Avid BB7 (SRAM) caliper service, pad change and one year / 1,500 mile review

[Colin_P]

Thank you everyone for the feedback on pad life, looks like I give and gave mine a hard one only lasting 1,500'ish miles !

And some further feedback from me, mainly to do with noise.

Giving the edges of the pad backplates, NOT the backs with some ceramic grease has rendered them silent in terms of squeal. The BB7 does have a bit of a reputation for squeal but so far I've silenced mine!

 

[ianrauk]

Thank you everyone for the feedback on pad life, looks like I give and gave mine a hard one only lasting 1,500'ish miles !

And some further feedback from me, mainly to do with noise.

Giving the edges of the pad backplates, NOT the backs with some ceramic grease has rendered them silent in terms of squeal. The BB7 does have a bit of a reputation for squeal but so far I've silenced mine!

It's not the BB7's themselves that squeal, rather then the pads.

 

[Colin_P]

It's not the BB7's themselves that squeal, rather then the pads.

When I say BB7's, I mean the whole system comprising the caliper, disc and pads as a whole. The BB7 system has, from my reading up, a reputation to squeal.

 

[ianrauk]

When I say BB7's, I mean the whole system comprising the caliper, disc and pads as a whole. The BB7 system has, from my reading up, a reputation to squeal.

Nope, that doesn't make sense. Squealing has nothing to do with the actual brake system or caliper. It's all to do with the pads and rotors. It's not just BB7's. I would say all disc brakes are prone to squeal.

 

[Colin_P]

Nope, that doesn't make sense. Squealing has nothing to do with the actual brake system or caliper. It's all to do with the pads and rotors. It's not just BB7's. I would say all disc brakes are prone to squeal.

The pads and rotors (discs) are part of the system.

Interesting that you say others bike disc brake systems also suffer, I only have this one bike with disc brakes so cannot make a comparison.

The first set of pads squealed right from the get-go no matter how adjusted. It seems that a light wipe of silicon grease on the pad edges, for me anyway, has silenced them.

 

[ianrauk]

My BB7's have been silent from the off. On 2 bikes that I have had them on over many 1000's of miles in all weathers.. It IS all down to the pads and rotors.