Disc brakes rubbing / squeaking

[Custom24]

Hi
Shimano XT front disc brakes. No problems for the last year.
Then I changed the pads 2 days ago and now I cannot get it to stop squeaking. Very slight, but annoying. Happens not while actually braking, but just while riding along. Also a regular clicking.
I've used Uberbike sintered pads because I'm a cheapskate, but these have been fine on the rears.
I've done the tie the brake lever to center the calipers and then tighten the hex nuts thing, several times.
The squeaking seems to be gone when I adjust, but then returns during a ride.
I can see by sighting that the disc is in contact with the non-hydraulic side pad with the brakes off. I can't seem to tigthen the caliper so that this is not so.
Disc isn't warped - can't see any movement while sighting and wheel is rotating.
I pushed back the pistons inside the calipers - you have to with new pads. I'm not sure if both are supposed to move, or just the one on the hdyraulic side?

Do new sintered pads just do this and I have to wait for it to go away? Have cycled 20 miles on the new pads.
Copper grease? (Although I think that's just for squealing under braking?)
Stump up the money for Shimano pads?
Keep fiddling with it?
Any other ideas?

Thanks

 

[lpretro1]

You need to let the pads bed in!

 

[NormanD]

the pads need to bed in, so you'll have to put up with it for a little while

 

[Custom24]

Thanks guys. Even the clicking is normal?

 

[Cubist]

The clicking is an almost sure indication that the caliper is off-centre. Also, both sides are hydraulic. You need to centre the caliper by eye, not by unbolting and squeezing at first.

Wheel out and push a wedge or a large flat screwdriver blade between the pads and drive the pistons all the way home.

Wheel back in and get a light so you can see the clearance between pads and rotor. Watch as you squeeze the lever and make sure that both pads creep out and contact the rotor at the same time. If they do, then fine, if they don't then you need to degunge the pistons or make sure the caliper is spotlessly clean. If both pads do make simultaneous contact make sure you nip up the bolts dead centre with exactly the same amount of clearance side to side, but also fore and aft. Go a quarter turn at a time with the 5mm key.

Now, spin and make sure the rotor spins freely. A wee bit of whiskering may indicate run-out of the rotor, but modern XT calipers have extra clearance courtesy of the servo -wave levers, so there shouldn't be any need to bed them in.

 

[Custom24]

Thanks. How do you degunge the pistons/clean the caliper?

 

[Custom24]

thanks, cleaning the pistons seems to have done the trick. I did wheel off, pads out, squeeze to expose the pistons, and clean them with a rag of meths. Maybe meths not the best idea (compatible with seals?), but the brake is now perfect without any further adjustment.