I have just fitted my new FSA wheels to the hybrid after cleaning the braking surfaces with brake cleaner and went on a little test ride, the horrendous brake squeal was too unbearable so came home, cleaned the rims and pads again with a brake cleaner but has made no difference, the pads are 105's and were fine on the original rims.......any advice please?
New Wheels = Squeaky brakes
- Thread starter Chris-H
- Start date
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HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
At a guess its probably your cleaner, if so the noise should settle down and stop; if not you haven't aligned your brakes to the new wheels properly.
Well I have checked the brakes for alignment and to my novice eye all seems well so any other suggestions as to how to cure this would be very welcome, they howl like a banshee, in all honesty they sound so horrible that if I cant get the problem solved the new wheels will be banished to the back of the shed 
Biker Joe
Über Member
- Location
- Nr Harlow, Essex.
The rims may have some sort of protective layer applied to them.
Rub the rims down with fine emery cloth and the brake pads too. Wipe of residue with a clean dry cloth.
Not saying it will work but worth a try.
Rub the rims down with fine emery cloth and the brake pads too. Wipe of residue with a clean dry cloth.
Not saying it will work but worth a try.
Well i'm halfway there, I went out and took some sandpaper to the pads as they were a bit glazed, I then gave the rims a good clean with some fine grade wire wool, as a result the back is now silent and blissfull but the front is still squealing, not as bad as it was mind but still unpleasant.
Banjo
Fuelled with Jelly Babies
- Location
- South Wales
I once cleaned my rims with WD 40 (dont ask me why). When I braked at the bottom of our street the noise was so loud I nearly needed clean shorts.
Have you "toed in " the pads? I squeeze the brakes on with a cable tie under the back end of the pads then nip up the bolt, this seems to give enough toe in to greatly reduce any squealing.
Have you "toed in " the pads? I squeeze the brakes on with a cable tie under the back end of the pads then nip up the bolt, this seems to give enough toe in to greatly reduce any squealing.
Biker Joe
Über Member
- Location
- Nr Harlow, Essex.
That reminds me of a joke I read somewhere:-
"If you are suffering from squealing brakes just smear the rims with copious amounts of Vaseline.
Now find the steepest downhill section you can find and ride down it.
Your squeal will be so loud you wont notice your brakes squealing"
I hav'nt tried that, I did adjust the pads but adjusted then in a twist fashion ie; the pads made contact along the full length but only along the top edge, will give your method a go cheers
HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
The easiest way I find to get the pads toed in/aligned right is to loosen the pad allen/hex bolt slightly, stick a piece of thin card behind the back 1/4 of the pad, pull the lever, and whilst holding the lever tighten the bolt.
BimblingBee
Guest
I'd go for cleaning rims with wire wool as already said. When it comes to alignment I just have the pads loose pull lever tight and then move pads until in the right place and then nip them up. seems to work for me. A cable tie or 3rd hand tool is useful but not essential.
Shut Up Legs
Down Under Member
Nigeyy
Legendary Member
- Location
- Massachusetts, USA
Assuming you've gone through adjusting it correctly/differently, cleaning rims, brake pads, and they've bedded in etc, etc.... it could be the new wheels in combination with the frame, etc, now cause the squeal (new natural frequency of oscillation?). I went through something similar -drove me crazy -and eventually cured it by using one of those old fashioned brake boosters (cheap off ebay, but obviously you have to have cantis/v-brakes and I'm not sure what kind of brakes your hybrid has)..
You could also try different brakes (even of the same design) or pads too (especially if you have some spares hanging around to see if it makes a difference). If you have mudguards try removing them, or if you don't have them, adding them. Or go back to the original wheels.... Or just accept the squeal. I tried brake boosters because they were the cheapest of the options and did the job for me.
Hope you get a cure.
You could also try different brakes (even of the same design) or pads too (especially if you have some spares hanging around to see if it makes a difference). If you have mudguards try removing them, or if you don't have them, adding them. Or go back to the original wheels.... Or just accept the squeal. I tried brake boosters because they were the cheapest of the options and did the job for me.
Hope you get a cure.
