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Squealing Disc Brakes


Greybeard

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If you've tried replacing just the pads, your rotors may be contaminated as well, and also need replacing. If you replace rotors, replace pads at the same time - contaminated pads will contaminate new rotors too.

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Does this only happen when you use the brake?

 

If it happens without you using the brake it can also be your bearings in your hub(s) that needs some grease.

Only when braking.

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can always try copper slip to the back of the brake pads?

Although in theory this can work , using any grease is problematic in that you cannot control the conditions that can result in oil weeping from the soap or thickener component of the grease. Then you have contaminated pads and rotors all over again

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I have Shimano Hydraulic brakes that are giving me the squeal treatment.

The pads are still in good condition and the Icetek rotors are not scarred or showing any wear. ( The bike has not worked too hard) I went through the process of cleaning everything with alchohol and I also lightly sanded the pads and the rotor surfaces. The rotors don't appear to be "warped" and I check the equal clearance when remounting the wheel.

Is there anything I might have missed? One thing, the bike hung in a garage for a few years and I did give it a good clean before using.

I haven't read the replies here but had a similar issue with Shimano brakes recently on a new bike, believe it or not.

 

After trying everything the interwebs suggested I came up with still screaming brakes. It turned out that the wrong model pads were placed in the calipers. They were slightly shorter that than the later specified pads (the later model pads had a slightly longer  attachment post) and thus only biting on the the edge of the disc. Once replaced with the correct pads, the problem was solved and the noise immediately disappeared.

 

So my advice to you is to check the pads are correctly matched for the caliper and if so, then try all the other suggestion if the noise persists.

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I haven't read the replies here but had a similar issue with Shimano brakes recently on a new bike, believe it or not.

 

After trying everything the interwebs suggested I came up with still screaming brakes. It turned out that the wrong model pads were placed in the calipers. They were slightly shorter that than the later specified pads (the later model pads had a slightly longer  attachment post) and thus only biting on the the edge of the disc. Once replaced with the correct pads, the problem was solved and the noise immediately disappeared.

 

So my advice to you is to check the pads are correctly matched for the caliper and if so, then try all the other suggestion if the noise persists.

so no fire?....

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Hope you cleaned the disc rotors first. Whatever contaminant that was responsible for the squeal would also be on the rotor.

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Happy squeal free miles Sarge.

Do yourself a quick favour and check your caliper for little oil leaks, especially around the bleeding nipple.

I suspect I've just ruined a set of pads after being a bit sloppy with tightening up after a brake bleed.

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I haven't read the replies here but had a similar issue with Shimano brakes recently on a new bike, believe it or not.

 

After trying everything the interwebs suggested I came up with still screaming brakes. It turned out that the wrong model pads were placed in the calipers. They were slightly shorter that than the later specified pads (the later model pads had a slightly longer  attachment post) and thus only biting on the the edge of the disc. Once replaced with the correct pads, the problem was solved and the noise immediately disappeared.

 

So my advice to you is to check the pads are correctly matched for the caliper and if so, then try all the other suggestion if the noise persists.

Aaaahh! Sanity at last 

Edited by arendoog
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Happy squeal free miles Sarge.

Do yourself a quick favour and check your caliper for little oil leaks, especially around the bleeding nipple.

I suspect I've just ruined a set of pads after being a bit sloppy with tightening up after a brake bleed.

bleed blocks...

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Disc pads which are contaminated with oil/grease/washing additives can cause squealing. Clean them with Bel Ray Brake & Contact cleaner which should be available at most off-road motor cycle shops.

 

Some years ago I read an article on this problem in car disc pads where it was stated that the squealing is actually a harmonic caused by high speed vibration between the pad and the disc. One of the remedies was to apply a thin layer of heat resistant grease on the back of the pads (ie the metal base of the pad to which the pad is fixed). Not sure if this is relevant but maybe?  This link to the problem is pretty comprehensive:

 

https://www.liv-cycling.com/global/campaigns/how-to-fix-squeaky-disc-brakes/20209

 

 

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