Best way to remove deafening screeching sound from vintage rim brakes?
#1
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Best way to remove deafening screeching sound from vintage rim brakes?
Hi Guys! whats the Best way to remove deafening screeching sound from vintage rim brakes??
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Toe in the shoes. Trailing edge in a millimeter or two. This is accomplished in one of several ways, depending on the type of pad and/or cartridge/holder your pad has. Provide more detail on the rim type, caliper type (brand/model), and the pad or block type. These all factor in.
The old school method with simple bolt-on pads that lack angular adjustment was to bend the aluminum caliper arm ends to accomplish the toe in. Done with a crescent wrench, or alternatively, with a screwdriver prying through the opening in the end of the caliper (pad removed). I wouldn't recommend this for anyone under 55 years old, though.
Alternative factors that can contribute to better braking, but not at all to the chirping: rubber compound selected for the block, rim material (chrome steel versus aluminum, machined braking surface versus smooth), and rim surfaces kept scrupulously clean.
The old school method with simple bolt-on pads that lack angular adjustment was to bend the aluminum caliper arm ends to accomplish the toe in. Done with a crescent wrench, or alternatively, with a screwdriver prying through the opening in the end of the caliper (pad removed). I wouldn't recommend this for anyone under 55 years old, though.
Alternative factors that can contribute to better braking, but not at all to the chirping: rubber compound selected for the block, rim material (chrome steel versus aluminum, machined braking surface versus smooth), and rim surfaces kept scrupulously clean.
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Sigh..so we've reached the point where rim brakes are considered "vintage"..and novel..quaint... while wooden rims are certainly vintage, I hope rim brakes are not..
(..and OP..there's tons of info on the web about adjusting brakes..rim or otherwise..)
(..and OP..there's tons of info on the web about adjusting brakes..rim or otherwise..)
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I think the OP means they have a vintage bike.
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Some rim brakes on older bikes are more prone to brake squeal than others. Knowing which ones you have would be helpful if you want useful answers
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Sometimes it's just not going to go away, but try these things:
Toe in your pads, but just slightly
Clean your rims. I use acetone but others use alcohol (which does little IMO)
Resuface your pads by lightly sanding them. Mount the sandpaper on a flat surface.
Change your pads. I like the Kool Stop products.
Rebuild your calipers. Sometimes there is too much play in the center pivot that causes resonance in braking
Check your hubs. Sometimes play in the axle can cause a resonant vibration in your rim when braking (so I've heard).
Not recommended: I heard about a chap who treated his rims with auto body wax. Apparently it reduced the squeal but also reduced his braking performance big time.
Toe in your pads, but just slightly
Clean your rims. I use acetone but others use alcohol (which does little IMO)
Resuface your pads by lightly sanding them. Mount the sandpaper on a flat surface.
Change your pads. I like the Kool Stop products.
Rebuild your calipers. Sometimes there is too much play in the center pivot that causes resonance in braking
Check your hubs. Sometimes play in the axle can cause a resonant vibration in your rim when braking (so I've heard).
Not recommended: I heard about a chap who treated his rims with auto body wax. Apparently it reduced the squeal but also reduced his braking performance big time.
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This sounds backwards. All of the toeing-in advice I ever got was to have the front edge of the pads toed-in a millimeter or two, so that you have more control and it's easier to modulate the braking force. Why would you want the back of the pads to hit first? What would that accomplish?
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This sounds backwards. All of the toeing-in advice I ever got was to have the front edge of the pads toed-in a millimeter or two, so that you have more control and it's easier to modulate the braking force. Why would you want the back of the pads to hit first? What would that accomplish?
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This sounds backwards. All of the toeing-in advice I ever got was to have the front edge of the pads toed-in a millimeter or two, so that you have more control and it's easier to modulate the braking force. Why would you want the back of the pads to hit first? What would that accomplish?
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OTOH, I could see why having the rear-most edge of the pad contact the rim first might be preferable: it could clear away any debris and effectively clean-off the rim before the rest of the pad makes contact. Has anyone tried this?
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But the friction with the rim would have the effect of twisting the rest of the pad AWAY from the rim reducing the contact surface, wheres with proper toe-in, the friction twists the pad TOWARD the rim.
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Yes, that works wonderfully to make the brakes squeal
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The squealing on a vintage Mafac brake can be fixed with a few minutes and a small round file. Or you can get these angled washers from Rene Herse
https://www.renehersecycles.com/shop...e-washer-pair/
https://www.renehersecycles.com/shop...e-washer-pair/
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This sounds backwards. All of the toeing-in advice I ever got was to have the front edge of the pads toed-in a millimeter or two, so that you have more control and it's easier to modulate the braking force. Why would you want the back of the pads to hit first? What would that accomplish?
Exactly...........
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Best regards
Last edited by flan48; 08-27-20 at 01:27 PM. Reason: Mis-typed
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Otto
Last edited by ofajen; 08-27-20 at 04:03 PM.
#22
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This sounds backwards. All of the toeing-in advice I ever got was to have the front edge of the pads toed-in a millimeter or two, so that you have more control and it's easier to modulate the braking force. Why would you want the back of the pads to hit first? What would that accomplish?
My Mafac brakes still squeal on very humid days. If I lived where total humidity was constant don’t know what could be done. Fortunately around here total humidity is like today when it is so freaking hot not one is riding or it happens a short time early in a.m.
#23
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Toeing in, a brake pad, is actually the trailing edge of the brake pad touching first, because the top of the wheel rim is moving forward..
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