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I might get there before you YoHandsome, I've been trying Swissstop Catalyst rotors with Swissstop green pads which are still dreadful in the wet. I've filed chamfers on the pad edges and even tried cutting sipes in the pad surface, no joy.
Sanded rotors and tried some EBC red pads today. Felt great but the dreaded squealing returned after some wet grass and puddles. It was perhaps very slightly less obnoxious than the Swissstop pads though.
Next step is the new Magura rotors, have got some to fit during the week. If that doesn't work I've got a set of Noah and Theo ceramic pads to try, and had half an eye on some MTX ceramic pads from the US, great reviews but $80 posted.
After that, I've still got my rim brake wheels and forks left and a custom gravel rim brake frame on the way 😁
Curious to hear how the ceramics work out! EBC reds are organic? not surprised it doesn't take much to make them squeal.
I'm wanting to try out kevlar pads too.
My UberBike Race Matrix have a high pitched skreel to them - but much, much less volume than the OEM and Shimano pads I've had before.
I’m wanting to try out kevlar pads too.
Think most kevlar pads are simply organics with some kevlar fibers so I wouldn't expect them to be much better than regular organics re noise.
Damn, I've not had much luck with the organic Shimano L03A. Tempted to try sintered though and interested to hear about ceramic.
I also ordered some rubber washers to fit somewhere on my callipers/bolts - will I die?!
I also ordered some rubber washers to fit somewhere on my callipers/bolts – will I die?!
Interrrrrrresting! I've tried automotive anti-squeal shims behind the pads (benefit of having TRP Spyres, you can wind the pads out). They're basically cut-to-shape rubberised adhesive pads. I had high hopes but surprisingly the brake squeal was completely unchanged, same pitch, volume etc. Makes me think it occurs between the pad and the rotor only.
I was thinking about trying some of those wee self adhesive wheel balancing weights on the spokes of the rotors, haven't ruled it out yet!
Wee update:
EBC reds on Swissstop catalyst rotors were generally as dreadful as any other pads I'd used, so I switched to some Magura MDP-C rotors (the cheaper of their e-bike rotors). It's quite an overbuilt rotor, feels heavy in the hand, but it's a 160mm vs. the 140mm Swissstop rotors.
Anyway, did some CX practice laps tonight on a squashy wet football field. Rotors weren't silent but were a lot more bearable to listen to than others.
Maybe it's just a rotor size thing, perhaps I should stick 180mm rotors on my CX bike! 😎
I find Shimano road brakes are quite squealy but only on wet urban roads - must be something about road salt / contamination.
I preferred the Shimano sintered pads to the organics - they seemed to have more power down big hills and more bite. I accidentally swapped to organics (ordered the wrong finned pads) and they’re ok in the dry but I’m more nervous about descending with them - they feel like they’re going to fade.
The rear Shimano caliper has reslcwntly self destructed - pretty sure it’s micro leaking out the seals as it lost power / just made noise.
I’ve replaced it with an RX4 which so far seems to have less initial bite but it’s only a few rides in and each ride it seems to be getting a bit more powerful. Using the Hope sintered pads - with basic Shimano road rotors that came on my caad12 105 disc. Will see how noisy they are commuting in the rain very soon I’m sure.