Alright, I have a 90s xc bike with Shimano Deore LX (BL/BR m600) V brakes and kool stop salmon pads. Sun cr18 rims. They stop good, but man, are they loud. Very light stopping doesn’t make the sound, medium stopping makes it ring like crazy, and hard stops arent horribly loud, but not silent. I adjusted the pads so that they have equal clearance, both hit at the same time, right in the middle of the braking surface, with about a business card of toe-in. Before this, maybe 5 months ago, I scrubbed the rims with Dish soap and warm water because they got dusty, then after a few rides, they started squealing. They have squealed since that, not getting better. A few months ago, I took the fork (for service) and brakes off and put it back on, bolts tightened correctly so it can’t be that. I could get new pads but I don’t want to spend it. don’t have any isopropyl alvhogol but I will definetly get some if that works. I have sandpaper from 80-400 grit as well.
one thing that I found: when I push the right arm individually onto the rim and roll the bike forward, there’s no noise, but the other side makes the squeal. maybe I got some oil on it?
by Confident-Milk3422
3 Comments
In my experience, the thickness of one business card is usually not enough toe to prevent squealing.
There is probably an easier way, but here is what I do after cleaning the rim and pads throughly with isopropyl alcohol:
I have made these little squares of electrical tape measuring about 8mm X 8mm. I make a pair of them in 3,4,5+6 layers thick. When setting up pads I stick the 3 layer square on the leading edge of the pad (for toe in) and adjust them. Go for a test ride and if they squeal, I try the 4 layer square. Repeat going up one layer at a time until they don’t squeal anymore.
I have never had a brake not squeal with less than 3 layers and have never had a brake that needed more than 6 layers to stop squealing.
Ideally, you don’t want any more toe in than is needed to stop the squealing. That is why I do it this way, even though it is time consuming. The good news is that if you have brake shoes with replaceable pads (like you do here), you will probably never have to adjust them ever again (except for the barrel adjuster to compensate for pad wear). For me, it is worth the time to do it right the first time.
“I could get new pads but I don’t want to spend it.” Your right pad is almost gone, and these inserts cost like $10 a pair. There’s no point in trying to sort out the squeal with your pads in that condition since you’ll have to replace them in a month or so anyway. Replace them, then go out on a very gentle slope and spray them with a bike bottle of water while applying the brake. That’s what I usually do to bed in new pads.
Your pads are cooked and dirty. Grab some new inserts and clean your rims off with degreaser.