9 Ways to STOP Noisy Disc Brakes!

[@bikeradar]

Have you woken up the neighbours with your squeaking disc brakes? Let us know your top tips on how to stop the squeaks! 👇

[@robertp7209]

Go back to rim brakes with aluminum rims. Ride by a cemetery and wake the dead with that shet.

[@sventice]

If you ride your bike in all weather, you can't completely avoid some pad contamination, to be honest, but cleaning your brake rotors regularly seems to help immensely. I wipe down my rotors with alcohol and a clean cloth every week in dry weather, and quickly with a dry cloth after ever wet ride. It takes 5 minutes at most and has the added benefit of extending the life of the pads.

[@aaa-pz6gr]

Copper grease on the back of the pads,no more squealing 😊, and it usually lasts the life of your pads

[@manFromPeterborough]

I might have disturbed some guy across the road when I applied the rear brake to snoop around some vacant house where chooks have been known to lay eggs by the bins in driveway, i was shining my torch around and heard a voice like they are yelling at a dog What are you doing get out of there. I rode off quickly with lights off through the footpath

[@DaveCM]

If you don't have the "alignment tool" a business card folded over the rotor or a piece of paper folded a couple of times does the trick also. Another thing that will help with the alignment is to spread the pads apart first before inserting the alignment tool or business card/folded paper. l learned that from experience. It works much better.

[@MistaSCARY]

I had a very loud front brake squeal on my foldable ebike. And I followed your #1 & #2 methods for the fix...had to do both twice...and Viola'!! It WORKED!!! THANKS SO MUCHHHH!!!

[@Dremvel2335]

Thank you very much. This is precisely what I needed to know. You were clear and concise.. Much appreciated.

[@tommyofastora]

Thanks so much for the tip about squeezing the brakes to align them. Holy crap I wish I knew that sooner!!

[@PRH123]

What were you doing before?

[@shahedsaffari365]

Great content will try some of these tomorrow. One question, I’m experiencing loud noise like the contaminated example you have here but break power is fine and it’s a new bike. I’ve done the break in of the pads maybe 2x or even 3x. I have removed the rear wheel and cassette to clean the factory lube. And So would you say this is more of an alignment issue? Possibly even slightly wrong torque on the rear axel? The rear pads both seem to be touching the disc although doesn’t sound it but certainly less room than the front one. So if it’s alignment which pad is better to sit on the disc, the drive train side or none drive train? Thanks a lot

[@FoundingYouTuber-2005]

My friend has noisy brakes on his new e-bike. Since it is a new bike I suspect it may be a wheel(s) misalignment issue; or could be the bike has the common contaminated rotor/disc from the factory. In any event I sent him the link to this video, with the advice to go from the least intrusive "brake check" and remedy, to those that are the most labor intensive fixes.

[@kimbetakpedersen7486]

I've tried this and lots of other advice, including soaking the pads in brake cleaner, sanding them (and the rotors), baking the pads in the oven, careful alignment and applying anti squeal snake grease to the pistons. All of this to absolutely no avail. Brakes kept squealing. I'm not saying it doesn't work ever, but it didn't do the job for me. My bike is a commuter e-bike, brakes are probably among the cheapest Shimano has to offer. Rotors are SM-RT 30, 180 mm front, 160 mm back. However, the system worked flawlessly for three and a half years with only regular changing of the pads and very little cleaning, before the squealing began. I commute all year round, mixed paved and dirt roads. Since my bike recently needed a new rear tire I decided to change the rear rotor and pads as well. At 1.45 mm thickness the rotor was worn slightly beyond the limit, but evenly and without grooves. The immediate result was dead silent and efficient braking. Based on my newly acquired insight I changed the front rotor too. At 1.75 mm it was worn nowhere near the limit (new rotors measure 1.95 mm), but I changed it and the pads anyway Same result, efficient and silent braking. My point (finally) is that unless your components are fairly new, expensive or bicycle maintenance is part of your lifestyle think twice about how you spend your time. SM-RT 30 rotors cost 10-14 euro depending on size. Pads are 6 euro and you will need a special tool for the rotors.

[@TheTwistedStone]

If buying a brand new boxed bike I was always told to remove and degrease the discs because some manufacturers coat the whole bike in some kind of protective oil or fluid to stop corrosion which in turn can contaminate disc pads.

[@j.t1682]

Thank you. It works. Liked and subscribed.

[@Obsrvr86118]

Anyone has an idea why i have the squealing problem only at low speed? My brakes are silent when i am braking at higher speed but as I come to a stop, it starts squealing .... any suggestions? Thanks

[@EvanSteinberger]

Thank you! Squeak fixed, video liked.

[@jahir2k2]

By 2:26 I already had all I needed to fix my bike. Thanks a lot

[@sventice]

Why is the pad clearance on road bike brake calipers so much smaller than it is with mountain bikes? I can't see a rational reason for this, and it's actually very annoying.

[@rotoconversions2400]

Can a nail file with sand paper surface be used to rough the break pad surface without removing the pads?

[@michaelkennedy9064]

I can't wait for the industry to move towards the rim break system ;) Cheaper, easier to maintain, no noise and anyone who knows nothing about bikes can stop any run

[@robertp7209]

Zero maintenance. 20,000 miles same pads 😂😂

[@TheSteverad]

they wear the wheel down

[@blaze1148]

Not good on carbon wheel rims.

[@JibbaJabber]

One more tip: Make sure your caliper pistons are moving smoothly and equally! If aren't, give them a clean/lubrication with some of your brake oil.

[@xtianeskay5166]

Great Tip! Especially when riding in winter it is crucial to always keep the pistons clean from salt. Corrosion on the sealing of the caliper piston can destroy the caliper. Happened to me once, will never happen again.

[@tomas7403]

You can also clean the pads with sandpapper

[@davidtimms7931]

My hydraulic disc brakes have started to become noisy at the point of stopping. There is no noise during the braking phase. Is this likely to be worn pads? Thanks

[@FoundingYouTuber-2005]

Excellent presentation. Liked, subscribed, and rang that bell.

[@goatsarefuntolookat]

My SRAM rival disc brakes have screeched since I purchase my bike from Planet X last year. I've had the pads cleaned and sanded down by a mechanic and it's still a problem. As I am still under warranty would it better to get Planet X to fix the issue?

[@minimoose921]

I always sand the pads first. Gives you an idea how badly they are contaminated.

[@ramilurazmanov]

Thank you, mate!

[@dexzy7779]

I have a problem with my bike when I stand up and put some power down with my left leg there is a pretty loud grinding or rattling sound coming from the front wheel when I hold my front brake down a little bit it goes away. Everything is in its place and not loose

[@lenf3641]

I'm staying with the rim brakes on my road bike as long as it takes - a lot less complications.

[@stubypop]

My new bike has disc brakes....i hate them and i miss my rim brakes

[@KeithDeley]

i use washing up liquid,and a tooth brush,or some very fine sand paper.

[@amitkumar-wj8gn]

I will start...use Rim Brakes...a Deore V Brake, 105, ultegra, even tiagra works 10 times better than useless generic mech disc brakes.

[@JogBird]

the mechanical leverage of clamping on the rim is far supeior to mechanical disc brakes where you cant generate enough clamping force

[@larsdohmen6796]

Mechanical disc brakes are an absolute joke

[@renceonmc681]

@@JogBird but hydraulic is a different story

[@rsantos15]

I totally agree, buy rim brakes. Is it still possible to buy bikes with rim brakes?

[@rsantos15]

@@renceonmc681 Can you maintain your own hydraulic brakes? What happens if you have a malfunction on the road? I hear hydraulic brakes just lock, and then you're done.

[@piglegluckson9156]

Embrace your noisy 🚲 disc! I use them as horns to announce my arrival ... ½ block away 👌

[@Ky_Ky_Ky]

I just don’t want this damn shing shing shing sound i don’t even care about the meme honk sound anymore

[@shahedsaffari365]

It actually saved my ass a few times today 😂 maybe will keep the automatic break horn

[@wosaks9649]

can anyone tell me how to i fix a disc brake that squeaks when i stop pedalling without pressing the brakes?

[@321bytor]

My front brake only squeals when it's wet...so shall I move to a drier climate?

[@nicholasyoong4978]

Just add lube to it 🤓

[@grigoryrechistov3040]

Don't worry, the drier climate is moving to you. You know, with all the global warming happening.

[@DaveCM]

Or you could try a different pad compound. It may help.

[@PRH123]

Yes, you should. :)

[@oscarbarquincaloca5762]

What about untrued wheels ?

[@danielgulseren9783]

The sram calipper have a little less tolerances. ^^

[@catfish24]

I think the reason they make that awful noise is because the brake pads are semi metallic that means the pads have bits of copper and metals in them and when you apply the brakes it's the rubbing of the metals making the noise.

[@povertyspec9651]

My Campy Super Record calipers are superior to any disc brake I've tried. I live in Florida and disc brakes are not worth the trouble here!

[@rotoconversions2400]

I clean my rotors with rubbing alcohol, replace the brake pads and I still have the squeal.

[@retroonhisbikes]

So much easier to set up, once set it shouldnt need any work for a good time.

[@hartleyhare99]

Hydraulic disc brakes, 180 front rotor, perfect noise free braking😊160 rear rotor, awful noise even after new pads & a thorough clean of the rotor😢Most annoying.

[@LegSpinna]

Disc brakes are popular with the boy band hair gel fraternity.

[@dh7314]

Ah bless, grandad has turned up with his old fashioned edgy views

[@robertp7209]

They buy everything and anything, then defend it. The only reason, the only reason, disc brakes showed up on road bikes is due to; carbon rim, tubes, tires, catastrophic failures and subsequent injuries some fatal and their accompanying big money payout lawsuits. Who would know carbon is not a heat sink as for use with rim brakes? Everyone with a brain that thinks. So, we on road brakes get stuck with F’in shit nuisance, fundamentally design flawed, disc brakes in place of maintenance free and quiet cable rim brakes. Like I need hydraulics? And, yeh right - don’t touch the rim due to oil in skin since it will screw rim brakes the same 😲😂😂😂.

[@robertp7209]

@John Brown what nuances? Rim brakes are “do nothing maintenance”, never even changed a pad, 20,000 miles. Never a mechanical cable replaced. Wait till the seals leak on your brake system, you will have no F or R brakes soon after. Who cares about a racket in noise. That’s not a nuance, that’s shet. And you cant use frame nor wheels to go back to rim brakes. Total loss.

[@robertp7209]

@John Brown keep your disc brakes no one wants to take them away, so why are you wanting to take away rim brake choice on our road bikes? I can stop my road bike as fast as any disc brake, and you know that as well. Now keep your fingers off the disc - don’t let the oil in fingers mess up performance. As if that’s not a lot of BS sold to the naive. Those prickly finicky disc brakes. And never get into an accident, those discs look pretty scary to tangle with especially at any speed.

[@utub333]

3:45 contaminated pads

[@danc1829]

generally reliable..... But enough how to and fix videos to break KZbin... Priceless 😂😂

[@jochem1986]

What’s priceless is the amount of confused muppets who muddy the term reliability to include setting up and tuning.

[@dh7314]

The sort of people who find disc brakes hard to maintain, also get their punctures repaired by a mechanic. It’s usually inept idiots looking for likes. They’re not difficult to maintain

[@twatts4436]

Disc brakes are reliable. But you need different skills/approaches to set them up or get them working perfectly. The reason there are so many videos about setting them up or fixing issues is because we're going through a transitory period in an era with the internet and video capability. I imagine that if KZbin had been around when STI's came in we'd have just as many videos about setting up shifting and sorting out problems.

[@McGyverPilot]

Video repeatedly did not want to play after reloading it, refreshing screen, etc.

[@johno4521]

My rear brake makes a 'turkey gobbling' noise....

[@WyczyPL]

1. get good v-brakes end

[@ikarimisu0184]

Aww hell nah disc brakes haters are here again 💀

[@robertp7209]

We don’t hate them - work fine on cars, we just want to have a choice to stay with rim brakes for our road bikes. People like you are the reason choices disappear over time and you buy what you are told to buy. Keep up the good work.

[@Montrealcycling]

@@robertp7209 💯 agreed👍🏻

[@lordllama7815]

My comment is a bit late, haha, but yeah, you were right. I actually have 2 bicycles (one with rim brakes and one with a disc brake), and honestly, they are both fine🤷‍♂️. But disc brakes definitely have some good perks😊

[@dh7314]

Here come the rim dinosaurs 🦖

[@SecwetGwiwer]

Looks like the disc brake bootlickers got here first.

[@dh7314]

@@SecwetGwiwer edgy and original

[@Johnny_Guitar]

I ride a _'Pig Farm'_ eBike! When I apply my disc brakes, the rear disc grunts and growls like a Hog .... ..... meanwhile, the front brake squeals a a Pig! You can hear me comin' from a 1/4 mile away! oink oink oink

[@mrichards55]

Shimano have stopped making disc rotors with cooling fins - is this because of the air suction drag effect? MTB rotors without fins overheat and in my book thus causes some squeaks.

[@robertp7209]

They still making ICE laminated rotors? Another junk idea to save weight.

[@robertp7209]

@John Brown you don’t know what you are talking about. Reading sales literature and repeating it? The design is driven to cut weight, never going to happen to better rim brakes, nor their cost. Can’t you see that? The too thin stainless has been reported wearing thru and failing. Same goes for the resonance, solution is more MASS = more weight. What F’in brake heat problem was ever in the history of rim brakes on steel and alloy rims? That’s in the entire history of road bicycling?

[@robertp7209]

@John Brown it’s called modulation in braking, same shet in cars, you modulate them. Cars don’t negotiate long descents? Where are you? MODULATE. Why make excuses for adults who are supposed to be accountable? It just costs us more and more to live because of huge $$ court settlements.

[@robertp7209]

@D. W. not happening with aluminum rims and rim brakes. And who gives a shet about professional bicyclists? What percentage of bikes manufactured are they using? Tour de France wanna be’s and weight weenies. And you seem to think the world is high speed alpine descents. I can burn up any brakes in cars and trucks motorcycles if I want to on so called long descent roads. You guys bought into a whole pile of shet that never was an issue before in how many decades of road bicycling? Just get the right size pants, instead of stupid costly alterations, belts, and suspenders. Same for thru axles on road bikes, and the worst of it, carbon steerers on forks instead of cromaloy steel, even aluminum is fine. How many past years of seeing fork steerers sheer off and separating from the bars? You never never never hold brakes on descents, you apply hard momentarily to slow, then release to allow transfer of heat, and repeat. If you don’t control speed, you die, pure and simple, and irresponsible. I don’t want to die. Aluminum rims and rim brakes. Period. Carbon rims were always a mistake from day one. The mistake gets corrected with disc brakes, another mistake in more weight, greater costs, and less lateral strength from rim to hub. Froome complaining about drag, drag is a necessity in disc brake design don’t you know? And why? You guys need to go to engineering school, or if you did, go again and stay awake this time. Instead of asking questions to learn something, spouting off resumes is always a sign of selling an image and products, and never learning, not knowledge. It doesn’t impress me but heck that’s your generation not mine. Look up was is called “planned obsolescence”. Heard that term lately? That’s your homework until next time.

[@drevekbisnath1736]

Far less issues with Rim brakes

[@gypana]

And if any of these 9 ways fails to fix your noisy brakes, then 10 buy a good set of ear plugs for you and your riding buddies.

[@bikeradar]

😂 solid advice

[@casperlarsen2497]

Wrong if your brakes are noise just brake them hot go downhill in the easy gear then you brake all the down the hill😉

[@beerussama7093]

If I knew how much of a nuisance disc brakes are, I would’ve stuck to calliper brakes. This is straight up making bicycle components more complicated than they need to be. It’s like owning a Mercedes or bmw and you have to take it to the dealer for simple maintenance.

[@marcdaniels9079]

Seems like a lot of Durianrider discliples in the comments.

[@povertyspec9651]

His girlfriend is FIRE

[@soapowejazz]

disc brakes are noisy? I was at a gran fondo on Sunday and there were several people on carbon rims and rim brakes. The noise they made while braking sounded like a dying pig...

[@lillithbena1211]

honks like a goose and only 50 miles on new pads and rotors i replaced after transporting bikes in rain contaminated them the first time. this time, bike sat for 5 months while i battled illness. these are GRX hydro brakes and am ready to swap in anything else b/e these are the only brakes i have this goose honk with that a simple clean of the rotors and pads do not help. dust on brake pads should not cause this noise and reduced stopping. this will be my last hydro brakes as no one can afford to keep replacing them due to contamination when all my disc brake bikes NEVER, and i mean 10-15 yrs running, have gotten contaminated, only GRS. shame on Shimano for this faulty product.

[@latte6878]

Best way to fix noisy disc brakes is to get a rim brake bike. Not only is your bike going to be less annoying but also much lighter and more aero oh and alot more cheaper too

[@jamesc6137]

And faster!!!!

[@Montrealcycling]

And better!!!

[@robertp7209]

I pulled from mothballs and refitted my 1996 Kestrel carbon with full Ultegra and new wheels, threadless steerer adapter with new stem and bars. That’s 2 yrs ago after my Ultegra equipped Fuji with Shimano Disc pissed me to no end, the brakes had a mind of their own, some days no noise, others - could wake the dead. I recall one tour I was on started real early on a Sunday in suburbia - it was foggy out. People are sleeping, damn brakes again usually the front, what a racket could hear it seemingly on the other side of town. The dead woke up in local cemetery for sure. And they were not the bottom line Shimano disc. Even upgraded the wheels on the bike. Could not use the new Campy wheels on the Kestrel so bought another set Campys rim brake version with quick release. Ironically I was going to give to charity the Kestrel. Now my Fuji is hanging on a hook in the garage, it’s going to the dump when I relocate in the near future. Guys in Utube advised me to get rid of the Shimano ICE rotors and recommended another rotor, I looked at what it would cost just to see if it would work, I said F that. I can afford it but not “trying” with my money fixing design flaws. You know, if you get a flat and while the wheel is off the bike, if by mistake you pull the brake lever the piston flys out and you are shet out of luck. Like I’m supposed to remember to put that plastic block in the caliper. BS. F that. The other thing is those thru axles, my Kestrel has proper quick release with the levers, F that other shet. Peace, planning to stay with the Kestrel until I’m dead or can’t ride again. 👍💪.

[@zedddddful]

​​​@@d.w.8100i've used several brands of pads and low to high end calipers I've heard barely a whisper as loud as a mouse's fart out of any of them my brand new Shimano hydraulic disc brakes however get a sniff of moisture and HOOOOOOOOOOOONK.

[@nmonye01]

I drop you so fast.

[@johnykryll]

What a faff, bring back rim brakes please

[@dh7314]

The consumers had a choice for 15 years and sales of rim dropped year upon year. The industry didn’t force this upon consumers, consumers chose it.

[@johnykryll]

@@dh7314 Debatable point re bike sales. End of the day disc brakes really are no better than well set up rim brakes. I have been servicing them on my motor bikes for 40 years. They do not translate to bicycles well IMO

[@dh7314]

@@johnykryll they’re no worse either, that’s why the argument to bring back rims is pointless. I manage to maintain my disc brakes fine, it’s really no big deal to most people but there’s a backlash from people who own rim bikes who feel they’re getting left behind

[@johnykryll]

@@dh7314 Back in 94 I had probably one of the first disc brake bikes in the UK. It was a Cannondale Bad Boy Ultra with IS mount Magura judy's and have to admit it was a revelation. Having said that, rim brakes for the novice IMO are easier to work and live with

[@SeeYouUpTheRoad]

Sooo many videos on KZbin on disc brake hacks - why? Because they’re shit. Stop making excuses for a flawed system. Rim for road - disc for dirt

[@laszlozoltan5021]

you nailed it right there- the number of disc fix videos

[@robertp7209]

And shet is shet👍.

[@SeeYouUpTheRoad]

@@robertp7209 you can’t fix shet 😂

[@SeeYouUpTheRoad]

@@laszlozoltan5021 every time I turn around there’s a new video on disc brake hacks - where are the rim brake videos?

[@robertp7209]

@@SeeYouUpTheRoad I tell you, the fundamental design flaw is a lack of mass to stop the resonating. And we know more weight is a no no on bikes, the weight weenies won’t buy the products. And using hydraulics is just a leak waiting to happen and have no brakes and $$ to shops for repairs. Same shet occurred in cars when disc brakes first appeared on the front end, took decades to design the noise out, solutions which included various springs, clips, and compounds. The reason they went to discs up front was due to drum brakes, when submerged, totally lost braking, totally. Going through a real deep puddle would do it. Had to wait on the side of the rode until they drained and dried unless one was stupid. With lawsuits zillions $$ paid out by manufacturers for adult people being irresponsible as much as stupid and unaccountable for it, disc brakes to the rescue. They do cost more though. Like what change costs less?

[@juanhidalgo7043]

My does not make any noise! Oh wait, I run only rim brakes. I bought 4 bikes rim brakes and many wheels so I have bikes for the next 15 years. I don’t need rim brakes as it makes no sense foe me since I don’t race.

[@lollypop9580]

Hello, something doesn't work in your message... 😉

[@jamesc6137]

Number one way …. Stick with rim brakes

[@archiekinsalison10]

I did all of these tips, but It didn't work for me, so I returned to rim brakes! Problem solved! Hahaha!

[@robertp7209]

When will “12” ways to …. video be released? 😳🤫

[@laszlozoltan5021]

ditch the disc, use rim brakes

[@devinmorrison7131]

Get rim brakes, superior braking and problem solved!

[@robertp7209]

Problem is the bike manufacturers will not use rim brakes on carbon, too many carbon related injuries some fatal. $$ big payouts. And the weight weenies want their carbon rims.

[@devinmorrison7131]

@@robertp7209 Too many disc brake related injuries... OTB

[@amberly.w.9348]

And then it rains, and it takes you significantly longer to stop, my disc brakes have saved me from being hit by 3 cars, going over a sudden edge, and being hit head on by another on a bike. But go on with your lil pads of rubber.

[@devinmorrison7131]

@@amberly.w.9348 My rim brakes have saved me on multiple occasions from braking too hard, going over the handlebars under a truck. But go on with your tiny 160mm rotors while my rotor is 29 inches :)

[@Papalazapoo]

I’m convinced the pro rim brake crowd simply don’t live in hilly areas. I’m prepared to put up with the downsides of discs for the safe, confident stopping power in the mountains. Having had heat build up in the rim blow a tube out on a 25% descent, I will never buy a rim bike again. That said if I lived somewhere flat like the South East of England, rim brakes are perfectly fine.

[@michelk8390]

WD-40 Will take away the sound. You should try it.

[@robertp7209]

😂😂😂 get a tub of grease holds better in the rain 😂😂😂.

[@manFromPeterborough]

Doesn't last long

[@DeedoCmuk82]

Disc brakes are rubbish, they cost more, look bad, squeal, are hrs to fix and maintain, make washing the bike more cumbersome, and don't actually stop you any better other than in really wet conditions . Yes I have bikes with both and I choose rim brakes everytime. Totally unnecessary on road bikes

[@manFromPeterborough]

My fat ebike copper brakes squeal like shit in the wet

[@djratino]

I have an aovoPRO electric scooter. Mine had a high-pitched squeal when lightly applying the brakes. After breaking in 180 miles, it went away. I clean mine once a week with alcohol pads. 🛴

[@neisseriagonorrhoeae]

oil your rotors every week, problem solved