Ken,
Aside from all of the other suggestions that are available in the archives, have you tried sanding or grinding some of the rubber off of the face of the new brake pads?
Sometimes the rubber in the first 0.5mm to 1mm of the surface is harder than the interior of the pads.
Over the years I've experienced mixed results with Kool Stop brake blocks. Some could approach retinal detachment they grabbed so well while other just polished my rims (especially when new).
Someone suggested the grinding trick with new Kool Stop pads and it seems to work. I've used it on other makes of older pads and grinding helps some of those too.
Whether it will help your brake squeal problem is another question.
Chas. Colerich Oakland, CA USA
Ken wrote:
> Hi,
>
> After waiting patiently for three weeks to allow the snow to melt I ventured out today on my recently rebuilt wheels which are Mavic MA2's on Normandy QR large flange hubs. These wheels were rebuilt using 2 mm stainless spokes using a crows foot lacing pattern. At the same time as the wheel rebuild I took the opportunity to change the brake blocks on the Weinman 600 side pull brakes with NOS black Weinman blocks. Previously these brakes were fitted with red Weinman blocks that were worn down flat i.e. none of the dimples left.
>
> My commissioning ride observations are that the general ride quality is greatly improved with much better resiliance and ability to deal more comfotably with bumps when compared with the old wheel build where the black rustless spokes were considerably looser and prone to click especially at the start of a ride (see previous CR "clicking spokes" issue).
>
> Unfortunately when I first applied the brakes I was apalled to discover that the new wheel and brake block combination was making an awfull squeeling sound that eminated in identical fashion from both the front and back wheel. This was so loud that quite a few pedestrians turned their heads around to check me out.
>
> My take on this is that the wheels might now be quite literally be as "tight as a drum" and so will sound like a musical instrument when vibrated by the brake blocks. I appreciate that the blocks will need a period to bed down but is there something that I should do in the interim period ? I have carefully cleaned the rims with kitchen paper to remove any traces of oil and aluminium oxide.
>
> Despite the squeel it certainly feels good to be out on the wheels again and maybe I can now start to work on shedding a few of those extra pounds put on over Christmas !
>
> Regards
>
> Ken Hume
> London, England