gear/article/how-to-bed-in-disc-brake-pads-31337/

 

[lenzman]

I am changing SRAM pads on a 2017 bike right now which is suffering the same squealing.

 

SRAM Level Guide system on mine.

[Meezo]

I am changing SRAM pads on a 2017 bike right now which is suffering the same squealing.

 

SRAM Level Guide system on mine.

 

?

 

Level Levers, Guide Calipers?

[Headshot]

This sounds like something the bike shop should resolve under warranty...

 

That said, I have seen brakes work less well and possibly make more noise when not properly bedded in. If you are a woman and a light rider, its quite possible you have also been very light on your brake pads and they have never quite bedded in.

 

In my wife's case, the mechanic rode the bike around and by simply braking really hard managed to bed the pads in properly. It was like a new set of brakes. 

[droo]

Definitely sounds like glazed pads from not being bedded in properly. Find a smooth descent about 1km long, then do a series of hard almost-stops from speed. After about 5 you'll notice power improving, after about 20 the power will level off, then you're done.

 

If it happens again after a while, it's because you're dragging brakes regularly - repeat the process.

 

A few other tips - don't touch your rotors, and don't get oil anywhere near your rotors or pads.

[DieselnDust]

I have Sram guide brakes as well as the level brakes on different bikes.

Both go through patches of squealing.

 

1) remove the pads and chamfer the leading edge of the brake pad.

 

2) bed the brakes in as per above video or droo's post.

 

Sram organic pads are quite soft compared to other brands of pad. Qaxar and Definitive Bikes brake organic pads are harder, likely longer lasting and produce as much power (maybe a little more in my experience). They also squeal less, and don't require re chamfering after you do so.

The replacement cost of definitive bikes or qaxar pads is also considerably less at around R150 per set compared to >R360 per set of the OEM pads

[Heunes]

Thank you for all the replies and advise. Rotor and pads were replaces and bed in properly. Issued was resolved and now also have more knowledge on this.