Easy way to clean rotors.

[fooferdoggie]

With our tandem, it tends to get rotors that make noise because of the heat and the steep 18% grades we have to go down. We keep the speed down and long descents, and once in a while, a rotor will be squeaky. Sandpaper will fix it, and sometimes sanding the pads. But sandpaper is pretty slow on the rotors. Well, I found a really fast way. I use Bar Keepers Friend (there are others like Comet and such) and a Scotch-Brite pad. Just get a small section of pad wet enough to fold over the rotor, a bunch of abrasive, and water, and it only takes a minute at most to get the black stuff off. Sandpaper takes a lot of work then, since with water, you are done. of course after this you need to bed in the pads and doing it right makes a huge difference. thinking about it putting more abrasive on the disc and squeezing the lever a bit and running the wheel would clean the pads too I bet.

 

[Aushiker]

Is this what you are referring to?

 

[spokewrench]

The last time I bought brake pads, I had to choose resin, semi-metallic, copper, multi-metallic, or sintered. If heating results in squeaking, maybe another pad material would prevent it.

 

[fooferdoggie]

Is this what you are referring to?

yep. any of those lightly abrasive cleaners should work.

 

[fooferdoggie]

The last time I bought brake pads, I had to choose resin, semi-metallic, copper, multi-metallic, or sintered. If heating results in squeaking, maybe another pad material would prevent it.

I have air-tech rotors 203mm and I have tried all the pads right now they are ceramic. thats been the best combo. but the problem is the heat is really fast and short. so its about instant heat for maybe 10 seconds then its done. the right rotor is all that made the difference the pads dont have time to transfer the heat. without air tech rotors one 1 block downhill run was enough to start messing them up.

 

[spokewrench]

Earplugs!

 

[Chargeride]

I had the most insane squeal on my last ride, I scooped some puddle mud and poured it over the rotor and pads ..gone within minutes.