I work with a bloke who bought himself a 29er and then sprayed the brakes with WD40 because they squealed so much - they stopped squealing, but didn't really work as brakes either.
@@pontikipsito46 nope thats a terrible idea. WD40 doesnt evaporate, so even after its dry there will be residue that will make your brakes work terribly.
I popped my discs into the dishwasher with some Finish quantum, which is a cracking degreaser. Discs were brand new at the end of the cycle though the wife was mighty pissed off.
@@LouisJKnowles I think the question is -- Is a pissed off wife more annoying than squealing brakes? At least you can do something to reduce the noise of brake squeal. :))
it works! i had serious noise coming from my mtb disc brakes. after following the instruction in this video my brakes now BITE like a lion on that rotor! no noise at all! KEEP UP THE GOOD VIDEOS YOU PRODUCE IN THIS CHANEL!
I suffered a lot from low power and sqeaky brakes (Zee) After some investigation and tryouts my reliable method is put detergent (used for dishes) on pad, rub them against each other and after that cleaning under warm water. Then hot air gun for 5-10 minutes. CLean disc rotor with Isopropyl alcohol and bed-in the pads again. Enjoy the fresh powerful brakes! PS: my pads were usualy contaminated by mist from silicon oil, WD40 and diesel smoke when carrying my bike on back of my car. Now I am smarter..... and no need to clean pads anymore. just cleaning disc rotors before unmounting the bike from car after the trip.
When I clean my casette and chain with degreaser, a ton flies right on the rear disc. I took a piece of cardboard and cut a narrow slice out so I can slide it in between the disc and rim.
Thank you so much for making this video! It solved my squeaky break problem and led me through step by step how to fix it and I was able to do it perfectly. I’m normally not a handyman so I really appreciate this. Great video!
Just did this. Works a treat. Although the first thing I did was soak them in brake cleaner (peatys) and set them on fire for a couple of minutes. Once all the oil is gone then scrub them to restore the surface. Also scrub the rotors to scuff them up. No more squeaking and super power.
I had used a disk brake cleaning spray from wilko. The first time i used, it was perfect. Unfortunately the 2nd time the spray went rogue and my brakes weren't working anymore but if i sprayed some water on the brake pads they worked. As soon as the water dried back to sq 1. Followed this process and the brakes are back & works superb.
They said do not use solvents to clean your brake pads other than brake rotors no problem. Brake pads should use clean running water only. Is it correct?
I had contaminated discs once. I took my bike to the shop and the mechanic said I would need new rotars and pads. I didn't want to spend the money as I was quite new to biking at the time. So I went home, did some research and tried to alcohol method. Didn't hear a single squeak after that. Surprisingly effective, though I do suspect there is a downside to doing this, though I don't know what.
The best way to clean the brake pads, is put them into boile water. All of the particules and oil will stay on the surface. In the first time remove the water and after the pads. You can do the same with the disc. I accidentally put lubricant on my discs and pads and cleaned them like that and it's free..... Thanks for this video.
all purpose cleaner or muc off spray on and leave for a minute or two then rinse off with water somewhere between warm and hot. if needed have some thin metal flat pieces to help pick off any stubborn poop. it does help once bike is thoroughly clean use a car wax/sealant on the frame (only aluminium and steel NOT carbon fibre)
My bike has XT brakes and the front disc brake has squealed horribly from Day 1. The bike shop where I purchased the bike has failed to correct the problem. Thinking about buying a bike with cantilever brakes at this point.
@@davidkeighley7590 First try cleaning the disc with Isopropyl alcohol, and replace the pads (Likely contaminated from assembly, i.e grease got onto the disc and glazed the pad material)
I use a little camping stove to remove all oils and fluid from contaminated pads. Place them on tinfoil, put it on the flame and watch for them to start smoking, once all the contaminated stuff is gone they will stop smoking. You don't need to blast them with crazy heat at all. Just get them hot. I have NEVER used organic pads, only the metallic ones. For the rotors, use sandpaper that plumbers use to scuff up pipes. Its aggressive sandpaper meant for metal. Use it to remove all the glaze off the rotors. I ride whistler bike park and the north shore, this method has worked all my life.
I read somewhere that you should heat the pads up in a blue flame to force contaminants out. I've used the gas hob previously and you can see the oil xcome out of the pads quite clearly. Just left to cool and they worked spot on 😎
Nice! We can't fully recommend that to our viewers, since a lot of pads are bonded to the back-plate in different ways, and intense heat can de-laminate them, causing the braking material to separate from the plate. It's not that it doesn't 'work' it's that you've got to be super careful doing it
This is meant positively, been there done that. Good explanation... for prevention also, which always works best! Tip: dont fool around with those chemical stuff to much/often/long... sometimes rotors just wear out, after few years of intensive use.. Replacing my rotors, combined with new diskpads made my bike feel so fresh, i regretted not doing it earlier...
A few years? If your rotors live for a couple of years with "intensive" use, you're not really using them intensively. Brake disc rotors usually have their minimum thickness engraved/printed on them. Of course you could ride them until they fall apart, but for safety reasons you should stick to those specifications.
This is a useful video GMBN! Is it a good idea to clean the disc and pads with alcohol every now and then to remove dirt and grime left even after a normal bike wash? Here's a video idea: All the stuff you need to know but nobody tells you before you buy a bike. Like bedding-in new brake pads, how often you should have your shock and fork service, and just how bloody expensive it is if you can't do it yourself. If I followed the manufacturers recommended service intervals for my FOX float I would spend more money every year servicing my bike than I do with my car!
Yup, I remember doing this with my girlfriend (she's a mechanical engineer). Her front brake got contaminated, so we start this process of salvaging the brake. Buuuuut didn't use any industrial degreaser, just kitchen degreaser and soap, then sand, then again soap, rinse, repeat. In the meanwhile she was polishing the rotor, went a little overboard, ended with an outstanding mirror finish...she got carried away haha. Was a funny afternoon, her brake lasted another six months, then was time to replace the pads.
Sometimes when your bike is squealing, your braking pads are just worn out. Oh yeah and another one: if your break pads are symmetrical, the left and right pad can be interchanged. So if you interchange the left with right one accidentally, it might start squealing as well because of the wear patterns formed previously.
Thanks allot ! paint thinner cleanned disk and pads ,torched the pads , slight buffing on the disk . .like new ! :) i accidendly drip oil on the disk and made so much awful noise
Have you ever heard of putting brake disc, and pads in a oven, to remove contamintation? I had someone recommend it to me, but wasn't to sure about it.
Great video, had some Emery cloth and brake cleaner in the garage, my squealing front brake is no more, although I did add a tiny amount of copper grease to the backs as I would on the motor! cheers!
Copper slip behind the pads works a treat, my dad taught me that one. It's surprisingly hard to get the grease near the actual pad material, I would recommend it. Just be careful and apply a thin layer.
If you use sandpaper, ensure there is no residue or else the pads will likely glaze over when bedding in. I'm going to try steel wool as an abrasive, next time.
I have a road bike with squealing disc brakes, took it to the local bike shop, they told me the rotors and discs were too contaminated and so they replaced everything (£140). Six weeks later the noise is worse than ever, they didn't say anything about bedding in the new discs!. I am careful not to use any kind of spray lubricant and only clean the chain with a Park Tool chain scrubber. I have tried cleaning the rotors with Muc Off disc brake cleaner and paper towels but tbh it only makes it worse. I am bit nervous about taking the pads out and the rotors off but I am going to try the process in the vid.
i can vouche for the copper slip, common used in carworkshops. also brakes can make a squilling noise if brakes are cold and also when the pad material is to hard.
So I did all - sanded down and wiping with brake cleaner both the pads and the rotors. I also cooked the pads in 250 °C for 30 min. in the oven. Stinked up whole apartment but thabkfully the stench faded away fairly quickly, including from the oven. None of this helped. What did help, but to an extent was submerging the pads in brake cleaner and leaving them to soak up overnight. Then I sanded them again and wiped off. They got stronger, but not as strong as the uncontaminated pair. I've also seen people soaking them with vinegar, but never tried it. Still I will give it a try with a blowtorch.
Try this, take out the pads and rub them together under the hot tap using VIM. Repeat this until the Vim stays white and then dry them with a paper towel. Clean the disc with household cleaning alcohol applied with a J Cloth and dry them with a microfiber cloth. The light abrasive in the Vim creates micro scratches and de-glazes the pads that disrupts any harmonic resonance, in other words, stops them squealing (in principal) like a violin string.
A fast and easy way to de-contaminate the pads is to take them out of the caliper and torch them to burn off contaminants. To un-squeal the rotor, use squeal-out and rubbing alcohol.
I could be wrong, but from the car side of things (And motocross) using brake cleaner on pads is not a good idea as it can break down some of the compounds in the pad causing them to literally disintegrate?
if brake cleaner penetrates the pad material, it dissolves the resin that bonds the material to the pad, like in a car. The resin then bubbles up through the material when it gets really hot as it has been chemically changed, and causes massive brake fade and glazing of pads.
Yeah, I would sand them and clean with alcohol, but I would not use brake clean on the pad material, whether it's "made for bikes" or not. Better safe....
Thanks much for this helpful info. Question: At 8:28 to scrub rotors with sand paper, do I need something like 600-ish grade or finer 1200-ish for this job? I'm going to replace my old organic pads with new metallic this time, so - short of replacing rotors with different pad compound - I'd like to refresh/reset the rotor surfaces as if brand-new, for bedding in a new pad compound. Thanks!
Great question because he only says, "Course, abrasive paper and heavy duty". I've seen other videos which clarify 120-160 grit, etc. Just tell us a number so we know!
Please remember too - WD 40 was not designed to be a lubricant, although it does lubricate for a short while. Its primary purpose is as a water displacer ... hence the name WD. The number 40 was the formula they stuck with.
If brakes start getting noisy or loose power I soak pad in isopropal alcohol then cook them on BBQ gas flame until they stop smoking. really very effective at removing contamination. clean the rotor as doddy suggests and bed in!
Recently had this on my rear brake couldn’t bed pads in, turns out one piston didn’t retract properly so pad dragged on disc glazing the pads. Did a full bleed through seems to have helped.
instead of sandpaper I use drywall sanding screens. it has holes that allow the crap you want off your pads to fall through. Seems to work much better than sandpaper
Lets make this way harder than it needs to be. LMAO! Just remove the pads. Heat the rotor with a torch carefully. You will see a light fog apear on the rotor surface. This will disappear as contaminants burn off. This can be very faint so pay attention. Takes barley any heat. Set the pads on a no flammable surface. Like the garage floor. Just heat them up until they stop smoking. Remember, the pads are designed to dissipate heat. It will not harm them. Lightly hit them on some 400 grit paper if the are not flat. Install and bed them in. This can bring back pads that have been soaked in mineral oil from a leaking brake line or piston. * Doddy (GMBN) does not want to tell you this due to liability. Dont burn your house down. Heat is a tool we use everyday, use it! Your welcome.
I have a diddy little butane torch lighter. If I really go to town with it I can probably do the same thing right? I heated the pads a little bit but was scared I'd melt them.
My brakes became less effective and very noisy, wailing like a banshee every time I applied them, it was completely doing my head in and actually spoiling the enjoyment of riding my bike. I cleaned the rotors with a rag and isopropyl alcohol, removed the pads and (carefully, on a patio slab outside) heated them with a gas torch until they started smoking, kept adding a little heat until the smoking stopped, allowed them to cool and rinsed with water, rubbing the pads against each other under a tap. Refitted the pads and within just a few lever pulls the brakes were transformed to like new, quiet and very strong. I'm not sure how they got contaminated but this heating trick has worked wonders to revive my brakes and eliminate the horrendous noise they were making.
I have small kids, so the best thing I reckon is to put your squealing brake pads in front of an iPad or the telly to calm them down. Works every time!
Got pins on my brakes, would like to swap for bolt and catch pin. Shimano Deore 6100 203/180 on my Orange. Brakes have been awful since purchase, so will run through this, although I think I have a leak.
To avoid brake rotors contamination while you cleaning your cassette I found very interesting and very simple,handy solution: Brake Shield from Dirt Ninja. Amazing product.
I think it would be beneficial to clarify to viewers when using WD-40 products when the products are specialized, and not the standard WD-40. I could see this causing massive confusion and some damage if someone does not know better
Henry C wouldn’t recommend it due to possibly warping the rotor beyond repair, just isopropyl alcohol and some 600 grit sand paper and you will be good
Copperslip does work on cars and motorbikes, but NOT on mountain bikes, because the pistons are not metal. It won't do anything other than make a mess.
Copperslip, or Copper paste works wonders when used spareingly on back of brake pads where contact with pistons is. Prevents shudder and therefore noise when brakes are used. Brake noise does not always come from pad material on rotor.
If you live near the coast, salt in the air tends to settle on the rotors, creating a residue contaminant that affects the braking power, creates a lot of noise and eats away at the rotor.
i get a squeal noise when my brakes are cold, i'd say around 10°C. i noticed that by riding my bike in winter and in summer time. is that a possibility or i'm just crazy?
I mostly would experience this during rainy weather, but I would hear my brakes squeak as I'm trying to move the bike around. Can I use brake cleaner on the brake levers as well as using it on the pads ?
The upside of squealing brakes is that it lets hikers know that they need to consider not having an entitled mindset regarding the shared use nature of the trails. Oh, and pick up your tissues, you littering fools!
If it happens out on the trail I just pop off the pads, find a rough stone and sand the glaze layer off the pads and normally perfect then. No more squeal and much better braking.
I'm new to disc brakes/Mtn bikes. Do u have to remove and clean your pads every time you clean your bike? Doesn't all the mud and crud run down your forks when you wash your bike over the pads? What should I use to clean the discs with?
Awesome maintenance videos. Ive always built and mostly maintained my bikes, but the brakes is one area ive always been really nervous to clean thoroughly.. will be giving my rear brake thats squealing the full treatment, cheers.
Nice video Doddy, as ever. Very well explained. I did notice something odd at about 7:14 though. You stopped rubbing the pad on the sand paper but the rubbing noise carried on. Have you guys taken a leaf out of the Red Bull sound effect book? And a very minor thing but near the end of the first paragraph of the description you need to sort your you're from your your ; ))
I think it’s because he was doing the scrubbing and the voice over at the same time, and they cut to another clip because it was more visually pleasing
It is because the noise was from the live speaking and scratching from Doddy and the first scratch video was an add in over his voice and scratch noises
Yeah, I know they can't be expected to get the video done in 1 shoot, it has to be edited together and voiced over in places. It just conjured up a lovely image of Doddy only pretending to sand the pads while Blake stood just off camera, high on brake cleaner fumes, going sshhh shhh shhhh.
Give us a thumbs up if you found this video useful!
Doddy!! I want to meet you!!😍😂
Very useful guys thanks
There are more ecological ways to clean discs than spraying unknown chemical cocktails in aerosol cans.
Global Mountain Bike Network where was the video on Sunday I was looking forward to the vintage vs modern bike comparison 😟
Global Mountain Bike Network ,it seems like my back wheel axle is a bit wobbly. And my back disc brake is sounds weird from this what do I do?
I work with a bloke who bought himself a 29er and then sprayed the brakes with WD40 because they squealed so much - they stopped squealing, but didn't really work as brakes either.
Gotta clean it off🙂
Methylated spirits and hand sanitizer burn off the oils making the brakes grip
Can I use wd 40 on the pads, let it completely dry and put them back together, I got some rust going on..
@@pontikipsito46 nope thats a terrible idea. WD40 doesnt evaporate, so even after its dry there will be residue that will make your brakes work terribly.
My dad did this when I said my brakes were squealing, and I washed my bike today and the squeal is back but the brake felt so good!
I popped my discs into the dishwasher with some Finish quantum, which is a cracking degreaser. Discs were brand new at the end of the cycle though the wife was mighty pissed off.
Not a bad idea
@@LouisJKnowles I think the question is -- Is a pissed off wife more annoying than squealing brakes? At least you can do something to reduce the noise of brake squeal. :))
Peter L lolol - they sound the same the ole banshee
@@PL-fh8cz dying!!! lol
-and I'm the wife!
Did this actually work because I’m kind of curious now
I did something stupid
I have sanded my pads to much and now i have no pads left
That’s okay 😂 just run them until the pistons are rubbing on the rotors.
Would be interesting to see a video doing a braking test on the before/after or a new set of brakes vs old but cleaned.
I have a 2 year old set of SLX brakes and they work as the first day, the question is, why would they not?
When using sandpaper, the grit is pretty important to specify.
I usually put some sort of brake cleaner on the rotor and pads then use a blow torch on the pads to burn off any oil. Usually works really well
Marcus Hesketh and of course, setting something on fire is pretty fun.
it worked for me once when i set the garage on fire then it wouldnt work again
MJM Productions I also had this problem
Nooooooooo bad bad bad
this will undoubtedly warp the discs!!
No coincidence that a how to quiet brakes video has a bike with SRAM brakes..... SRAM Brakes - The soundtrack of your MTB life.
could be avids. the soundtrack of silence leading to your hospital trip.
My shimanos squeak too lol
Lol my Shimano brakes can make a ton of noise too!
it works! i had serious noise coming from my mtb disc brakes. after following the instruction in this video my brakes now BITE like a lion on that rotor! no noise at all! KEEP UP THE GOOD VIDEOS YOU PRODUCE IN THIS CHANEL!
I suffered a lot from low power and sqeaky brakes (Zee) After some investigation and tryouts my reliable method is put detergent (used for dishes) on pad, rub them against each other and after that cleaning under warm water. Then hot air gun for 5-10 minutes. CLean disc rotor with Isopropyl alcohol and bed-in the pads again. Enjoy the fresh powerful brakes!
PS: my pads were usualy contaminated by mist from silicon oil, WD40 and diesel smoke when carrying my bike on back of my car. Now I am smarter..... and no need to clean pads anymore. just cleaning disc rotors before unmounting the bike from car after the trip.
I learn something new every time I watch doddy's vids. Great advice as usual.
What grit sandpaper would you use.
I use the finest that i have (900 for matal)
@@jzgibsneanzeije5530 I have *metal* pads, will it still work or does sandpaper only work on *matal* ?
@@smallhatshatethetruth7933 I'm sure the glazing is just gunk it's not like you're braking at 150mph more like 15
When I clean my casette and chain with degreaser, a ton flies right on the rear disc. I took a piece of cardboard and cut a narrow slice out so I can slide it in between the disc and rim.
Thank you so much for this video. I nearly went out to buy new pads, but after I did as shown, the brakes feel like new and no squeaking 👍🏻🇩🇰
What grade of sand paper did you use?
Thank you so much for making this video! It solved my squeaky break problem and led me through step by step how to fix it and I was able to do it perfectly. I’m normally not a handyman so I really appreciate this. Great video!
What grade of sand paper did you use?
Just did this. Works a treat. Although the first thing I did was soak them in brake cleaner (peatys) and set them on fire for a couple of minutes. Once all the oil is gone then scrub them to restore the surface. Also scrub the rotors to scuff them up.
No more squeaking and super power.
I had used a disk brake cleaning spray from wilko. The first time i used, it was perfect. Unfortunately the 2nd time the spray went rogue and my brakes weren't working anymore but if i sprayed some water on the brake pads they worked. As soon as the water dried back to sq 1. Followed this process and the brakes are back & works superb.
They said do not use solvents to clean your brake pads other than brake rotors no problem. Brake pads should use clean running water only. Is it correct?
I had contaminated discs once. I took my bike to the shop and the mechanic said I would need new rotars and pads. I didn't want to spend the money as I was quite new to biking at the time. So I went home, did some research and tried to alcohol method. Didn't hear a single squeak after that. Surprisingly effective, though I do suspect there is a downside to doing this, though I don't know what.
"Alternative methods" are standard operating procedure for me in general.
@@zfine1450 suiii
Been using only rubbing alcohol for years... works great 👍
The best way to clean the brake pads, is put them into boile water. All of the particules and oil will stay on the surface. In the first time remove the water and after the pads. You can do the same with the disc. I accidentally put lubricant on my discs and pads and cleaned them like that and it's free.....
Thanks for this video.
Thank you for your videos I'm no where near a bike shop capable of serving a shopping trolley so I'm starting to learn myself.
Next video idea:
How to get rid of that dog sh*t on your frame, tyres and under the seat.
We need this.
bata solujic wash your damn bike
all purpose cleaner or muc off spray on and leave for a minute or two then rinse off with water somewhere between warm and hot. if needed have some thin metal flat pieces to help pick off any stubborn poop. it does help once bike is thoroughly clean use a car wax/sealant on the frame (only aluminium and steel NOT carbon fibre)
Robert Parkes Thanks for the much needed information!
Robert Parkes is car wax safe for bikes though?
bata solujic yes we need this
How to stop brakes from squeeling. Step 1 remove Avid brakes. Step 2 throw Avid brakes in trash Step 3 intall Deore XT brakes
Step 4, replace the XT or XTRs with Avid Elixir because the XTRs and XT still squeel. (I've had both and the avids were much better.)
Magura 1893 😘😘
step 4 throw away brakes you dont need em ... send it
My bike has XT brakes and the front disc brake has squealed horribly from Day 1. The bike shop where I purchased the bike has failed to correct the problem. Thinking about buying a bike with cantilever brakes at this point.
@@davidkeighley7590 First try cleaning the disc with Isopropyl alcohol, and replace the pads (Likely contaminated from assembly, i.e grease got onto the disc and glazed the pad material)
I used a stove top to burn the oils out of mine. Worked like a charm
Thank you so fricken much!!! I’ve been looking this for two days and got a bit woried about my bike.
I use a little camping stove to remove all oils and fluid from contaminated pads. Place them on tinfoil, put it on the flame and watch for them to start smoking, once all the contaminated stuff is gone they will stop smoking. You don't need to blast them with crazy heat at all. Just get them hot. I have NEVER used organic pads, only the metallic ones.
For the rotors, use sandpaper that plumbers use to scuff up pipes. Its aggressive sandpaper meant for metal. Use it to remove all the glaze off the rotors.
I ride whistler bike park and the north shore, this method has worked all my life.
Doddy, can I send my bike to you for a full service? 😂
That's actually a good idea.
Felt like i was watching a kung-fu film with all that off-time sanding sound lol
I read somewhere that you should heat the pads up in a blue flame to force contaminants out. I've used the gas hob previously and you can see the oil xcome out of the pads quite clearly. Just left to cool and they worked spot on 😎
Nice! We can't fully recommend that to our viewers, since a lot of pads are bonded to the back-plate in different ways, and intense heat can de-laminate them, causing the braking material to separate from the plate. It's not that it doesn't 'work' it's that you've got to be super careful doing it
I know this is an old post, but I have done this, and it cracked the brake pad before it could bleed the oil out.
*EXACTLY WHAT I NEEDED NOW*
*THANKS MAN*
This is meant positively, been there done that. Good explanation... for prevention also, which always works best!
Tip: dont fool around with those chemical stuff to much/often/long... sometimes rotors just wear out, after few years of intensive use..
Replacing my rotors, combined with new diskpads made my bike feel so fresh, i regretted not doing it earlier...
A few years? If your rotors live for a couple of years with "intensive" use, you're not really using them intensively.
Brake disc rotors usually have their minimum thickness engraved/printed on them. Of course you could ride them until they fall apart, but for safety reasons you should stick to those specifications.
Great how to! I find it easier to simply leave the disc rotor on the wheel for cleaning. Just pinch the disk with a paper towel at full rpm.
Careful of your fingers!
This is a useful video GMBN! Is it a good idea to clean the disc and pads with alcohol every now and then to remove dirt and grime left even after a normal bike wash? Here's a video idea: All the stuff you need to know but nobody tells you before you buy a bike. Like bedding-in new brake pads, how often you should have your shock and fork service, and just how bloody expensive it is if you can't do it yourself. If I followed the manufacturers recommended service intervals for my FOX float I would spend more money every year servicing my bike than I do with my car!
PERFECT TIMING mine are pretty much done
Yup, I remember doing this with my girlfriend (she's a mechanical engineer). Her front brake got contaminated, so we start this process of salvaging the brake. Buuuuut didn't use any industrial degreaser, just kitchen degreaser and soap, then sand, then again soap, rinse, repeat. In the meanwhile she was polishing the rotor, went a little overboard, ended with an outstanding mirror finish...she got carried away haha. Was a funny afternoon, her brake lasted another six months, then was time to replace the pads.
Sometimes when your bike is squealing, your braking pads are just worn out.
Oh yeah and another one: if your break pads are symmetrical, the left and right pad can be interchanged.
So if you interchange the left with right one accidentally, it might start squealing as well because of the wear patterns formed previously.
Thanks allot ! paint thinner cleanned disk and pads ,torched the pads , slight buffing on the disk . .like new ! :) i accidendly drip oil on the disk and made so much awful noise
Have you ever heard of putting brake disc, and pads in a oven, to remove contamintation? I had someone recommend it to me, but wasn't to sure about it.
The only good actual video about this information
The burning method really works well in my opinion and its quite fun aswell
Great video, had some Emery cloth and brake cleaner in the garage, my squealing front brake is no more, although I did add a tiny amount of copper grease to the backs as I would on the motor! cheers!
Copper slip behind the pads works a treat, my dad taught me that one. It's surprisingly hard to get the grease near the actual pad material, I would recommend it. Just be careful and apply a thin layer.
Just a dab too. Don't paint it on there if you're going to do it!
Thanks for producing this, it’s a good quality video and well-structured.
If you use sandpaper, ensure there is no residue or else the pads will likely glaze over when bedding in. I'm going to try steel wool as an abrasive, next time.
I have a road bike with squealing disc brakes, took it to the local bike shop, they told me the rotors and discs were too contaminated and so they replaced everything (£140). Six weeks later the noise is worse than ever, they didn't say anything about bedding in the new discs!. I am careful not to use any kind of spray lubricant and only clean the chain with a Park Tool chain scrubber. I have tried cleaning the rotors with Muc Off disc brake cleaner and paper towels but tbh it only makes it worse. I am bit nervous about taking the pads out and the rotors off but I am going to try the process in the vid.
i can vouche for the copper slip, common used in carworkshops.
also brakes can make a squilling noise if brakes are cold and also when the pad material is to hard.
So I did all - sanded down and wiping with brake cleaner both the pads and the rotors. I also cooked the pads in 250 °C for 30 min. in the oven. Stinked up whole apartment but thabkfully the stench faded away fairly quickly, including from the oven. None of this helped. What did help, but to an extent was submerging the pads in brake cleaner and leaving them to soak up overnight. Then I sanded them again and wiped off. They got stronger, but not as strong as the uncontaminated pair. I've also seen people soaking them with vinegar, but never tried it. Still I will give it a try with a blowtorch.
Thank you soo much! It made my breaks silent!
Thank you, my bike feels brand new now!
Try this, take out the pads and rub them together under the hot tap using VIM. Repeat this until the Vim stays white and then dry them with a paper towel. Clean the disc with household cleaning alcohol applied with a J Cloth and dry them with a microfiber cloth. The light abrasive in the Vim creates micro scratches and de-glazes the pads that disrupts any harmonic resonance, in other words, stops them squealing (in principal) like a violin string.
Thanks for the pro tip. This helped me today! ✌️🙏 Enjoying all your videos!
A fast and easy way to de-contaminate the pads is to take them out of the caliper and torch them to burn off contaminants. To un-squeal the rotor, use squeal-out and rubbing alcohol.
I could be wrong, but from the car side of things (And motocross) using brake cleaner on pads is not a good idea as it can break down some of the compounds in the pad causing them to literally disintegrate?
+1 I heard the same elsewhere. Is it okay or not?
That's why you use brake cleaner designed for bicycles, car cleaners are too strong
if brake cleaner penetrates the pad material, it dissolves the resin that bonds the material to the pad, like in a car. The resin then bubbles up through the material when it gets really hot as it has been chemically changed, and causes massive brake fade and glazing of pads.
Yeah, I would sand them and clean with alcohol, but I would not use brake clean on the pad material, whether it's "made for bikes" or not. Better safe....
Thanks much for this helpful info. Question: At 8:28 to scrub rotors with sand paper, do I need something like 600-ish grade or finer 1200-ish for this job? I'm going to replace my old organic pads with new metallic this time, so - short of replacing rotors with different pad compound - I'd like to refresh/reset the rotor surfaces as if brand-new, for bedding in a new pad compound. Thanks!
Great question because he only says, "Course, abrasive paper and heavy duty". I've seen other videos which clarify 120-160 grit, etc. Just tell us a number so we know!
Please remember too - WD 40 was not designed to be a lubricant, although it does lubricate for a short while. Its primary purpose is as a water displacer ... hence the name WD. The number 40 was the formula they stuck with.
its better at attracting grime than it is lubricating anything.
@@TheFreshPeddler only thing dub dee attracts is the ladies.
Shut up fake info
WD-40 has two meanings one of them is true, "We Did 40" try's till it was right. lol Water Displacement 40 lol
Doddy is using Brake Cleaner made by WD 40 is this video. I can be confusing, as the can looks very similar, but a much different product.
If brakes start getting noisy or loose power I soak pad in isopropal alcohol then cook them on BBQ gas flame until they stop smoking. really very effective at removing contamination. clean the rotor as doddy suggests and bed in!
Recently had this on my rear brake couldn’t bed pads in, turns out one piston didn’t retract properly so pad dragged on disc glazing the pads. Did a full bleed through seems to have helped.
instead of sandpaper I use drywall sanding screens. it has holes that allow the crap you want off your pads to fall through. Seems to work much better than sandpaper
Lets make this way harder than it needs to be. LMAO! Just remove the pads. Heat the rotor with a torch carefully. You will see a light fog apear on the rotor surface. This will disappear as contaminants burn off. This can be very faint so pay attention. Takes barley any heat. Set the pads on a no flammable surface. Like the garage floor. Just heat them up until they stop smoking. Remember, the pads are designed to dissipate heat. It will not harm them. Lightly hit them on some 400 grit paper if the are not flat. Install and bed them in. This can bring back pads that have been soaked in mineral oil from a leaking brake line or piston. * Doddy (GMBN) does not want to tell you this due to liability. Dont burn your house down. Heat is a tool we use everyday, use it! Your welcome.
100% true.
I have a diddy little butane torch lighter. If I really go to town with it I can probably do the same thing right?
I heated the pads a little bit but was scared I'd melt them.
@@fossil98 that will work he said you dont need much heat
My brakes became less effective and very noisy, wailing like a banshee every time I applied them, it was completely doing my head in and actually spoiling the enjoyment of riding my bike. I cleaned the rotors with a rag and isopropyl alcohol, removed the pads and (carefully, on a patio slab outside) heated them with a gas torch until they started smoking, kept adding a little heat until the smoking stopped, allowed them to cool and rinsed with water, rubbing the pads against each other under a tap. Refitted the pads and within just a few lever pulls the brakes were transformed to like new, quiet and very strong. I'm not sure how they got contaminated but this heating trick has worked wonders to revive my brakes and eliminate the horrendous noise they were making.
What happens if the garage floor is made of rubber? Will it catch light?
When me or my mates crash by going over a burm we call it “a Doddy”
I have small kids, so the best thing I reckon is to put your squealing brake pads in front of an iPad or the telly to calm them down. Works every time!
2nd3rd1st I'm dead.
blow torch works wonders on sintered pads, thinners on the rotor, wonder wipes too on my work bike
How come nobody has ever opened a bicycle wash shop? A lot of people don't clean their bikes because of how tedious it is.
Acetone and sand paper is what I recently used. It worked.
i actually do the rubbing alcohol and fire method for pads and they do remove alot of the residue.
What grit paper is best for discs?
Looks good have not used it yet
Got pins on my brakes, would like to swap for bolt and catch pin. Shimano Deore 6100 203/180 on my Orange.
Brakes have been awful since purchase, so will run through this, although I think I have a leak.
To avoid brake rotors contamination while you cleaning your cassette I found very interesting and very simple,handy solution: Brake Shield from Dirt Ninja. Amazing product.
Thanks... after looking them up i have the idea of making my own out of old cereal boxes.
That's it! He reminds me of Ken Block
Why would you use brakes?
Baptiste Carron brakeless street life
so you dont over shoot the pub stop!
Baptiste Carron to stop fucking
Baptiste Carron to stop fucking
u use breaks to endo and breaking when wheelie. noo need for the rest
I think it would be beneficial to clarify to viewers when using WD-40 products when the products are specialized, and not the standard WD-40. I could see this causing massive confusion and some damage if someone does not know better
They especially should be telling viewers that they’re sponsored by WD40 too. They wouldn’t be recommending it otherwise
What minimum grit sandpaper do you recommend? 300?
Can I use chain degreaser on the rotors and pads?
i work at a bike shop and we allways burn the discpads. our mecanics has repaird bikes for over 70 years combined and they do it every single time.
Mikkel Lehmann Yep. All of the stuff in the video and torch the pads when they're dry to burn off any deep contaminants.
How bout rotors, are they safe to burn?
Henry C wouldn’t recommend it due to possibly warping the rotor beyond repair, just isopropyl alcohol and some 600 grit sand paper and you will be good
using brakecleaner on pads is not good they told me, the pad sucks op the fluid?
Thank-you very much. Fixed my brake spealing
thanks dodd you made my pads like new.Cheers from Greece
Hey doddy
You should try using drywall sandpaper, its like a cheesegrater and any sanded material falls through the little holes
Yew!
If u dont like copper slip then use a thin insulation sheet between pads and piston cups
i use my jetwash and it works a treat
Copperslip does work on cars and motorbikes, but NOT on mountain bikes, because the pistons are not metal. It won't do anything other than make a mess.
pistons are metal on quite a lot of MTB brakes actually
Copperslip, or Copper paste works wonders when used spareingly on back of brake pads where contact with pistons is. Prevents shudder and therefore noise when brakes are used. Brake noise does not always come from pad material on rotor.
In this case, the copperslip isn't being used as an anti-seize, just as a damping medium, so the piston material doesn't matter.
If you live near the coast, salt in the air tends to settle on the rotors, creating a residue contaminant that affects the braking power, creates a lot of noise and eats away at the rotor.
i get a squeal noise when my brakes are cold, i'd say around 10°C. i noticed that by riding my bike in winter and in summer time. is that a possibility or i'm just crazy?
Matteo Roda I’m no scientist but temperature could have an affect on your brakes
Evan Thomas thank you for your attention
maybe the humidity plays a role here? Not sure tho
Matteo Roda I have the same problem. The colder it gets the louder they get. I'm using teckro?
same, but Shimano with metal pads
I mostly would experience this during rainy weather, but I would hear my brakes squeak as I'm trying to move the bike around. Can I use brake cleaner on the brake levers as well as using it on the pads ?
How many grit should the sand paper be?
The upside of squealing brakes is that it lets hikers know that they need to consider not having an entitled mindset regarding the shared use nature of the trails. Oh, and pick up your tissues, you littering fools!
Jickmady Kulkarnisteakbacon I usually stab them as I pass
seriously. its like they want me to hit them. the path goes both ways and they have zero awareness.
You were great in Fargo.
If it happens out on the trail I just pop off the pads, find a rough stone and sand the glaze layer off the pads and normally perfect then. No more squeal and much better braking.
What grade of sandpaper do you guys use?
Nice vid again Doddy, very informative. I use a drop of fairy liquid on the pads and give them a good rub together, brings them up like new!
Can you guys please do a video on the top 10 fs bikes under $2500?
I'm new to disc brakes/Mtn bikes. Do u have to remove and clean your pads every time you clean your bike? Doesn't all the mud and crud run down your forks when you wash your bike over the pads? What should I use to clean the discs with?
Awesome maintenance videos. Ive always built and mostly maintained my bikes, but the brakes is one area ive always been really nervous to clean thoroughly.. will be giving my rear brake thats squealing the full treatment, cheers.
Used this today on a used bike I bought that was making noise . worked like a charm (I used rubbing alcohol ) thanks GMBN!
Can you guys do a video on speed wobble causes/solutions?
I use a sharpening stone black for the brake pads and discs then use brake cleaner to clean them off again.
Nice video Doddy, as ever. Very well explained. I did notice something odd at about 7:14 though. You stopped rubbing the pad on the sand paper but the rubbing noise carried on. Have you guys taken a leaf out of the Red Bull sound effect book?
And a very minor thing but near the end of the first paragraph of the description you need to sort your you're from your your ; ))
Mainz Man, I’m glad this wasn’t just me.
Notice this too. Most likely they synced the sound/voice over at the wrong time to make the video flow better.
I think it’s because he was doing the scrubbing and the voice over at the same time, and they cut to another clip because it was more visually pleasing
It is because the noise was from the live speaking and scratching from Doddy and the first scratch video was an add in over his voice and scratch noises
Yeah, I know they can't be expected to get the video done in 1 shoot, it has to be edited together and voiced over in places. It just conjured up a lovely image of Doddy only pretending to sand the pads while Blake stood just off camera, high on brake cleaner fumes, going sshhh shhh shhhh.