I’ve yet to make the jump to disc brakes on my road bike. I have them on my mtb and gravel bike though and I do find I’m having a never ending battle with squeeling.
Is it just a case disc brake squeel? I keep the pads and rotors protected from oil etc when carrying out maintenence.
It’s harmonics. Thicker rotors would solve the problem, but not practical for a bike. If you bed in the pads and rotors they should not squeal very much unless they are wet or contaminated.
You can try various pad compounds to see if that helps with the issue.
A proper bed in should definitely help.
I always clean my rotor with rubbing alcohol after cleaning the bike, you think you may not be getting cleaning products on them but you are…also proper pad alignment had alot to do with it.
This is some great stuff, works for me and a couple others. It’s just a slightly abrasive paste, put it on the rotors, use the brakes hard up and down your block, then clean it off and the pads too. Found it from this video by GC performance https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIKMR0Y4ahM
as for road pads, the yellow swisstop RS disc 35 pads are far quieter than the standard organic SRAM pads, at least in my experience. They feel better and stop better too.
I know you didn’t ask about road pads, but there’s my opinion anyway.
After struggling with minor squealing for years as well as a rotor wobble, I just installed new dics and new pads and everything is just perfect. I had previously installed new pads. That helped a bit but it didn’t lead to perfection.
I’m figuring that one just might need to do this every year or two for one’s sanity.
I would try burning the pads out, they may not be as clean you think. Clean disks with brake cleaner, and use a torch to burn the pads. This has worked everytime for me.
When things get bad, and the normal cleaning/burning/sanding doesn’t work, I just replace them. Not worth spending so much time. Pad and rotors are relatively cheap.
Try some Galfer pads.