[Mastamind]

Possibly a stupid question, I'm new on trying to work on/fix my bike. I've got a squeaky front tiire. I think it is my brake pads rubbing against the rim. To fix this, what can I do?

Thanks

 

[StinkLink]

You are probably right about the brake pad needing adjustment. How you do so depends on the type of brakes you have. Just look at the pad and how the post that it is mounted on connects to the bike. If its new chances are its a V-brake in which case you would use a 5mm allen key to loosen a nut sitting at the back side of the brakepad-post. It takes some practice to get things just right, but basically you want to align the pad so it follows the curve of the rim, and hits it flat on, or to be more precise: try to set it so the front of the pads hit the rim just a few mm before the rear of the pad does. This is called toeing (sp?) your brakepads.

Also, you might want to check to see if the wheel is properly true. This is not as likely to make the pad hit the tire or cause a sqeak, but its something that should always be kept track of anyway.

If the rim is true it will not "wiggle" side to side at all as it spins. you can try to check this by looking at your rim in comparison to your brake pads as you spin the wheel. The rim should not get closer or further from your brake pads on each side as you spin it in a circle. If it does move around then it needs to be trued... thats a topic for another post

 

[Wumpus]

There are two screws, one on each side, near where the brake attaches to the fork. These adjust the side to side movement of the pads. Screwing it in moves that pad away from the rim and vice versa.


EDIT -- Maybe I misread your question, but is it doing it all the time or just when you apply the brakes?

 

[Mastamind]

Wumpus...Basically I tried to take my wheel off without deflating the tires (kina dumb in the first place), when I put the wheel back on, I started squeaking. It does this when I am coasting as opposed to pedaling. I am sure it has something to do with the brakes because if I move them with my hand it stops for a minute or so.

Thank you both for the reply.

 

[Wumpus]

You probaly tweaked your pads. Do what stinklink suggested. I use a credit card under the back edge of the pad to set toe-in. Put the card under the back edge, squeeze the pad against the rim and tighten it up.

 

[Mastamind]

Thank you...I was able to adjust it this morning. Yep, just the brake pad needed tweaked. No big deal.

Thank you both for all the help!