Disc brake suggestions

I just built a bike up with brand new avid bb7 brakes. they squealed like CRAZY early on. LBS mechanic said take my water bottle and get the brakes wet then ride around the block a couple times with the brakes on to help break them in. I don't know how much you ride but definately try breaking them in a little bit more, I doubt it's the pads. I've seen others say just find a good long hill and ride down that with the brakes on as well.

My brakes work great now, a little bit of squeal the first time I use them when its wet out but thats it.

i did a little searching on Tektro Novela brakes, not a lot of glowing reviews but plenty that did say adjusted properly they are fine. If you really want to upgrade them, check this link, it's priced pretty good and you could probably pretty easily flip your novelas on craigslist or ebay.

blueskycycling.comproduct1630 70 Avid BB7 Disc Brake Combo Kit.htmOpen ↗

That link is for both front and rear and includes levers. I don't know what levers are on your bike, but those avid levers are nicer and are reverseable. I know your bike isn't actually a MTB but lets say you crash it and bust a brake lever for your front brake. You can easily swap the lever over the other side until you get another lever to replace it.

Brake noise is usually cause by one of two things. Rotor alignment or contamination. Sounds like you wiped down the rotors but if there was oil on the rotors it would have gotten into the pads as well. So as soon as you tried it again the oil would still be there. First take of the wheel and pads if you can and clean both the rotor and the pads. Go to a parts store and get brake cleaner it is a couple of bucks and works great. If that does not work make sure your rotor is aligned with the pads. First loosen the quick release and then re-tighten it. You always want downward pressure on the bike when clamping the wheel so that it is on straight. Push down on either the stem or saddle depending on what wheel you are tightening. Then you can align the caliper. Most of them you just loosen the mounting bolts a little bit then hold the brakes down and then re-tighten while holding the brakes.

This should fix your problem.

it gets better, you can get a single bb7 brake here without levers for just $45
blueskycycling.comproduct39 65 2010 Avid Mechanical BB7 Disc Brake 160mm.htmOpen ↗

So it seems that Avid comes highly recommended from you guys? I'll take a look at their stuff.

Contamination is a sure fire bet as a cause of squealing. Nothing but clear water should really come any where near your rotors or pads. I never even touch the pad or rotor surfaces with my bare hands. Perhaps this is OTT but I've certainly not had this problem.

In the workshop we come across some pretty crazily contaminated pads sometimes. Usually it is some sort of hydrocarbon (oil, WD40, petrol used to clean it, whatever), which is so ingrained it would be difficult to remove chemically. However, it can be burned off with careful use of a blow torch (pointed at the copper backing of the pad rather than on the surface). In bad cases we would replace the pads. I once had one guy deny he was at fault in the contamination despite the fact that his whole bike stank of turps and I could see the residue all over his rotors!

Grinding sounds like the rotor is being forced into contact with the caliper body rather than the pad (poor alignment or adjustment).

Oh, and making sure the rotor bolts are tight usually helps where noise is concerned too.

In general I prefer Shimanos. The rotors seem to come straighter out of the box and are less liable to warp and the calipers are easier to adjust.

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by Motobecane [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

it gets better, you can get a single bb7 brake here without levers for just $45
blueskycycling.comproduct39 65 2010 Avid Mechanical BB7 Disc Brake 160mm.htmOpen ↗

Ok, i will use it for my cycle.