I'm currently running Shimano M615 disc brakes that've developed a horrible squeal. Before you ask I have tried new discs, pads, deglazing and degreasing both and obviously bedding them in. All of which temporarily stops the squeal only for it to return.


I fear that the calipers have developed leaks which are causing the squeal.

So what would people recommend as a budget (as cheap as possible) alternative?

I've currently got avid bb7 and magura mt2 in mind.

Ta.

I've got a pair of TRP Spykes for sale. Used but still fully functional. I'll throw in some Avid brake levers, cables and some sintered pads too. £100 the lot, posted.

CRC have some deore disc brakes for sale for £24 per end at the moment, got a pair last week, had to swap the hoses over but work great out the box without needing bled.

If they are leaking, you'll see oil running out of the caliper. leaks shouldn't cause squeaks, just make the brake not work. Check your calliper and calliper mount on frame alignment.

If you do go for new ones deores are great but if your calliper mounts are miss-aligned they will still squeal.... Pads wise use sintered ones but don't try Clarks el cheapo ones - squeal central!

If they are leaking, you'll see oil running out of the caliper. leaks shouldn't cause squeaks, just make the brake not work.

Cheap Shimano calipers can develop micro leaks at the pistons (especially if laid up for a time) which contaminate the disc / pads yet don't effect lever feel or leak enough for oil to drip or really build up to noticeable levels.

Bearbonesnorm wrote:

If they are leaking, you'll see oil running out of the caliper. leaks shouldn't cause squeaks, just make the brake not work.

Cheap Shimano calipers can develop micro leaks at the pistons (especially if laid up for a time) which contaminate the disc / pads yet don't effect lever feel or leak enough for oil to drip or really build up to noticeable levels.

Could this cause squealing, especially in wet conditions?

quimarche wrote:I've got a pair of TRP Spykes for sale. Used but still fully functional. I'll throw in some Avid brake levers, cables and some sintered pads too. £100 the lot, posted.

Thanks, but that's more than the cost of either of the ones I mentioned.

Taylor wrote:CRC have some deore disc brakes for sale for £24 per end at the moment, got a pair last week, had to swap the hoses over but work great out the box without needing bled.

Thanks, that's good to know. I guess these are the ones: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mobi ... prod174433

Very similar to what I'm currently using, so I'm a bit concerned that they'll develop the same problem.

htrider wrote:If they are leaking, you'll see oil running out of the caliper. leaks shouldn't cause squeaks, just make the brake not work. Check your calliper and calliper mount on frame alignment.

If you do go for new ones deores are great but if your calliper mounts are miss-aligned they will still squeal.... Pads wise use sintered ones but don't try Clarks el cheapo ones - squeal central!

It could be calliper alignment, but i've already had fork bosses faced by LBS which hasn't sorted it unfortunately.
Maybe I just need a new bike!

techno mail wrote:

htrider wrote:If they are leaking, you'll see oil running out of the caliper. leaks shouldn't cause squeaks, just make the brake not work. Check your calliper and calliper mount on frame alignment.

If you do go for new ones deores are great but if your calliper mounts are miss-aligned they will still squeal.... Pads wise use sintered ones but don't try Clarks el cheapo ones - squeal central!

It could be calliper alignment, but i've already had fork bosses faced by LBS which hasn't sorted it unfortunately.
Maybe I just need a new bike!

N+1 is always the answer

techno mail wrote:

Taylor wrote:CRC have some deore disc brakes for sale for £24 per end at the moment, got a pair last week, had to swap the hoses over but work great out the box without needing bled.

Thanks, that's good to know. I guess these are the ones: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mobi ... prod174433

Very similar to what I'm currently using, so I'm a bit concerned that they'll develop the same problem.

Those are the ones.
If they don't solve the squeal it'll have to be a new bike I'm afraid.

Shimano have had leaky pistons for years now, not just on there cheaper models but even my xt ones.

Magura mt5 are available for £65 an end at the moment.

Nutsnut wrote:Shimano have had leaky pistons for years now, not just on there cheaper models but even my xt ones.

Magura mt5 are available for £65 an end at the moment.

Where from?
Does anyone have experience of the MT2?
they're £68 for a full set on eBay.

techno mail wrote:

Nutsnut wrote:Shimano have had leaky pistons for years now, not just on there cheaper models but even my xt ones.

Magura mt5 are available for £65 an end at the moment.

Where from?
Does anyone have experience of the MT2?
they're £68 for a full set on eBay.

Alpinetrek. But they appear to have cleared their stock now so none left.

I've got no personal experience of them but the LBS were fitting a set of these to a customers bike and quite impressed with them, I think they might also have been recommended on STW recently

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/clar ... prod135593

At £41.98 a pair including discs that's quite a bargain.

sean_iow wrote:I've got no personal experience of them but the LBS were fitting a set of these to a customers bike and quite impressed with them, I think they might also have been recommended on STW recently

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/clar ... prod135593

At £41.98 a pair including discs that's quite a bargain.

Thanks, that's a good tip.