I have to say that I've had mixed experiences with V-brakes. Sometimes I can get them set up really well, but I've got one bike where I just can't stop them making noises.
I had similar noises, (The most holy moley squealing you've ever heard; enough to wake the dead!) from the standard front brake blocks on my e-bike. (Only the second bike in my stable with V-brakes, all the others being road-going calipers - never had any trouble with caliper brakes, but hey! Those in the know, insist that the two lumps of ungainly metal, (V-brake arms), that protrude out from the forks, are far superior to caliper brakes.
And I must say, I do like the one-finger light action of them to haul things to a standstill.
Anyway, try as I might, they defied toeing in, as if squealing for Britain. I noticed that there was tons of brake dust around the brake area after each ride - at this rate they'd be down to nothing in no time at all. So, first stop was to purchase some reasonable aftermarket brake blocks, and for £2.50 (still carded), I obtained from the local market a pair of Jagwire V-Brake blocks. They looked so much better, what with arrows pointing the direction of travel they must be fitted, right down to 'L' and 'R' embossed on them. Like the Koolstops they look weird in so-much that two-thirds of the rubber block lies behind the bolt, with the shorter amount of rubber to face forward. Fitted them and instant transformation - no more squealing. I have heard that some brake blocks defy squealing better than others even after toeing-in has failed to rectify. The thing about toeing-in is that eventually after some wear they'll be back to even-stevens. So best to start with some quality b/blocks.
Had to do a reasonably hard stop last night and there was the squeal back; but only a former shadow of itself compared to the original blocks. On examining the brake block area I was alarmed to see that the budget-priced suspension forks moved back and forth when the brakes were fully applied hard to the rim, You could see the brake arms toing-and-froing as the brake blocks gripped tenaciously when I pushed them so. Guess that's why the toeing-in was ineffective. Also it's said that a build up of residue on the rims can induce squealing brakes. So later this afternoon I'm out the back with some citrus oil degreaser on the rims. I'm happy enough with things the way they are as I've only ever heard them squeal the once since the change-over, and with cleaning the rims, and then allowing the blocks to bed-in after some use I'm convinced I'll have heard the last of the squealing - but not if I'd left the original standard brake blocks fitted.
I like those Koolstops,(they have a long record of high reliability), just couldn't resist the bargain that was on offer for the Jagwire's, that's all.
(Jagwire b/blocks)
