Avid - MTB Brake Squeeeeeeel!

[Four Litre]

My Trek Fuel Ex8 is fitted with OEM Avid brakes and as time goes by the brakes squeal more and more and then some. Its got to the level now that it does it on every rotation of the wheel. I recently paid for a service and to have them looked at, now there even worse. I even resorted to spraying them with silicone today as I would rather have no brakes that the noise they make. After 10 mins riding it came back.....HELP

[OneDs]

Do you mean they squeal when your not using the lever? If so you need to pull the brake hard, wrap a lacky band around the lever and the handle bar to hold it closed in place tight, release the mounting bolts on the calliper a bit, release the lever pull a few times and replace the lacky band, then retighten the bolts, depending on your model of avid brakes you may also be able to dial out the pads a bit so they don't touch the pads.

Try a few times, if that doesn't solve it, check your discs aren't warped, if they are straighten them in a with a big adjustable spannner.

[Four Litre]

Thanks fo the info - will give it a go. The front squeak on every rotaion of the wheel - they both squeal very load when used!

The bike shop said Avid brakes were very hard to setup - didnt know whether this was an excuse or...

[OneDs]

Four Litre said:

Thanks fo the info - will give it a go. The front squeak on every rotaion of the wheel - they both squeal very load when used!

The bike shop said Avid brakes were very hard to setup - didnt know whether this was an excuse or...

It's an excuse, they aren't hard to setup, they just go out of line easily given the heat and forces going through a fairly lightweight braking system with tight tolerances over time.

BTW squeal when your pulling the brakes is not a problem and fairly common.

Edited by OneDs on Wednesday 9th March 11:58

[neenaw]

Four Litre said:

Thanks fo the info - will give it a go. The front squeak on every rotaion of the wheel - they both squeal very load when used!

The bike shop said Avid brakes were very hard to setup - didnt know whether this was an excuse or...

It's an excuse and a poor one at that!

As above, loosen the caliper bolts a little, pump the lever four or five times, then hold it and tighten the bolts back up.
Avids also seem to be a little sensitive to overfilling with fluid when bleeding which can make the brakes drag. Remove the pads and push the pistons right back into the caliper. Once you've done this, remove the bleed screw from the lever and any excess fluid will come out. Then refit the pads and try the brakes.

These two things seem to cure any problems with my Avid brakes.

[ccr32]

If you're getting to the point where you're considering throwing money at it, get some isopropyl alcohol (disk brake cleaner) to clean the discs with, and get some new pads - 9 times out of 10, squealing brakes are caused the pads or discs (or both) being contaminated with oil or another substance. Then make sure they're set up properly as has been previously mentioned.

Also, I find that a good ride out in some really dirty, wet, muddy, sandy conditions tends to sort your brakes out a treat

ETA - the above comments relate to squealing when you apply the brakes, though won't help you too much if they are binding...

[Matt London]

neenaw said:

Avids also seem to be a little sensitive to overfilling with fluid when bleeding which can make the brakes drag. Remove the pads and push the pistons right back into the caliper. Once you've done this, remove the bleed screw from the lever and any excess fluid will come out. Then refit the pads and try the brakes.

These two things seem to cure any problems with my Avid brakes.

Thanks for that Just finished a 4 hr ride on my Boardman and am have had the same issue as the OP. I did the lackey band thing this morning and it was still rubbing. I will look for the bleed screw when I get home.

[carter711]

A good way to fix squealing brakes is to apply a bit of copper slip to the back of the pads.

[shalmaneser]

ccr32 said:

If you're getting to the point where you're considering throwing money at it, get some isopropyl alcohol (disk brake cleaner) to clean the discs with, and get some new pads - 9 times out of 10, squealing brakes are caused the pads or discs (or both) being contaminated with oil or another substance. Then make sure they're set up properly as has been previously mentioned.

Also, I find that a good ride out in some really dirty, wet, muddy, sandy conditions tends to sort your brakes out a treat

ETA - the above comments relate to squealing when you apply the brakes, though won't help you too much if they are binding...

This.

Avid are a piece of piss to setup, read the manual and do it yourself if you think the bike shop have done a crap job.

[Vladimir]

What brakes?

Juicys are a complete ar5e for squealing, Elixirs aren't.

[wildeep]

Vladimir said:

What brakes?

Juicys are a complete ar5e for squealing, Elixirs aren't.

Oddly I have both and my juicies are quiet and the elixirs squeal.

[Vladimir]

wildeep said:

Oddly I have both and my juicies are quiet and the elixirs squeal.

Hmmm - I had no end of trouble with Juicys (5s) and pad replacement was a complete nightmare. Elixirs which replaced the knackered Juicys seem a lot better (I have CRs). Pad replacement is a doddle too.

What pads are you using on the Elixirs? I find Superstar organic ones are not only cheap but also super quiet and powerful. Don't last long though.

[ARH]

just cured some horrid squeeling on my avid brakes, the spring between the pads was twisted, replaced with a new one and all is silent now.

[G0ldfysh]

Mine are fine except the back wheel when I wheel the bike backwards. Then it sounds like the pigs of deliverance are giving it their all.

I wondered on just using them hard for a ride, like hard discs on a road car not used enough, get a finish that can be worn off again.