My disc brake squeal cure
11-20-18, 07:40 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Minas Ithil
Posts: 9,173
Mentioned: 66 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2432 Post(s)
Liked 638 Times
in
395 Posts
My disc brake squeal cure
The front RS505's on my road bike started squealing at low speeds, like just before I would come to a stop. So I decided to fix it before they got worse. Did the pads-in-the-oven deal and cleaned the rotors with rubbing alcohol. They were instantly 100x worse, they would blow your eardrums as soon as the pads touched. The bike was unrideable like that. So I sanded the pads and the rotor with my dremel. No change. I cleaned the rotor with brake cleaner. No change.
Now at my wits end, I wiped the rotor with a soapy rag using Dawn dish soap (Walmart brand actually), I didn't even remove the wheel to do it. Then I got another rag with just water to wipe the soap off then dried it. Instantly fixed. For three rides now it's been 100% silent. I don't know if it was just using dish soap or a combination of everything I did but that was my fix.
Now at my wits end, I wiped the rotor with a soapy rag using Dawn dish soap (Walmart brand actually), I didn't even remove the wheel to do it. Then I got another rag with just water to wipe the soap off then dried it. Instantly fixed. For three rides now it's been 100% silent. I don't know if it was just using dish soap or a combination of everything I did but that was my fix.
11-20-18, 08:49 AM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Twin Cities, Minnesota, USA
Posts: 1,257
Bikes: 2017 Salsa Carbon Mukluk frame built with XT, 2018 Kona Rove NRB build with Sram Apex 1,2008 Salsa El Mariachi, 1986 Centurion Ironman
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 286 Post(s)
Liked 100 Times
in
65 Posts
Dawn dish soap (even Wally World variety) is magic.
__________________
Don't complain about the weather and cower in fear. It's all good weather. Just different.
Don't complain about the weather and cower in fear. It's all good weather. Just different.
11-20-18, 09:38 AM
#4
Jedi Master
I have BB7's on one of my bikes and have tried everything to keep them from squeaking. Clean rotors and new pads works for a little while, but the squeaking always comes back. I've given up.
11-20-18, 09:53 AM
#5
Occam's Rotor
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,248
Mentioned: 61 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2366 Post(s)
Liked 2,331 Times
in
1,164 Posts
Dawn dish soap will be better at removing oily contaminants than isopropanol.
11-20-18, 01:02 PM
#9
Banned
My BB7 were quieter with Kool Stop Organic compound pads.
replacing stock Avid..
but the braking it self is better being replaced by TRP Hy Rd.
Front chirps when disc is damp, not when it's dry..
with stock TRP pads..
replacing stock Avid..
but the braking it self is better being replaced by TRP Hy Rd.
Front chirps when disc is damp, not when it's dry..
with stock TRP pads..
11-20-18, 01:22 PM
#10
Senior Member
I cured squealing discs by replacing the bike with a bike using cantilevers. Instant relief and fine stopping power to boot.
11-20-18, 01:41 PM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 18,063
Bikes: Stewart S&S coupled sport tourer, Stewart Sunday light, Stewart Commuting, Stewart Touring, Co Motion Tandem, Stewart 3-Spd, Stewart Track, Fuji Finest, Mongoose Tomac ATB, GT Bravado ATB, JCP Folder, Stewart 650B ATB
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4197 Post(s)
Liked 3,849 Times
in
2,300 Posts
) So heat in the disk is transferred into the pad extremely well and at a level of potential heat that any contaminates in the pads will get boiled off soon enough. Andy
__________________
AndrewRStewart
AndrewRStewart
11-20-18, 03:15 PM
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Llano Estacado
Posts: 3,702
Bikes: old clunker
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 684 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 105 Times
in
83 Posts
Not sure why people are so resistant to researching and adopting solutions developed in other applications.
Clue: disc roughness, pad "break-in", and pad damping.
Clue: disc roughness, pad "break-in", and pad damping.
11-20-18, 03:39 PM
#15
Senior Member
Im thinking I want to try this. My TRPs have very poor brake performance and they squeal like a pig whenever there is a bit of moisture on the road. Not impressed.
