bike cleaned, brakes now pants

[kedab]

hey all,

just a quick one - title says it all. i cleaned the bike after 4 weeks or so of my commute just to give everything a bit of tlc really.

finished the clean up, then went out specifically to check the brakes...oh dear - whereas the disc/pad set up was phenomenal before the clean - the bike's only six weeks old - it was practically non-existent i've cleaned the discs, dried and repeated three or four times now and they're much better but not as good as before the initial clean and like to squeal as I come to a stop - have i cream crackered the pads, do they need replacing or is there something i can do to restore their former arm pump inducing power?

any and all help is good help

 

[HLaB]

Ive never had discs but with rim brakes you can re rough up the pad with sand paper if its been damaged. Before you think about doing that to a disc brake pad get a 2nd opinion though.

 

[kedab]

with rim brakes you can re rough up the pad with sand paper if its been damaged.

this was my thinking too - i may just put up with it for a week and rather than risk me cocking up in some way, get it in for it's first service on my day off next week - if it needs new pads i'll get the boys at giant to sort it

 

[snorri]

hey all,

just a quick one - title says it all.

I had to read that title twice, first thought you were seeking advice on washing underwear.



Sorry, can't help you with disc brakes.

 

[Globalti]

If the brakes judder and squeal as you roll to a stop they are contaminated with oil.

Put the pads in the dishwasher, the heat and causticity will clean them. Clean the discs with alcohol or window cleaner and a clean cloth.

 

[kedab]

snorri - yeh i just read it again, i see what you mean

globalti - thanks for that advice, i'll do it over the weekend

 

[Bman]

What globalti said. Except the dishwasher is only nessessary if they are really contaminated. Ive managed to contaminate my discs before and a good clean with alcohol (discs only) is all that was needed. They did squeel/judder still for a short time, but it fades.

 

[Mark_Robson]

What globalti said. Except the dishwasher is only nessessary if they are really contaminated. Ive managed to contaminate my discs before and a good clean with alcohol (discs only) is all that was needed. They did squeel/judder still for a short time, but it fades.

Yep that works for me. I bought some muc off brake cleaner and gave the rotors a good spray and slowly ran the pads through them with the pads just touching the rotors.

 

[Zoiders]

Also check you haven't simply killed the brake pads in the caliper, organics are know for doing a vanishing act and need replacing with sintered ones.