Author Topic: Shimano M970 V-Brake: Bushings!?!  (Read 3348 times)

Man of Kent

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Shimano M970 V-Brake: Bushings!?!
« on: August 02, 2012, 05:07:20 PM »
Evening Thorn Folks :-)

Messing around with the setup of my RST I've switched from Magura HS33's over to a set of lush M970's: but the Front pair that I've picked up second hand are really loose: the wear in the bushings make the whole damn parallelogram setup so loose that it rattles and when brakes are applied squeals like a stuck pig! Yuck!

It's ironic since I moved from the HS33's in part to eliminate squeal I was getting from the rear wheel due to the RST's super flexy seat stays!

Does anyone know where I can pick replacement parts up!?!

Yrs,
Ryan

Danneaux

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Re: Shimano M970 V-Brake: Bushings!?!
« Reply #1 on: August 02, 2012, 06:26:40 PM »
Hi Ryan!

Welcome to the Forum!

Sadly -- insofar as I have been able to determine -- Shimano does not offer or stock replacement bushings for this brake, spares being limited to replacement pads and pad holders only.

As with many similar items these days, the brake is considered a consumable item, to be used until it is worn out.

The good news is, one can overcome the worn bushings (and noise arising from them) with increased toe-in of the brake pads.

The noise is caused by the loose tolerances allowing the pads to dig in tail-first. They catch-and-release in a rapid cycle, and that is producing the sharp squeal you hear. Crank in some additional toe-in, and when the pads strike and catch the rim, they'll settle in flat but no more than that. It should largely solve your problem.

The parallel-push mechanism of these brakes is wonderful for reducing maintenance insofar as pad wear is concerned -- they'll hit vertically square pretty much throughout their service life. Sadly, it does nothing for toe-in and increasing pivot tolerances due to wear and use...the user has to monitor and address that themselves. Toe-in does the trick!

Hope this helps.

Best,

Dan.

Man of Kent

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Re: Shimano M970 V-Brake: Bushings!?!
« Reply #2 on: August 03, 2012, 12:23:50 AM »
Will give that a go before a big ish ride tmw :-)

I'm a little doubtful as they're already quite toed in...they are mounted on rear facing (front) mounts mind so that may be part of the issue...?

Danneaux

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Re: Shimano M970 V-Brake: Bushings!?!
« Reply #3 on: August 03, 2012, 12:56:10 AM »
Good luck, Ryan; I hope re-toeing will do the job for you.

By any chance, are you running Kool-Stop salmon-colored pads?

I have found them to be generally among the quietest and cetainly the most effective in my own use. If you're using another brand of brake pads, it might be worth trying these to see if they help with noise. As a side benefit, they cause far less rim wear than Shimano pads.

Rear-facing front mounts should reduce noise, if anything. On conventional front-facing brake posts, heavy braking tends to flex the fork blades outward, worsening the problem; this is what brake boosters help to address. Mounting the brakes on the rear of the fork makes them work much like a rear brake, generally resulting in less noise.

Best wishes for a fun and enjoyable "biggish" ride!

Dan.

Man of Kent

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Re: Shimano M970 V-Brake: Bushings!?!
« Reply #4 on: August 03, 2012, 09:50:31 AM »
Thanks Dan, yeah, being aware of the flex issues that come with forward facing mounts I'd essentially struck that off of my list of problems.

I've previously used Salmon's and found them to be fine, if I can't fix the brakes themselves I'll hunt down another pair.

Biggish: only to Taunton and back from Bristol over two days: Vegan Fair!  If I wasn't moving house then I'd go ride the Exmouth Exodus (100m over nighter) on saturday as well!

R>