Topica Loopframe_Guzzi Archive


Subject: quiet brakes at last!

Author: mjon-@yahoo.com

Date: Oct 11, 2003, 11:00 AM

Post ID: 1714832598



Hi, all. I've finally addressed the
screeching/howling/screaming brakes problem. Someone
asked that I post the resolution, if you were ever to
take place. What I did may be a little unorthodox, but
it seems to have worked. First I sanded down the shoes
(using medium-grit paper) and drums (lightly, with
fine paper). Then I washed the shoes off using Simple
Green and my wife's scrub brush and rinsed them
thoroughly with hot water. Then I cleaned the drum
lightly with Braklean (sp?). Then I reassembled,
lightly lubing various parts with anti-seize, and
adjusted so that both shoes contact simultaneously (as
best I could).

The problem was that with my new high-friction shoes
my brakes would squeal (like no brakes I have ever
heard!) when being used lightly, though if I braked
hard or rode long they would squeal a lot less. Now
they are quite as mice, unless I break especially hard
(like in a sudden stop with my son on the back). Then
they squeak slightly. A little strange, no? And the
seemed to grab better before I eliminated the noise.
This may be because the need to bed in again, after
being sanded, or it could be the Simple Green
providing a nice slippery coat on my shoes. I did
rinse them off REALLY well, though, and after 200
miles I think it would have all burned up.

Thank you, Josh, Charlie, Ian, and anyone else you
offered advice on this problem

FRONT WHEEL BEARING SHIMS: Harpers told me that the
shims are all the same thickness, and that 2 or 3 are
usually all that are required. I had none, so I bought
5. It took all 5! Is this normal? I think I might be
able to use 6, really. I didn't torque the wheel to
the full 100+ lbs.

-Mike (69 Ambo)






=====
M.Jones, student of philosophy and religion at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA.

"The heart has its reasons which reason does not know." -Blaise Pascal
"With man, instinct and reason avoid each other with adversity, yet, by repudiating each other they lure each other to reach mutual correction." -Lucian Blaga

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