Squeaky brakes caused by wheel bearings?

[larsonian]

Last night I overhauled my rear wheel bearings for the first time. I got everything back together correctly making sure that the wheel rotates freely without any side to side play in the wheel.

I put the wheel back on the bike and now my rear brake makes a very loud squeal and I can feel a vibration through out the bike. This has not happened before on this bike.

Is it possible that I didn't get the hub assembled tight enough and when the brakes hit, it is causing it to vibrate and squeal? I can't find anything on line about that, but it seems more likely than something went wrong with the brakes all of a sudden.

I should add that I have cantilever brakes

[Joe_W]

Brake squeal can be fixed by correctly aligning brakes and brake surface. The wheel should sit correctly in the rear drop outs (recheck!) and the brake pads should be toed in slightly.

One thing you should check though: did you put in the axle the correct way?

[larsonian]

(08-02-2012, 08:47 AM)Joe_W Wrote:  Brake squeal can be fixed by correctly aligning brakes and brake surface. The wheel should sit correctly in the rear drop outs (recheck!) and the brake pads should be toed in slightly.

One thing you should check though: did you put in the axle the correct way?

Looking at my brakes, they are definitely parallel to the wheel and not toed in. I wasn't sure if that was the issue because they have been parallel for years and not had this issue. I did reseat my wheel and still am getting the same sound. The rear de-railuer sits in the drop out, so I have to eyeball getting the wheel straight.

I do think I put my axle in the correct way. I only removed the lock bolt and spacer from the freewheel side to make sure I got the spacing correct when I re-assembled. I also just checked my "tire rotation arrow" and it is pointing forward, so the each brake pad is hitting the same rim wall as it was before.

Thanks for the quick response, I appreciate it!

[xerxes]

It could be that you got some grease on the weel rims. Try cleaning the rims with some methylated spirit, or perhaps just a strong solution of washing up liquid. You could also try using a piece of sandpaper to clean the surface of the brake blocks.

[larsonian]

Thanks for the tips, guys. I wiped the rim down with mineral spirits and re-fitted the wheel a couple times and the squeak went away.

I'm about due for a new set of brake pads, so I'll save the fun of aligning my brakes for when I put those on...

[1FJEF]

(08-02-2012, 09:59 AM)xerxes Wrote:  "strong solution of washing up liquid".

Haven't heard that in years, we call it dish washing soap.

[GeorgeET]

(08-02-2012, 10:37 PM)1FJEF Wrote:  

(08-02-2012, 09:59 AM)xerxes Wrote:  "strong solution of washing up liquid".

Haven't heard that in years, we call it dish washing soap.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Must be an English thing, they talk funny. :-)))

As per squeak glad its gone, as has been pointed out you may have otten some dirt on the rims or when the wheel went on the brakes were hitting a slightly different spot than before and found dirt.

[xerxes]

Quote:Must be an English thing, they talk funny.

You mean "properly", after all it's called English and not American.

[GeorgeET]

(08-04-2012, 06:33 AM)xerxes Wrote:  

Quote:Must be an English thing, they talk funny.

You mean "properly", after all it's called English and not American.

For Sure. :-) Long live the Queen...........