Squealing brakes and mystery cable

Slunk

Slunk

New Member
Hi guys,

I finally took a wheel off to have a look at the state of the brake pads, they squeal when warmed up braking from ~30km/h to 0.

It appears there is plenty of "meat" as it were:
FRbH7.jpg

Any ideas on how to fix the squealing? I read somewhere about brass shims, I can't identify anything like that

Something else I need some expert opinion on:
2gZ1V.jpg

That cable hanging down that has been cut, and was tucked behind the hub. Is/was that a brake pad warning system or is it something more important?

Cheers guys
 
It's the brake pad level warning indicator.

Front pads without the level indicators are still reasonably cheap, with the indicators much more pricey, hence why yours are not in use :)

Cheers
Nick
 
Take the front pads out and check the anti squeal shims i.e. that they are there, and that they are they right way up

You can also smear a little copper grease on the back of the pads i.e. between the metal part of the pad and the piston.

Richard
 
Chamfer the leading edge and even slot across the width in the centre how most pads come new now as well as above and you should have it sussed :wink:
 
If the piston pushes the brake pad what actually makes the squealing ? How does applying grease to a part that does not move stop the noise. Cheers Mick
 
happy days said:
If the piston pushes the brake pad what actually makes the squealing ? How does applying grease to a part that does not move stop the noise. Cheers Mick
Click to expand...

A very small amount of vibration between the metal piston and the metal part of the pad allows the pad and piston to rub against each other, only a very small distance but very quickly. This causes the squeal, but of you put a small amount of copper grease between them, they still 'shudder' very slightly but you don't get the noise.

Or at least that's the way I understand it 8)

Richard
 
The squeal can also be a symptom of the pad material composition. I have been using pads made by Australian Brake Linings for quite some years now, and apart from lasting considerably longer than the OEM pads that I used to use, they're also as quiet as a mouse,...not a single peep to be heard.

Ron.
 
Yes a lot of pads these days have steel fragments in them to replace the asbestos, the more expensive ones use carbon instead. The steel ones are more prone to squeal, and also to sticking (rusting) to the disc if left for a period of time.
 
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