Dear Bicycle Help Desk, I have a problem with my brakes…they work fine but squeal like an absolute bastard. Shimano 105 discs/calipers - front pads are recently fitted Shimano organic, rear are original fit (~3000miles plus). Both brakes squeal to similar level. Tried basic stuff like one would do on a bike - cleaned discs and pistons with brake cleaner, cleaned pads on emery paper. Still the same. Any tips as it’s getting pretty embarrassing stopping in traffic when everybody looks at you thinking what the fuck is that noise??
I've had same with 105's. I've tried all sorts, decontaminating the pads, New pads, decon the caliper with brake cleaner (which did seem to help for a while), decon the disc..... but the eventual squeal returned whatever i did. It's as if the caliper contaminates the brakes after a certain length of time. Maybe crappy seals, but lever doesn't go spongy. The 105's seem to deteriorate with age. I eventually canned the 105's and fit a set of slx 's which seem to do better. I got sick of the squeal. If anybody has a proper fix, then I too am all ears.
Have you run a blowtorch over the pads, sometimes whatever has contaminated them needs to be burned. Only have experience of hope sram and hayes but they all squeal as I only use them when I’m off road.
could write for ages but removal of zygote from a shell by a close ancestor comes to mind R, so will wait for someone to stretch this out a bit before I dive in with my clod-hoppers. What i can say is - do you clearly remember a time when they didn't squeak and do you clearly remember the spec you had then, and in particular, which pads*? - also, how old/how many miles were the caliper bodies when they were squeakless? * Sorry, I can see that you've partly answered this.
Squeal like pig discs are enough for me to never have a disc bike. Sounds like you've covered the basics, I'd try the blow torch option or new pads next.
The squeal started approximately after this winter season I think. I will try the blowtorch recommendation and see what that does.
using a fuzzy logic on everything you have said, and particularly above, I would think it's possible (as already said) that contamination alone could be the reason then.
Early peddle again to beat the bank holiday drivers, dull as dishwater here,windy and at last it’s stopped raining, got some bike cleaning to do now!
Quick up and down the driveway test indicates reduced squealing after toasting pads and emery on discs. We shall see if it lasts.
