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I've just replaced my ancient brakes with a new set of SLXs. Everything is set up, bedded in and working well but the rear brake has squealed from the off (usually as the lever is applied, it does quieten down when braking hard).
The caliper is aligned and I've cleaned up the rotor with disc brake cleaner to no avail.
In other circumstances I'd assume that it was pad contamination but this happened straight out of the box and there's no issues with performance, which I would have expected if the caliper had leaked in the box.
Any ideas?
sand your pads a bit, see if it helps?
1200 grit wet and dry using disc brake cleaner just in case there are any imbedded baked on contamination? Glazing is the word I was looking for doh 🙄
Clean the rotors as best you can with degreaser and then put them in the oven 130-150c for 20-30 mins, once out, clean again. For the pads, wash under hot water after vigorously rubbing fairy liquid into them.
This was what I had to keep doing to keep my XTRs running without squealing.
Old rotors?
Actually the rotors are fairly new and didn't squeal (except when wet) with the old brake.
Thanks for the tips, they sound worth trying.
I'm also not 100% certain whether the brakes came with resin or sintered pads (I didn't pop them out to look); I believe that sintered pads can be a bit noisier.
Often the noise comes via vibration so first check all the bolts on the disc and caliper are tight. I then dabbed a small amount of copper slip on the back of the pads (making very sure you don't get any on the braking surface or disc obvs). This cured the howl from my brakes (SLX).
Have you gone fast down a steep long hill and hit the rear brake hard a few times?
Sintered do take longer to break in (yes can be noisier) but better in wet conditions.
I have had this so much I am swapping mine out!! New pads x3 a number of times, bleed the system which worked for about 4 weeks then left the bike in the garage and its started again!!! Sod it they are off now!!! Used to be just the rear, then the front and now its both...
Not overly happy with them then when they worked either!
Had problems with seriously squealing brakes for months, sanded, cleaned, changed pads. Eventually sorted by changed from sintered to organic pads.
I had this with brand new saint pads..
If there glazed sand them down and clean with ISO prop or a decent brake cleaner.
Put the pads on the hob, with the hob on high (assuming you've got electric) cook them UK until they don't smoke anymore.
They should go red hot..
Let them cool down and clean with ISO prop or brake cleaner..
Clean the disc thoroughly too..I even took to rubbing the braking surface of the disc down with wet and dry.. Think it was 2000 grit.
Hold the wet n dry between your fingers and rotate the disc through it.
I got mine to a nice fresh braking surface.
Clean them after this..
But them back in and off you go..
It's shitmano brakes. The seals spray oil onto the pads/ discs.
It has f-all to do with 'glazing'. These are MTB brakes, not formula 1!
Throw away the brakes and get some better, non-mineral-oil based system (Hope, for example).
Dont listen to Nikk. His howl is worse than the brakes.
Nothing wrong with Shimano brakes.
It might be worth shimming the caliper mounts - get the alignments absolutely perfect .. Grease/loctite all the mount bolts too ..
I had a problem with a rear deore like this. Tried all sorts, bolts, new pads, cleaner, new rotors. In the end I identified the tiniest of leaks in the caliper which occurred only under pressure. Sent them back and not had a problem with the replacement since.
I had a problem with a rear deore like this. Tried all sorts, bolts, new pads, cleaner, new rotors. In the end I identified the tiniest of leaks in the caliper which occurred only under pressure.
This is exactly what happens.
Sent them back and not had a problem with the replacement since.
Until the next time...
Dont listen to Nikk. His howl is worse than the brakes.Nothing wrong with Shimano brakes.
There are a bunch of problems with them, do a forum search. Main one being this is their standard failure mode, second being you can't get parts for them when they fail, so you have to replace the whole unit.
Another problem is they totally stop working in freezing temperatures, not a problem most of the time I concede, but still, who want's total brake failure?
Another problem is they totally stop working in freezing temperatures, not a problem most of the time I concede, but still, who want's total brake failure?
I had this problem years ago with a set of LX hydros. but the Deores that replaced them have been fine and the current SLXs have been out in freezing temperatures and have also been fine.