If you ride your bicycle long enough, you will eventually experience squeaking brakes. Sometimes gleaning the black buildup from your rims and brake pads using alcohol and a rag or steel wool will solve the problem. In other cases, you have to dig deeper for a fix.
Background
Typical bicycle brakes consist of two metal arms to which rubber brakes pads attach. The arms connect to the brake table and the bike frame. When you apply the brakes, the pads squeeze the tire's rim, which is made of steel, aluminum, carbon fiber or plastic. Some bicycles have a separate brake pad and brake pad holder, while in other cases it is all one piece. Toe-in is the angle at which the pad hits the rim when you apply the brakes.
Cause
Incorrect toe-in is the usual culprit in noisy bicycle brakes, according to Bikeman.com. Proper toe-in is when the leading edge of the pad, closer to the front end of the bike, makes contact with the rim first. The angle of the pad should be subtle, so that when the front of the pad first hits the rim, the trailing edge is still 1 to 2 mm away. As brake pads wear, they tend to hit flat, and the squealing begins.
Solution
The fix for noisy brakes is usually a brake-pad adjustment. Loosen the bolt that holds the pad, but do not remove the pad. You may need to oil the bolt. Do not to get oil on the rim or the pad surface. Move the pad to the right position and tighten it up. Placing a matchbook cover under the trailing edge of the pad as you tighten the bolt will help you get the correct toe-in. You may need several tries to find the right position. Do one side at a time. If your pads are highly worn, replace them.
Alternative Approaches
Some brake pads are nonadjustable. You may have to bend the brake arms slightly to achieve the correct toe-in. You can use an adjustable wrench. But if you bend the arm too far or too often, the arm may crack or break, West writes. Another option is to cut the brake pad to the desired angle using a file.
Warning
Brake maintenance is crucial to bicycle safety. If your pads are worn enough to squeal, they may be providing less-than-sufficient braking power. Inspecting your pads and rims regularly for wear and for dirt and debris, which can shorten their useful life, will help you avoid accidents.
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