[Epic_Dude]

After installing my new M785 XT Brakes I noticed a rattle sound that seems to be the pads rattling in the caliper when I'm riding fast on a bumpy downhill and not applying pressure to the levers. Anyone else notice this? Do I need to bend the pad springs out a bit?

 

[Niner_Boy]

Nah...just get a small elastic band and wrap it around the fins (not fin to fin, but one elastic band per fin). If you can source black elastic bands from inner tubes, you won't even notice them. This is a common fix and should get rid of the rattle.

 

[Epic_Dude]

Thanks!

 

[Ted]

I am not loving the same issue. I tried the rubber bands made from inner tubes and it helped a bit but the problem was still there. Any other fixes?

 

[AZ Stumpy]

My SLX's did that too. Switched to normal non-finned pads and no problems since (with rattling or brake fade).

 

[Stevob]

Non-finned pads fixes the problem. XT here.

 

[mmanuel09]

Anybody ever notice when holding down on the brake, the bike rocks forward and back. It was pretty noticeable on the my front brake. I thought I had a lose headset but its actually the brakes. When you clamp on the lever and rock the bike, you can see the pads moving.

 

[jkirkpatri]

Anybody ever notice when holding down on the brake, the bike rocks forward and back. It was pretty noticeable on the my front brake. I thought I had a lose headset but its actually the brakes. When you clamp on the lever and rock the bike, you can see the pads moving.

Yes, the pads move quite a bit, IMO. I too thought I had a loose headset, they move that much. Now that I know what's going on, I'm not that concerned about it. I'll probably opt for the non-finned pads when my existing pads are due for replacement.

 

[Kanik]

Anybody ever notice when holding down on the brake, the bike rocks forward and back. It was pretty noticeable on the my front brake. I thought I had a lose headset but its actually the brakes. When you clamp on the lever and rock the bike, you can see the pads moving.

A lot of disc brakes do this. You'll notice that if you apply more pressure, there is enough friction between the pad and piston and they stop sliding around in the caliper. So squeeze harder when you're actually trying to check your headset.

Yes, I noticed the rattling noise as well when I installed my brakes. I bent the pad springs a little but now I think I've just gotten used to it. Just a consequence of having the fins on there to dissipate heat. Which IMO is more important than a little rattle.

Don't think there's really much of a way to solve it.

 

[RogerMty1971]

My XTs do not move on a downhill, they work great with very little fading on long descents. Is it really much better with finned pads?

 

[rockyjonnyfri]

I am not loving the same issue. I tried the rubber bands made from inner tubes and it helped a bit but the problem was still there. Any other fixes?

I noticed this immediately on my Saint breaks, I really don't understand how the pro's who ride this equipment would stand for this.
I took an old inner tube and cut a section about 3mm wide with scissors. I then wound it between the fins from top to bottom then around the backside of the fin surface. This provides a rubber bumper between the caliper and the pads that has completely stopped the noise. Visually you cant see it and it has not moved or broken at all. It also allows the pads to move freely.
Stupid you have to go through this to have a silent bike really.......but it works.
\

 

[Miker J]

The Saints on my DH bike have gotten noisy with the rattle. Sort of rattles me when concentrating on the trail. Thanks for the ideas on the fix.


Edit....

Just pulled the pads and noticed quite a bit of wear. Maybe the diminished pad size allows less tension on the spring and more wiggle room. Perhaps its sort of a built in alarm system by Shimano letting you know its time to replace the pads. I stretched the spring out a bit to apply more tension. Will also pay attention if replacing with new pads helps.

 

[Lone Rager]

...Just pulled the pads and noticed quite a bit of wear. Maybe the diminished pad size allows less tension on the spring and more wiggle room.....

The gap between the pad surface and rotor stays more or less constant since the pistons advance to adjust for pad wear. With worn pads, the pistons and backing plates are closer together, so spring tension would be greater, all else being equal.

 

[Mr Pig]

You can help it by bending the pad spring so that the fingers sit more parallel than in the 'V' shape they sit in as standard. I also find that the noise goes away once the brakes collect s bit of dirt, as long as you don't clean them again ;0)

 

[Stupordave]

Realize this thread is old but Shimano has absolutely made the issue worse on their new 4 piston brakes. The pad rattle is amazingly loud and constant...unless I’m dragging the front brake. Looks like you could easily add something between the pad fins and caliper. Worried that it could also come loose and get into the caliper. Could be dangerous. Anyone come up with a good solution?

 

[JasonL]

Realize this thread is old but Shimano has absolutely made the issue worse on their new 4 piston brakes. The pad rattle is amazingly loud and constant...unless I'm dragging the front brake. Looks like you could easily add something between the pad fins and caliper. Worried that it could also come loose and get into the caliper. Could be dangerous. Anyone come up with a good solution?

I used to wrap small black rubber bands around the fins and the rattle would mostly go away. Eventually tried the standard non-finned pads and never noticed a difference in braking performance so I stuck with them....no more rattle with the standard pads

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[Mr Pig]

Worried that it could also come loose and get into the caliper. Could be dangerous. Anyone come up with a good solution?

Don't worry, no it couldn't and ride the damned bike? ;0)

You guys are really overthinking this. Just ride the bike and they will shut up. Never put new pads on your car and heard them clunk in the callipers? If they were really tight there is more chance they will bind, rub etc. a bit loose is fine. Like a said, bend the springs a bit and ignore them until they shut up. Won't take long.

 

[angelo]

Realize this thread is old but Shimano has absolutely made the issue worse on their new 4 piston brakes. The pad rattle is amazingly loud and constant...unless I'm dragging the front brake. Looks like you could easily add something between the pad fins and caliper. Worried that it could also come loose and get into the caliper. Could be dangerous. Anyone come up with a good solution?

A thin strip of the fuzzy side of stick-on velcro between fins and caliper works like a charm

 

[Stupordave]

Thanks for the input all. May just kill the finned pads.

Mr. Pig...probably overthinking but rattles are annoying. A quiet bike is a happy bike. Loose tolerances are the result of one of two things. Loose engineering specs to bring down cost or poor manufacturing capability. Would expect more from Shimano considering their reputation.

 

[Mr Pig]

Loose tolerances are the result of one of two things. Loose engineering specs to bring down cost or poor manufacturing capability.

Or, by design. The pads have to be able to move in the calliper. If they can't, the brake won't work. They are not tight by design. It's not a flaw, they're meant to be like that. You are complaining about nothing.