How to keep your disc brakes squeal-free

Disc brakes are more than just a fad, they're here to stay. It doesn't matter what or where you ride, disc brakes are the new normal, now, and learning how to keep them operating correctly is a really important part of owning a bike. 

But anyone who’s used disc brakes knows that they can be a little, well, squealy. The key to keeping your disc brakes working properly and free from noise is, of course, looking after your pads and rotors.

Squeaking noises are one thing, but a grinding noise is a sign of something that needs urgent attention. All Shimano disc brake pads have a wear indicator to tell you when they need replacing, and if you don’t make sure that you check them regularly then you’ll not only wear down the rotors prematurely but also risk not being able to brake properly when you really need it. The same goes for the rotors, as they wear down they get thinner and Shimano recommend that you change your rotors when they wear down a certain amount. That limit will be printed on the rotor (usually 1.5mm for Shimano rotors) so keep it in mind and check it regularly – especially after a winter of riding when they rotors will tend to wear faster than when the weather’s sunny.

Anyway, back to squealing, that’s what we were talking about. When you’re riding in the rain or wet, squealing is just something that can happen. But in the dry your brakes should be nice and quiet and if they’re not then it’s time to start looking at the pads and rotors in case their contaminated. The word ‘contaminated’ makes it sound fancier than it actually is, because all it means is that either pads or rotors have something on them that is making a sound like hell braking open when you hit the brakes. There have been many wacky and wonderful ways that people swear they’ve cured contaminated rotors, with our personal favourite being those that claim baking them in the oven removes the layers of contaminant (spoiler: it doesn’t, but it’s a fun way to waste some time/get in real trouble with whoever owns the oven).

The truth is, the best way to deal with contaminated rotors is prevention – aka not letting them get to that point in the first place. And the way to do that is – like everything else on the bike – making sure you keep them clean. Our favourite product for disc brakes is Finish Line’s helpfully-named Disc Brake Cleaner, a product that leaves you in doubts as to what it’s meant to do and gets the job done really well. The best part is that it doesn’t leave any residue on the rotors so all you need to do I spray it on, wait for it to do its work and then go ride (or put your bike back in the garage/wherever you keep it). It’s also acetone-free, so you don’t need to worry about the paintwork on your frame or the integrity of any carbon fibre parts your bike may have.