How to fix squeaking bicycle brakes?

[Eeezee]

I bought a bike at a garage sale today for $3 (how can I pass that up? It's a 21 speed mountain bike and came with a helmet). There were only a few things wrong with it

1) Chain was off (easy fix, put chain back on)
2) Seat isn't comfortable (another easy fix, it's a typical slightly uncomfortable cheap bike seat)
3) The brakes squeak!

I'm not sure how to fix the squeaking brakes. They only squeak when I'm stopping. I'm not exactly an expert at bikes, but I do have enough mechanical inclination to fix minor appliances and things around the house. I just don't know how I should go about fixing the squeaking brakes (which work fine otherwise, they just make a loud noise)

 

[wischeez]

The pads are probably a little glazed. Use some very fine sandpaper and sand the face of them. Just enough to take the glaze off.

 

[legoman666]

oil. obviously.

 

[BoomerD]

Just oil them up very well...if that doesn't do it, an application of a good quality lubricating grease should...after all, whatever it takes to get rid of that annoying squeak...right?



It really all depends on what the source of the squeaking is. Could be the brake pads themselves...low quality, crappy rubber, it could be a substance (like wax) on the braking surface of the wheel, it could just be the alignment of the brake pads to the wheel. (like the rear of the pad hitting before the front of the pad)

http://www.google.com/search?s...squeaky+bicycle+brakes

 

[Eeezee]

I'll try some oil, thanks guys! I've never had to fix something that squeaks

 

[MegaVovaN]

Originally posted by: Eeezee
I'll try some oil, thanks guys!

u kiddin rite


Clean pads and rims and tilt pads so that rear of the shoe strikes rim before the front of teh shoe.

 

[StageLeft]

Don't put oil on the brake pads.

It's very possible that this will wear itself down after a while.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Crisco or Fred Flinstone it when you want to stop.

 

[Dirigible]

Brakes'll just slow you down. Discard them.

 

[Dirigible]

But others were right. It may be the pads are glazed, may be that the rim should be cleaned, may be that the brakes need to be repositioned. Or incurable squealing brakes may be the reason the bike only cost $3.

Service instructions for various types of brakes here: http://www.parktool.com/repair...2.x=26&imageField2.y=9

 

[Cattlegod]

lmao @ oil on brakes.

 

[Muadib]

Originally posted by: Cattlegod
lmao @ oil on brakes.

I chuckled too.

 

[FreshCrabLegs]

Originally posted by: MegaVovaN
tilt pads so that rear of the shoe strikes rim before the front of teh shoe.

WD-40, Crisco, your shoeless heel and the above quote.

 

[SphinxnihpS]

New pads are probably in order. They last about three years. Also adjust them on the caliper so that they line up as much as possible to the wheel rim.

Some of you people have broken humor detectors; oil them.

 

[imported_Imp]

I was just re-assembling my brakes today on my bike, and noticed some squeaking too. Check if it's squeaking when the brake-pad is making contact with the wheel rim or if it's just a lube-problem with the part of the cantilever (assuming) assembly. For me, it's the latter case, but I don't have grease anywhere so whatever.

 

[Homerboy]

toe the breaks
Thats the reason they are squeaking. The front part of the brake pad should hit the rim just before the rear part... aobut a 2mm toe should suffice.

 

[yelo333]

Yup, had the squaky problem myself, but once the front of the brakes hit the rim first, it went away. You may need to bend the arms of the brakes a little.

If they're really worn down, though, just replace them. It's not like they're $500.