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Shimano SLX brakes 2012
NB: Originally posted elsewhere on the Global Riders Network and appears via syndication.
Here we go again... Squeaking Shimano brakes.
I have a Giant trance X1 2012 I need to know what type of SLX brake pads they come with as standard?
Brakes are m 666 - what pads do they have resin or metal? and can i/should I replace with the finned ones?
Whats the difference and if Im replacing to get rid of the squeal what should I get.
I have tried cleaning and rotors etc so swapping pads is next on the list.
Weird thing is... when Im riding and braking hard ( eg off road) little to no squeal. In the car park or street riding they squeal like a scalded cat??
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My XTR brakes do not even squeak but add a bit of rain and they squeal, luckily only for a few seconds each time I brake. Once the water is displaced they are quiet again.
Maybe your brakes are trying to tell you some thing, they prefer being offroad.
Are the rotors rubbing the pads ?
Try taking off the pads, re-adjust the alignment and make sure the rotors aren't touching the pads. You can usually see the part number of the pads and just google it to find out if it's metal or resin. Metal finned ones are F03C from memory
My XT brakes behaves the same as Murray's XTR, it only squeaks when it's wet. My XT brakes comes with metal pads as standard and just had the rear ones replaced after ~2000+Km.
XT, SLX, XTR uses the same brake pads from 2012 onwards I think.
SLX uses a split pin to secure the pads whereas the XT and XTRs use a small bolt and cotter pin.
This is always an interesting topic - traditional brake squeal does not come form the pad/disc interface but rather from where the pad contacts the piston and/or caliper. On MTB's of course we get all sorts of different types of squeal fom the minor anoying type above to the full on turkey gobble where all the brake parts are resonating .As a service to the MTB community
I will try as an experiment next time I put pads in to use some of the orange PBR anti-squeal goop on the back of my pads to see if it makes any difference and report back.
Whether to choose metal or resin is dependant on Rotor.
It will say on rotor "Resin Only" or something like that, then you can only use Resin brake pads.
If not choose either.
I think the metal ones last longer & have greater power.
The fins on brake pads are suppose to be air "cooling" system but definitely not neccessary.
Also check if the fin style brake pads will fit beforehand.
There's five different models of pad that are interchangeable between all the latest generation Shimano brakes (M666, M675, M785, M985) :-
F03C - finned, sintered
F01A - finned, resin
G03S - non-finned, sintered
G01S - non-finned, resin, steel backed
G01A - non-finned, resin, aluminium backed
There's no 'standard' ones they come with, it just depends what the bike manufacturer decided to spec your particular bike with. Take the split pin out of the brake caliper, remove the pads and look at the model number on the back of the pad to see which ones you've got.
If you're heavy on the brakes, the fins help to stop them overheating, and my experience has been that they do make a difference - I was overheating my brakes on long descents until I switched to finned pads.
Resin are reputed to have better modulation, and are quieter, but wear more quickly in the wet
Sintered are harder wearing.
All Shimano rotors except the entry level Deore RT-5X series are hardened stainless steel so can take sintered or resin pads. Higher level rotors like XT and XTR are also 'Ice-tech' and have a sandwich construction of aluminium in the middle of the stainless steel braking surfaces. This is again to help with heat dissipation, but also has the side benefit of making them a tad lighter.
But, back to your original problem - Shimano brakes aren't particulalry prone to squealing (unlike Avids!), and if they do its usually because of contamination of the pads with oil, either due to careless cleaning/lubing of the bike, or brake oil leaking out somewhere in the caliper. I'd have a look at this if I were you.
PS: By the way Phil, I've got a spare set (front & rear) of the G01A pads which I switched out to go finned. You're welcome to have them to see if it makes any difference. Just PM me, cheers, Andy.
As always I appreciate the input and the wealth of knowledge out there.
Andy Ill be in touch and catch up soon.
Cheers