http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Disc brakes - spongy & noisy en Wed, 13 May 2026 05:02:39 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16316#post-218187 Thu, 28 Apr 2016 10:43:04 +0000 ivangrozni 218187@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>A good way of getting rid of the squealing too is to apply the brakes so that you can still pedal albeit requiring considerably more force. Pedal against the brakes through several wheel revolutions (20m or so) and the squeal will be reduced or gone. Essentially this is doing the same as what acsimpson suggested. Applying grease (copper grease?) to the <strong>back</strong> of the pads can also help to dampen the vibration causing the squeal.</p> <p>The sponginess is a sign that the brakes need to be bled (as all have noted) but the sponginess can also be advantageous - My brakes have gone a little spongy recently too but I find that I am enjoying a bit more modulation with my braking. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16316#post-218172 Thu, 28 Apr 2016 09:41:15 +0000 neddie 218172@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The squealing can be caused by a build up of a smooth glassy-like substance on the pad (possibly due to the surface melting slightly under braking).</p> <p>As acsimpson said, doing some heavy braking should help remove the glassiness.</p> <p>Obvs, you'll need to bleed 1st, before you can do the heavy braking thing. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16316#post-218158 Thu, 28 Apr 2016 07:53:05 +0000 I were right about that saddle 218158@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@schemieradge</p> <p>I have a Shimano oil bleeding kit. Happy to show you how to use it if you can wait a couple of weeks. Very easy. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16316#post-218154 Thu, 28 Apr 2016 00:53:07 +0000 acsimpson 218154@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Bedding new pads in correctly can also help with squealing. Braking sharply from over 15mph to stationary 20 times is a good place to start. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16316#post-218152 Wed, 27 Apr 2016 23:22:26 +0000 Cyclops 218152@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The sponginess is due to air in the system so the brakes need bled. The squealing might be fixed by cleaning but unfortunately some discs/pads are noisy whatever you do with them. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16316#post-218147 Wed, 27 Apr 2016 22:02:10 +0000 Schemieradge 218147@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Mineral oil apparently. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16316#post-218145 Wed, 27 Apr 2016 21:46:33 +0000 I were right about that saddle 218145@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Spongy brakes need bled. DOT4 or mineral oil? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16316#post-218139 Wed, 27 Apr 2016 20:41:28 +0000 Schemieradge 218139@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Can anyone suggest the most likely cause of this?</p> <p>Shimano M595 disc brake has been working great for 2.5 years. Replaced the pads about 6 months ago because I thought their stoppiness might be easing off a bit - not big deal though.<br /> But in the last month or 2 the brake lever has started to get quite spongy, I have to pull quite hard to get any stopping power at all, the brake lever creaks.<br /> If I'm coming to a stop coming down a hill or something where I have to brake for an extended period, once I've been braking for about 10 seconds or so, the brakes start squealing like mad.. annoying, but once they start squealing they work much better. They've always squealed in the wet - but never on dry days.</p> <p>Does this sound like the rotor and pads just need a good clean?<br /> Or am I into bleeding territory? </p>