La Brea Bike

I am having a rash of bikes coming into my shop that have front brake squeal that we cant seem to fix. The majority are hybrids and cruisers. Replacement of brake pads, towing the pads in, sanding the machine braking surface, and cleaning the braking surface with alcohol do little to help. What are your best practices? Are we missing something? Have you found pads that address this? Thanks!

andrewclaus

Is there a majority type of caliper?

I see a lot of donated bikes at a non-profit. If it's a linear pull caliper, it's rare that correct toe-in doesn't fix a squeal.

If it's a cantilever, sometimes it's a chronic problem that can be solved with a fork-mounted cable stop, but I seldom take the time and effort to do that for a cheap bike. If toe-in doesn't fix it, I'll replace the shoes. If that doesn't do it, I'll try toeing them out and sometimes that works, at least for a while.

La Brea Bike

Yeah, it's V brakes in the vast majority. Unfortunately we have even had some new bike assemblies lately that have it too. Most recently was a Retrospec .It's hard for me to deliver a new bike with the condition. Interesting on the toe out. Not sure why I hadn't thought of trying that. Ill have to give it a try. Thanks!

natloz

Had good luck with Kool Stop pads

La Brea Bike

Any specific style? I believe they make a variety of models.

natloz

I buy basic ones from a store called Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) - https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5023-2...xt=kool%20stop
But I am mostly fixing up vintage road bikes, so may not be relevant to all canti's you are working on.

fietsbob

they have a variety of models to suit the variety of brakes made. you were not specific..
Look A their website ? found them with your distributors.? https://www.koolstop.com/

threaded or plain post, road or mountain ?

replaceable insert or molded in, one piece.?

Rubber hardens over time so fresh pads act differently than old dry hard ones..






..

rydabent

I sometimes wonder how long some brake pads sit on the shelf before they are used. When new stock comes in, it should be put behind the old stock. Rubber/plastic ages.

natloz

I would also say that the Kool Stops likely use the same polymers across types, it is a great brake. I find old rubber and humidity = SQUEEEEEAL

fietsbob

I'm using their Salmon Compound pads in the Magura HS Version , In a wet place by the sea for 12 years now..
& on my Brompton, old & New, and on virtually every bike I own. for 30+ years..


.. the company is located in the region of greater Portland, Oregon..

fietsbob

OK its not Hurricane alley kind of humidity.. We're in a dry season now,,

Chuckles1

I got new wheels this year and had squeal and shudder on front wheel with my Kool Stop black and salmon pads. I put on softer red pads, and it's been fine ever since.

La Brea Bike

I was asking about the compound varieties.

La Brea Bike

I'll seek some of those out to try!

delbiker1 

KoolStop salmon, orange, pads.

Pop N Wood

Another trick I use is to chamfer the edges of the brake pad itself with a small belt sander or file. Works wonders on automotive brake pads as well.

natloz

Also once installed, can be good to go for a rip down a hill and burn them in by applying gentle pressure for the hill (take off the outer layer oxidation that may exist). That has taken some squeak out for me at least.

fietsbob

It's listed on their website.. https://www.koolstop.com/english/compounds.html







....

BoraxKid

It's been a while since I've dealt with V-brake squeal, but IME, sanding the brake surface of the rim and the face of the pads, followed by careful toe-in always fixed the issue. If that's not working for you, I would try different sanding materials and closer inspection of the brake pads. There has to be some feature on the face of the pad that is creating the sound in the first place. Removing that feature should eliminate the sound, buy YMMV.