How to fix squeaky brakes on bike

I’m not too fond of it when my brakes make a squeaky noise. Naturally, your e-bike makes squeaky noise because it’s part of the wear and tear process.
In my opinion, squeaky noise is a good sign because it has helped me to identify the actual source of the problems many times, and fixing it sooner prevents it from becoming a bigger problem.
In this article, I’ll explain why the brakes make that horrible, irritating noise and give you several examples to help you fix them so they don’t make any squeaky noise afterward.

Top reasons your e-bike brakes are making squeaky noise (And how to fix them!)

a) Contamination:

The most common reason for this kind of noise is contamination. Dirt, debris, oil, or brake fluid might be around the disc pads or motor rotors, causing contamination. The brakes then start making a squeaky noise, which also reduces the overall intensity of the brakes.

Tips and tricks to prevent motor rotors from getting contaminated-

There is always a way to fix squeaky noise. The list below will help you resolve this issue.

1. Disc pad cleaning:

• • You can use washing liquid, but I recommend cleaning your rotors with isopropyl alcohol and acetone wipes because it is a quick & easy process.
  • The process is very simple: you need to use brake fluid or alcohol on the rotors of your e-bike and clean them properly using a large sponge or microfibre cloth. Make sure to clean them properly so that no residue or dirt is left. Also, apply your brakes again and see if they are properly working.
  • Cleaning the brake pads will always give you a good grip on your brakes. 2. Glazed Pads:

2. Glazed pads:

• • When the brake is applied at high speed, after some time, the pad’s surface becomes too smooth and shiny due to excessive heat build-up during the braking process, known as glazing.
  • It happens because the pads glide over the surface instead of being tightly gripped by the rotor, reducing overall friction.
  • Always be careful with your glazed pads. They can result in accidents if you don’t pay attention.

How to check if my disc pads are well-glazed?

They will have a shiny surface if you want to recognize them immediately. After taking them out, inspect your disc pads to see whether they are in the glazed condition.

The solution to fix your glazed pads:

• You will need to remove your disc pads from the brake calipers. Always ensure your brakes are cooled down while you do this, as excessive heat may result in burns.
• The next step is to use fine-grit sandpaper and rub your disc pads a little to restore their grippy surface. This will ensure that when you apply your brakes, your e-bike will ideally stop without making any squeaky noise. After rubbing back into the brake calipers, inspect your disc pads to see if they are nicely glazed. Then, install your disc pads and fit them properly.

b) Brake Caliper proper Alignment:

You may also encounter a problem with your brake caliper. In such a case, you’ll feel that your braking power is perfect, but the brakes still make some irritating noise.
I experienced the same situation, and after that, I went to the local e-bike workshop to have my problem diagnosed.
After diagnosing my e-bike, the mechanic told me my brake caliper was not properly aligned with the disc rotor.

When I asked him the exact reason, he told me that a hard surface might have knocked my e-bike, and my bolts might have been loose. Over time, loose bolts misaligned the brake caliper management, making irritating noises.

Fixing misaligned brake calipers by DIY(Do it yourself) method: 

Disc pads must always be aligned to the center of the rotor. But if your brake calipers have alignment issues, you can fix them yourself. Let’s apply the following steps to fix this.

1. At first, you need to loosen the bolts on the brake calipers.
2. The second step is to apply the brakes and tighten your bolts again.

Applying the above method will return the rotor to the center of the pads; that’s all you must do to fix your misaligned brake calipers.
If the method mentioned above doesn’t work, you can loosen the bolts, move the calipers manually, align them to the center of the rotor, and tighten them back.
If you want to replace your brakes, watch the video below and follow the process.

c) Warped Rotor (Shing-Shing noise): 

If both brakes work fine, you are sure your brake caliper is properly aligned to the center. Despite this, you are getting a shing-shing or metallic noise, which could be a sign that your rotor may be warped or bent somewhere, and you are unaware of it.

In this case, the best thing is to identify the exact location where the rotor is bending. You can look down the brake calipers horizontally to see if they are bent towards the right or left. If you find that, bend them back to their actual position with a rotor straightener tool or with the help of your thumb.

d) Worn out pads:

If you recognize that your disc pads are super noisy and notice that your brake lever is starting to get close to your handlebars, this is a clear sign that your pads are running out. As the disc pads get thinner over time, the pistons get closer to the rotors, and the brake lever starts getting closer to the handlebars, which results in a squeaky noise.

But how do I fix my worn-out pads……

It’s straightforward; all you need to do is take out the worn-out pads from the brake clippers and inspect them properly if they are worn out.
After removing the disc pads from the brake calipers, inspect them properly. At least a couple of millimeters of thickness should be left on those disc pads. If the material is barely visible or looks very thin, it’s time to invest in new ones.

If you want to gain more information about brake pads, feel free to read this.

Bonus tips to get quieter with your disc pads:

1. You can buy organic disc pads; they tend to be quieter and eco-friendly but remember, sintered brake pads will last longer.
2. Very important! If your e-bike frame has a quick-release dropout feature, ensure your wheel is installed correctly before adjusting the brake. I recommend installing the wheel on the floor rather than standing to allow gravity to center it properly.
3. In my experience, the quickest way to eliminate squeaky brakes or any noise is to scrupulously clean the disk rotor’s brake calipers and replace the brake pads.
4. Suppose you decide to replace your disc brake pads, especially from one material to another. For example, sintered to organic disc pads, change the disc rotor to new ones compatible with that particular pad material to ensure optimum performance.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

1. Disc brake pad cleaners are an excellent option to clean your disc pads.
2. Alternatively, You can use a chain-cleaning device to eliminate the risk of pad contamination virtually.
3. When working with disc brakes, I recommend wearing a fresh pair of mechanic gloves; it’s always good practice.
4. The brake caliper should be properly centered with the disc rotors. Otherwise, it will scrape against the brake pad or inside the caliper body.
5. During my regular e-bike service, I learned that brake pads typically have “squealer” tabs. These are metal tabs designed on the brake pads because when the pads are worn out after a certain amount of time or day-to-day use, these tabs come into contact with the rotors(AKA discs) and make a squeaky sound to let you know that they need to be replaced.
6. If it’s raining outside, the streets become super muddy, and your brakes start making a howling noise, which is expected on every e-bike. The reason behind this is when your rotor gets intact with mud and water, and it’s natural for the rotors to make that howling noise.

I hope this article helped and that I solved your problem. If not, always feel free to leave me a comment, and I will try to help you fix this issue. Thank you so much for your time. Please remember ebikeleague and feel free to come back for any difficulty you face with your electric bike.

WITH LOVE,

KEEP THRIVING YOUR PEDALS